Rumors of the 2.5-liter TFSI engine's demise have been rampant ever since Volkswagen showed a 2-liter Golf R concept with 400 horsepower, an incredible specific output if you think about it. Numerous publications, especially British ones, claimed the next RS3 will come out with exactly that output, dropping the 2.5 for a 2.0-liter. On paper, downsizing seems like a good idea, but knowing the Audi modus operandi, we continued to believe in the future of the legendary five-cylinder.
This latest spy video taken at the Nurburgring by TouriClips shows what we believe to be an RS3 test mule. At a glance, it looks like the normal S3 Sportback, but the larger brakes and imposing exhaust note give it away. It's also wearing HN number plates, usually fitted on test cars from quattro GmbH.
After carefully listening to the sound of the engine, we've come to the conclusion that a 2.5-liter TFSI still resides under the bonnet. This gives credibility to claims stating that Audi has worked hard to make the bigger five-cylinder engine meet EU6 emissions. Another challenge faced by the German automaker has to do with mounting, since Audi is the only one to use this engine block with the MQB platform.
The RS3 Sportback, together with the TT RS and potentially an RS3 sedan will all have the same powertrain, made up of a six-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive. Output will be 367 PS, which is 7 PS more than the Mercedes A 45 AMG and 27 PS more than the old RS3.
That might not seem like a lot, but consider this: the new RS6 is faster than the old on, despite dropping in power from 580 to 560 PS.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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