2024 Audi RS3 spotted testing for the first time
New Audi RS3 hot-hatch “spy” pictures hint at what’s in store for the mid-life update for the Mercedes-AMG A45 rival.
The facelifted Audi RS3 has been spotted testing for the first time ahead of its expected launch next year.
On the outside, the RS3 maintains an aggressive appearance with wide wheel arches and distinctive dual-exit exhausts. The front fascia has received a subtle styling tweak, adopting a wider Audi grille design.
Moreover, the side air intakes appear to have been reshaped, while the camouflage over the rear bumper suggests there is a revised bumper design.
The interior remains under wraps, and it is unclear if there will be any upgrades to the design or technology.
Under the bonnet, the updated RS3 is expected to retain the current car’s turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, which develops 294kW and 500Nm – less than its chief rival, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S, which quotes 310kW and 500Nm from a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder.
The outgoing model claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds, thanks to all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The level of disguise on this prototype suggests the wrap are not due to come off the 2024 Audi RS3 until later this year or sometime next year.
Orders for the Audi RS3 were paused in Australia earlier this year – as exclusively reported by Drive – after wait times for the high-performance model extended to two years.
“The facelift in Europe will come at a particular point in the [RS3’s] life cycle and we will pick up that facelift slightly afterwards,” Matthew Dale, Audi Australia national product manager told Drive in February.
“But in terms of timing, we don’t have a definitive time at this point. But we would try to align that in some way, shape or form with the communication to our customers [about the status of order books] to ensure … transparency.”
The post 2024 Audi RS3 spotted testing for the first time appeared first on Drive.