For the longest time, Volkswagen and Audi were arguably the worst offenders when it came to withholding their coolest cars from the U.S. market. I feel like the tide is changing with cars like the new 2015 Audi S3 and the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R, the best Golf R they’ve give us yet. Now for even better news: the 2016 Audi RS3 appears to be headed our way too. Hooray!
Audi of America CEO Scott Keogh confirmed this to Automotive News’ Ryan Beene at the New York Auto Show. He said that the plan is for America to at last get the RS3, which packs all-wheel drive, a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox and a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine with 367 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. Zero to 60 mph happens in about four seconds.
There’s a catch, though: While the rest of the world gets the RS3 in five-door Sportback form, the U.S. is far more likely to get it as a sedan, Keogh said:
“We really, really want the RS 3,” Keogh said. The sedan is “going to be a great positioning car, a great halo car. I’m very confident we’ll see that car in the market. That’s as far as I’m going to go.”
That makes total sense. In the luxury market, Americans just prefer sedans to hatchbacks. Audi A3 sales have blown up in the U.S. since it switched from a hatch-only bodystyle to the new MQB-platformed four-door sedan. If they want the RS3 to sell here at all, it pretty much has to be a sedan.
Whatever. I’m totally fine with that. The new S3 sedan is outstanding, so I can’t even imagine what a monster the RS3 will be. This is going to be something to look forward to.