Audi RS 3 – Coming To America!

Good news for fans of Audi’s RS lineup, the RS 3 is heading to America! We loved (and pined for, and even drove once) the previous generation RS 3, which never had a hope of being imported to the USA, mostly because of the general aversion of American buyers choosing high dollar hatchbacks, no matter how awesome they are. If we sound bitter, we are. We don’t understand why most Americans prefer sedans.

It has been confirmed verbally that the Audi of America is planning on importing the RS 3 to the USA, made possible by the fact that there is now a sedan version of the A3. Yes, that means the RS 3 we’re going to be receiving here will be a sedan, not the uber-cool hot hatch version we know and love in Europe.

Generally speaking though, since we’re more or less used to not being offered some of Audi’s coolest cars (RS 6, RS 4 Avant, A1, RS 3 sportback, A5/S5 sportback, etc) we’re over the moon that we are at the very least going to have an RS 3 for sale in the USA for the first time ever.

The RS 3 has Audi’s wonderful 367 HP 2.5 liter 5 cylinder TFSI engine (similar to the engine from the TT RS) mated to the 7 speed dual clutch transmission, and naturally, quattro is the only drivetrain choice.

Our general feeling is that this should be a wickedly fun little car. We love the S3, and the RS 3 should be very similar, just more powerful, and with that unmistakable 5 cylinder sound. We don’t know when to expect it, or how much it will cost, but we can’t wait!!!