Audi Confirms RS3 Sedan For US Market - Will The M2 And CLA45 AMG Go Down In Flames?

An Audi representative has denied the development of other body styles of the range-topping RS3 other than the Sedan, which will be introduced exclusively on the U.S. market.

With the BMW M2 just around the corner, Audi is going to develop a rival for this in the shape of the RS3 Sedan. Despite the main difference in the number of doors between the two cars, these will be competitors in the compact segment for performance sedans and we also have to mention the Mercedes CLA45 AMG here too. But if you have your eyes on the model which will come to life in Ingolstadt and you happen to live outside the U.S. market, you will be disappointed to find out that the car manufacturer has no plans of offering it anywhere else.
 

TheSteve - 5/20/2015 4:59:50 PM

+2 Boost

As good as the RS3 might be, it won't kills BMW's or Mercedes' offerings. It "kinda competes" (in some ways), without being a direct counterpart.

BMWm4 - 5/20/2015 5:21:59 PM

+2 Boost

It is already slower out of the gate at only 324 lbs of torque. It may best the current M235xi , yet wont be in the same performance league of the M2.

Yonder7 - 5/20/2015 6:46:19 PM

+3 Boost

And definitely not in the league of the CLA45 but will have it's own market..

Doukas - 5/20/2015 7:28:08 PM

+1 Boost

I think RS3 Sportback would have been better choice for the US.

autopal - 5/20/2015 7:43:44 PM

0 Boost

You guys a joking, the 367hp, 343 lb-ft, and AWD is nothing to sneeze at. The sportback was just tested at 3.9 to 60, faster than the CLA45 and also sounds better too. This will be a serious competitor to the M2 and CLA45, and with sedan expected to be lighter than the sportback, think 3.8 sec to 60. Will it blow away the M2? Way too early to tell, but I think it will cause pause, and probably will dismantle the CLA45http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-audi-rs3-sportback-first-drive-review

valhallakey - 5/20/2015 7:45:11 PM

+2 Boost

BMW will continue to own the drivers car market due to the basic architecture of their cars. Once Audi et all start designing vehicles to handle sharply from the beginning instead of trying to make an economy car handle well after the fact they will be true players. As long as they stick to the engine hanging in front of the front axle that will be a major impediment to creating a true drivers car. All the trickery and band aids in the world cannot hide the fact that the Audi is derived from an economy car whereas BMW is designing cars with low polar moments of inertia from the very base car which makes it far easier to develop a high performance derivative.

autopal - 5/20/2015 7:49:07 PM

-1 Boost

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-audi-rs3-sportback-first-drive-review