The Audi RS3 has gotten a makeover. The current model is only a year old, but that hasn’t stopped Audi from redesigning it. New spy photos have captured testing a version of the Sportback at and around the Nurburgring race track.
The camouflage on the Sportback includes the same elements that were hidden on the RS3 sedan seen last October. The lid hides a new front fascia with a reshaped grille and bumper. The camo extends to the fenders, which Audi might get a massage on, and to the side skirts which could also get a new look.
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The RS3 Sportback hides a new bumper with vertical markings at the rear, sporting less camouflage than its four-door sibling. This model features new taillight graphics, which should migrate to the sedan. The faux rear bumper grille seems to have disappeared from the model, giving it a more streamlined shape with a round exhaust pipe sticking out.
Our photographer hasn’t gotten a clear view of the cabin yet, but it seems Audi has mostly left it alone. The first glimpse we see shows off a dashboard that looks identical to the one on the car today. However, we really hope the brand updates the software, and that could make other small changes.
Likely to keep powering the RS3 is the car’s current 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five, which Audi has paired with a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive system. With this refresh, we don’t expect the automaker to significantly upgrade the powertrain, but there could be a more interesting version of the engine in development.
The current engine produces 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, pushing the RS3 to 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds. The car can reach 155 mph as standard, but buyers can increase that to 180 mph. The redesigned RS3 should provide similar statistics.
It’s unclear when Audi might reveal the model, as the current version goes on sale for the 2022 model year. Developing a refresh so close to initial launch is odd, but it could be months before an official reveal occurs, and Audi will then have to produce it. It could debut later this year or early next year, and not enter production until late 2024, arriving for the 2025 model year, which isn’t too far away, but we don’t have an official timeline yet.
Audi RS3 sedan 2023, Motor1.com Best Performance Vehicle 2022 Star Award winner, starts at $61,195 (price includes $1,095 destination fee) in the US. The automaker doesn’t offer the Sportback in America. We wouldn’t be surprised if the redesigned model received a slight increase in price to match the updated style.
