Audi has unveiled a more powerful version of the RS Q3 called performance ahead of its public debut at next month’s Geneva Auto Show.
The “performance” moniker denotes that the Q3 has been fitted with a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine that develops 367 horsepower — 27 more than the stock RS Q3 — and 343 lb-ft. of torque from 1,625 to 5,550 rpm. The extra power sends the RS Q3 performance from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 167 mph. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission transfers the five-cylinder’s power to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.
The RS Q3 also benefits from a sport suspension that’s lower and firmer than stock. Visually, it gains titanium-look trim on both ends, bigger air vents up front, a gloss black grille insert, a bigger air diffuser built into the rear bumper, and it rides on dark gray 20-inch alloy wheels. The cabin features a specific instrument cluster with gray faces, white dials, and red needles, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, as well as black leather upholstery with blue contrast stitching.
The Audi RS Q3 performance is on sale now in Germany with a base price of €61,000, a sum that converts to over $68,000. Audi hasn’t revealed whether its newest RS-badged model will be offered on our shores.
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