Sacred terrain of supercars. It is on these lands, formerly reserved only for a handful of models from exotic brands, that the most recent “hot hatch” want to force their way into.
Powers above 400 hp start to be the new «normal» in this segment. The Audi RS3 (8V generation) was the first to reach 400 hp but it wasn't the only one.
Recently, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S squashed that figure by delivering 421 horsepower thanks to its 2.0-litre Turbo engine — although when it comes to bends, power isn't everything. In any case, according to the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, the Audi Sport department is working to regain the title of «most powerful hot hatch in the world».
According to this publication, the Audi RS3 Performance version should produce 450 hp of power, coming from the well-known 2.5 TFSI (CEPA) five-cylinder in-line engine. The «normal» version will be able to stay at 420 hp.
How hard is Audi Sport working on the new Audi RS3? This video gives you the answer. And don't forget, turn up the volume: