The Ingolstadt-based carmaker plans to introduce new variants in 2014 based on the current generation Audi A3 , which was presented only this year at the Geneva Motor Show. Specifically, it will be the powerful RS3 and the plug-in hybrid A3 e-tron .
The sharp RS3 will arrive first. It should continue to offer a 2.5 -liter turbocharged five-cylinder as is available in the current generation, but the performance will probably climb to the limit of 400 horsepower. The S3 model has a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 296 horsepower under the hood, so the sharpest RS3 has to offer more. Power will be transmitted to all four wheels using an as yet unknown transmission.
Shortly after the powerful RS3 , the economical plug-in hybrid A3 e-tron will also be introduced. We do not yet know detailed information about the engine, but it is quite possible that the power unit from the Audi A3 e-tron concept, which was presented last year at the Shanghai Motor Show, will appear under the hood. Thus, we are talking about a 1.4 -liter turbocharged gasoline engine combined with an electric motor, the total output is 234 horsepower. There may be less horsepower in series production, but the A3 e-tron will still be able to travel about 30 km purely on electricity thanks to the lithium-ion batteries.
