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Why? Because it doesn't pass Australian Design Regulations. But you can put money on Audi developing a new RS3 Sportback down the track possibly using the same 250kW/450Nm five-cylinder turbo petrol engine out of the TTRS.
Hopefully the new Audi RS will be available relatively soon after the mainstream A3 lobs unlike the current RS3 which only became available in overseas markets in the final two years of the current model's life.
Some details to keep in mind about this delightful all wheel drive pocket rocket are a 0-100kmh time of 4.6 seconds which would rival many more powerful European cars.
The S3 is the fastest locally available A3 variant though its $70,000 price tag is a stopper. If the RS3 had come in it would have been a $100,000 proposition, a direct competitor for BMW's forthcoming 1 Series M Coupe (aka M1).
BMW has taken a punt on the M1 as it arrives late in the model cycle with an all-new 1-Series scheduled later this year.
Ford did something similar with the Focus RS which shares a similar engine configuration with the RS3 albeit without all wheel drive.
RS3 features include 19-inch alloy wheels, flared lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic wings, widened track and a sport button that controls throttle response and exhaust note. Press this button and a flap in the exhaust system opens to intensify the sound.
Maximum torque is from around 1600rpm and remains constant up to 5300rpm. The turbocharger generates up to 1.2 bar of boost pressure, and downstream of it is an intercooler which achieves an efficiency rate of more than 80 per cent.
RS3 Sportback's fuel efficiency is attributed to an on-demand oil pump and a regenerative system that recovers energy as the car decelerates. It also uses strong but light vermicular graphite for the engine block and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the front wings. These help to keep the kerb weight to 1575kg.
The A3 Sportback chassis gets revised suspension and a widened 1564mm track (up from 1534mm) with wider front tyres at the front. It has 235/35R19 tyres at the front and 225/35R19 at the rear to aid road grip.
Steering is electro-mechanical rack and pinion with a fast rack. The brakes are four-wheel ventilated discs with four-piston calipers and electronic aids include stability control with a "sport" function that activates later intervention of the braking and acceleration retardation functions "to enable greater adjustability without compromising safety." Audi says it can be switched off entirely for circuit use.
Standard equipment in UK-spec includes the Sport button, acoustic rear parking sensors, electronic climate control, DVD-based satellite navigation with MMI (Multi Media Interface) functionality and xenon-plus headlights with LED daytime running lights.
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