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Tempted by the used RS3 (not the new one, too ex for me). Anyone here owns or used to own one? Never had an RS car so a bit worried about crazy maintenance (esp the DQ500 and the Haldex). I am prepared for more expensive maintenance compared to other cars but its the time factor if the damn car needs workshop visits every other month. Anyone?

Feeling the heat from Mercedes AMG A 45's 2.0-litre turbo unit, Audi is working to dial up more power and torque from its 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine. Stephan Reil, Head of Development of quattro GmbH, commented, "The five-cylinder engine will have a big future with us. But the numbers I see from AMG's engines are enormous from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder." AMG's power plant (below) produces 350bhp, which is only 10bhp behind the larger capacity unit from Ingolstadt. However, there is a tougher challenge awaiting Audi. The engine has to meet the tough EU 6 emissions standard in Europe by September 2014. This means that the engine's combustion processes and catalysts need to be heavily revamped, according to Reil. Audi's turbocharged 2.5-litre Inline five-cylinder currently powers the TT RS and RS3 models. Five-cylinder engines are noted for combining the best aspects of four and six-cylinder engines. They generate more power and torque than six-cylinder engines while maintaining the fuel economy and peppiness of smaller four-cylinder engines.

The Audi RS3 Sportback has been unveiled. Ever since the inception of the current Audi S3 I've always been hoping that Audi would launch an RS version of that car and that moment has happened. Although I somehow feel that this would be like the shortlived B7 RS4, a fabulous sports saloon that only arrived when the B7 was in its final two (or so) years of production. Based on a modified VW Golf GTI platform (not the current one as the A3 was launched waaayyyyyy back in 2003), the 1,575kg RS3 Sportback gets the Audi TT-RS' 2.5liter 5 cylinder turbocharged engine. In this RS3 form the engine pumps out 335bhp and 450Nm of torque. It gets a quattro (although not one based on the A4's longitudinally based engine but a Haldex type system like in the Golf GTI and Audi TT) All-wheel Drive system and uses a 7 speed S-tronic (Dual Clutch) system. Top speed is limited to 250km/h and it does 0-100km/h in 4.6seconds. It also gets 9.1ltrs/100km. Pretty good for a very,very hot hatch. The All-wheel Drive system is assisted in the handling department by McPherson struts up front and a multi-link suspension setup at the rear. Most of the suspension parts are made out of lightweight aluminium parts to lower unsprung weight which is usually key to a well behaved suspension. Aside from that, the RS3 stops on larger diameter ventilated disks measuring 370mm front and 310mm rear which somehow require 19inch alloy wheels. The exterior mods that Audi have done to differentiate it from the regular A3 and the S3 is a redesigned front end which sports a more aggressive grille, side skirts, aluminium trimming, a dual tailpipe exhaust system and the norm on RS models

[extract] The Audi RS3