The Volkswagen Group loves to use the Wörthersee GTI meeting—held on the shore of the eponymous Austrian lake—to showcase its latest and most obscenely powerful concepts and ideas. “Political correctness” as a concept is specifically excluded. And that’s why we see models like the wicked and fantastic 525-hp Audi A3 Clubsport Quattro, which just so happens to hint at the upcoming RS3 sedan.
This S3-based sedan is powered by a turn on the EA113 inline-five, a direct-injected 2.5-liter engine that revs to 6900 rpm and has been turbocharged to produce that completely insane 525-hp figure, as well as 443 lb-ft of torque. The output is funneled to all four wheels through a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic. Zero to 62 mph takes just 3.6 seconds, Audi says, and the concept tops out at 193 mph.
Chassis changes included lowering the ride height by 0.4 inch compared to the S3, firming up the springs and dampers (which are now mechanically adjustable), and swapping some front suspension pieces for ones rendered in aluminum. The Clubsport uses 275/25 tires on 21-inch wheels to slash through corners, and carbon-ceramic brakes are included.
Unique fenders that evoke those of the original Quattro and vehicles like the Lancia Delta Integrale. The lower front air intake and the rear diffuser hint at future Audi RS models. Including some weight-shaving carbon pieces, total weight is claimed to be 3366 pounds. (An A3 2.0T Quattro sedan we tested weighed 3369.) In case you believe the carbon stoppers aren’t up to their assigned task, the rear portion of the trunklid acts as an air brake when decelerating from high speeds, rising into the air once the driver mashes the brake pedal. It’s a rad feature, and one typically reserved for supercars like the McLaren P1 or Bugatti Veyron.
- 2015 Audi A3 2.0T Sedan Tested: A Welterweight with a Knockout Punch
- Audi A3 Research: News, Reviews, Pricing, Photos, and More
- Driven: Audi’s Hot New S3 Sedan!
This Wörthersee supercar hints at the upcoming Audi RS3, which is expected to hit showrooms sometime next year in both hatchback and sedan body styles. You can read more about the future RS3 here. Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to go find something to clean up all this drool.
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