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Just two weeks ago, Audi said it would be stopping RS3 sales in Europe while continuing to sell the car in the U.S. Emissions regulations in the Continent are to blame. On Friday, however, a new report suggests Audi could be reworking the RS3’s powertrain to make it compliant everywhere—with a little help from electric power.
Autocar recently spoke with Audi Sport boss Rolf Michl about the car’s future, and it sure sounded like some form of electrification could be where the RS3 is going. When asked if Audi would hybridize the RS 3, Michl was upfrony: “We are open to every possibility,” he said. “The thoughts [on how to do that] will continue at our end. I can tell you we are still thinking in different technological possibilities.”
Marc Urbano
The thought of a hybrid RS3, admittedly, gives us some pause. Audi is planning to continue selling the RS3 in the U.S. without a hybrid for now, because our emissions regulations don’t force its hand, while, Euro 7 emissions make the five-cylinder a non-starter in Europe. Autocar reports that Audi sources tell it the car would need a particulate filter, recalibrated injection mapping, higher cell density catalytic converters ... and more. So another workaround would be to simply make it a hybrid.
Audi has already done this with the new RS5, as that model is launching worldwide as a PHEV. Thankfully, that new RS5 retains its twin-turbo V-6 engine, and Audi would certainly aim to do the same should it hybridize the RS3.
“We are absolutely aware of the DNA of a five-cylinder engine, and we are open to every possibility,” Michl said.
The five-cylinder in the RS3 is one of those special engines we’d like to see stick around for as long as possible. No final decisions on a path forward seem clear today, but now would be a good time to let Audi know what you think about a five-cylinder hybrid. We’d prefer a setup similar to Porsche’s T-Hybrid system that prioritizes weight over everything versus the mighty-heavy RS5’s PHEV setup. That’s all the more important when it comes to a compact car like the RS3, where a low curb weight and agility are key selling points.
A Michigan-born car nut and racing enthusiast, Zac Palmer is talking about or thinking about cars somewhere. He bought his first when he was still 15, a 2001 Acura Integra GS-R that still resides in the garage today. It's now joined by a 2004 Porsche Boxster S, and there will be even less practical additions to follow. Palmer worked at both Autoweek and Autoblog before joining R&T.