By: IOL Motoring Staff
Ingolstadt, Germany - Audi has tweaked its high-performance RSQ3 crossover to the same power output as the RS3 Sportback, with which it shares its 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbopetrol prime mover.
The RSQ3 Performance is rated at 270kW and 465Nm - up 20kW and and 15Nm from the 'standard' version. According to Audi, that makes it nearly half a second quicker to 100km/h (from 4.8 seconds down to 4.4) and the electronic limiter has been reset to allow autobahn-storming at 270km/h, rather than the 'gentleman's agreement' cap of 250km/h.
Audi's RS Q3 is enticingly pointless
The RSQ3 Performance also gets a remapped seven-speed S tronic transmission for a more intense drive (don't say we didn't warn you - this is not a shopping trolley) and special bumpers with larger air inlets in front and a big diffuser out back.
It's already available in Germany for just €61 000 (R1 078 000) ahead of its world debut at the Geneva motor show in March, and will then invade the rest of the automotive world, although sadly, that will not include South Africa.