An Audi A3 concept capable of thrashing a Porsche 911 in a straight line was today unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.
Known purely as the A3 concept, the model is the fastest factory-produced A3 ever thanks to a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine which develops 400bhp and 368lb/ft of pulling power.
The same engine is used to great acclaim in the Audi TT-S and Audi RS3 Sportback but the concept is 42bhp more powerful than the production models.
As a result, the A3 has a 0-62mph time of just 4.1 seconds – 0.6 seconds quicker than a standard Porsche 911 and 0.5 seconds quicker than the Audi R8 supercar. Top speed is limited to 155mph.
Power is channelled to all four wheels through a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with the driver changing up and down via paddle shifts mounted behind the steering wheel.
Next to the mind-blowing performance, the other surprising feature about the Audi A3 Concept is that it is a saloon for the first time in the model’s history rather than a hatchback or cabriolet.
This design change is to target it towards the American and Chinese market with hatchback-derived saloons notoriously unpopular in the UK.
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