The Geneva show's floors are being cleared as I type this. It was a good one, undoubtedly. I am saying that purely based on the amount of vehicles presented and the vast number of different powertrain "solutions" on display. Two years ago most shows were plagued, if I can use such a strong word, with green cars, as manufactures were trying to please all and showing, during the economic down turn, that they were working on alternatives, which, of course, is good.
Geneva, however, presented a proper mix of hybrids, standard petrol and diesel cars and then the real show stars, the sport- and supercars.
It will usually be those last two that I, and I assume most of you reading this, will be looking at, discussing the specs, comparing prices etc. But, there was one car in particular that got me thinking. A car that I didn’t expect and one that I will hopefully get to drive in a few months' time.
When Audi first uncovered its A3 saloon concept, I felt… well, nothing actually. Currently Audi is pumping out new models at an almost alarming rate (certainly from rival companies' perspectives), so my initial response was that the A3 saloon would be just another model in a vast product portfolio. I mean, there are already an A3 cabriolet, a three-door hatchback, a five-door hatch and two sports models. It is only fitting that a saloon or estate would be next.
But after looking at the show car's technical details in a bit more detail, and then reading that there is an engine with 300 kW and 500 N.m to power this 1 540 kg concept to 100 km/h in just over four seconds… That got me thinking. Admittedly, in the concept car this power comes from the TT RS’s 2,5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but wouldn’t an RS3 version of this particular car make an ideal replacement for the Audi RS4 we all so enjoyed?
Look at the lines and size of the A3 sedan concept… Is it only me or would a RS3 saloon be the perfect RS4 replacement. I don’t think Audi will drop a V8 into that engine bay, although one should never say never, but I simply don’t see a future RS4 of the current A4 range being as good a driver’s car as the previous generation model was. The Audi S4, for example, left me a little cold, although it is respectable car.
I am obviously speculating here, and time will tell whether the A3 saloon concept has only ignited a fantasy, or whether it will turn into reality. Either way, I'm rubbing my hands together in anticipation…
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