Audi RS and S onslaught coming

Audi will power-up its Australian sports and performance line-up in 2020 as a series of RS models and the R8 mid-engined supercar return to dealers or make their debuts.

Popular Audi Sport models such as the RS 3 sedan and Sportback have been missing since early 2019 because of backlogs in Europe testing to the tougher new WLTP emissions regulations.

Audi also plans additions to its ‘S’ line-up of entry-level models, following on from a lift in equipment levels late in 2019.

The brand is confident the return of its sports models – along with a slew of new and updated mainstream passenger vehicles and SUVs – can help reverse its 19.1 per cent sales slump in 2019.

For instance, the Audi RS 3 alone can account for up to 25 per cent of total A3 small car volume.

“Having it back on sale is a great thing,” enthused Audi Australia product planning and pricing director Shawn Ticehurst.

Significantly, all RS models powered by the famed 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine coming to Australia – the RS 3, RS Q3 and TT RS – will now be fitted with a petrol particulate filter.

They are the only engines in the Audi Australia range fitted with PPFs and make it a requirement to always refuel with 95 RON or higher grade fuel. Power and torque remain unaffected at 294kW and 480Nm.

Ticehurst hinted more new Audi models would come with PPFs, despite the concerns over Australia’s high sulphur fuel.

“It’s a hot topic of discussion,” he said. “Obviously we don’t want to miss out on cars.”

Concerned about a potential impact on performance and exhaust note, Ticehurst revealed local staff had tested the RS 3 fitted with the PPF in Europe before committing it to the Australian market.

“If we thought it wasn’t good enough, we could have made the call not to bring the RS 3,” he revealed. “It’s still got everything people love about it.”

The RS 3s will arrive in April, while the rest of the new RS models will be due in the third quarter.

Pricing starts at $83,000 for the RS 3 Sportback and rises to $86,500 for the sedan (plus on-road costs) – a boost of around $2200. A new carbon edition is $87,200 for the Sportback and $89,900 for the sedan.

New standard RS 3 equipment includes magnetic ride, Bang & Olufson sound system, metallic paint and Audi wireless charging.

Carbon edition highlights include 19-inch gloss-black wheels, a panoramic sunroof, privacy glass and some trim tweaks. Ceramic brakes have been deleted from the global RS 3 options list.

The later RS arrivals, for which pricing hasn’t been revealed, include:

A paired down, two-model facelifted Audi R8 line-up arrives late in 2020. The 397kW/540Nm naturally-aspirated V10 rear-wheel drive model will be standard, priced at $295,000 for the coupe and $316,500 for the Spyder.

The 449kW/560Nm V10 performance quattro (previously the plus model) is priced at $395,000 for the coupe and $416,500 for the Spyder.

Pricing actually drops across the range by between about $4000 and $8000 compared to the old model. Without going into detail Audi claims it’s boosted local spec as well.

Dropped from the new range is the all-wheel drive R8 fitted with the standard V10 engine.

Ticehurt revealed Audi had the option to take the updated R8 with a PPF but rejected it. It didn’t have the same choice with the five-cylinder.

“We drove the cars back-to-back in Europe and it (the PPF version) just loses a little of its edge,” Ticehurst said.

New S models include:

Along with the sports models Audi will also launch in 2020:

A new A3 hatch is also due in 2020, although there will be no acknowledgement of that from Audi Australia until after its official reveal in coming weeks.