GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Audi upgrades RS 3 Sportback

Audi has revealed an upgraded RS 3 Sportback ahead of its world debut at next month's Geneva motor show, and its Australian release in the third quarter of this year.

The more powerful RS 3 hatch now matches the performance of Audi's first RS 3 sedan, which debuted at last October's Paris show and arrives here before the uprated hatch in the second quarter.

Like the RS 3 sedan, the Sportback packs Audi's new-generation 2.5 TFSI turbo engine, which is billed as the world's most powerful five-cylinder engine and debuted in last year's new TT RS.

That means it matches the stellar outputs of both the TT RS and RS 3 sedan, with 294kW of power (400hp) and a beefy 480Nm of torque between 1700 and 5850rpm.

That makes it more powerful than the 280kW/475Nm 2.0-litre turbo-four in the similarly all-wheel drive Mercedes-AMG A 45 hatch and CLA 45 sedan, and the 250kW/500Nm 3.0-litre turbo-six in BMW's rear-wheel drive M140i.

Combined with the lighter new engine, which sheds 26kg due to aluminium crankcases, it's quicker than the BMW hot hatch (0-100km/h in 4.6sec), as well as – marginally -- the A 45 (4.2sec), with the same claimed 4.1sec 0-100km/h acceleration time as the RS 3 sedan, although the lighter TT RS tops the lot at 3.7sec.

On request, the top speed of all three compact sportsters, which come standard with an S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, can be raised from 250 to 280km/h.

The current RS 3 Sportback, which delivers 270kW/465Nm and hits 100km/h in a claimed 4.3sec is priced at $78,616 plus on-road costs, and the RS 3 sedan is expected to cost around $2000 more.

The 24kW/15Nm performance hike comes at the expense of fuel consumption, which rises by 0.2L/100km to 8.3L/100km.

Cosmetic updates for the 2017 RS 3 Sportback, which becomes available in Europe in August, are limited to a new bumper blade.

Carryover features include 25mm lower suspension, bigger 310mm brake discs, 20mm wider wheel tracks, wider wheel-arches wrapped around 19-inch alloy wheels and 235/35 tyres, RS bodykit, bespoke interior with leather sports seats and flat-bottom steering wheel, LED headlights and Audi drive select – which alters the car's transmission and engine management, exhaust flaps and adaptive damping.

“The Audi RS 3 Sportback offers our customers an attractive introduction to the RS world,” said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH.

“Since 2011 the sporty compact model has proved itself extremely successful on the market. And with the new five-cylinder engine, the Audi RS 3 Sportback is at the head of its class and continuing that strong track record.”