There isn't much left to discover about the Audi RS3: we knew about the 400hp five-pot, the Torque Splitter rear diff and the "genuine racing feeling" promised inside. All that was left was the price; with the new model on sale today, the final piece of the puzzle is here.
The hatch starts from £50,900, with equipment including 19-inch wheels, heated leather seats and an RS-specific virtual cockpit, but we know that nobody ever buys the base model - even when it's the RS3. For another £4,650 buyers can upgrade to a Carbon Black, which brings matt black wheels, darkened LED headlights, carbon mirrors and side skirts as well as a gloss black front spoiler. Carbon Black an appropriate name then.
Above that in the range is the Launch Edition, with a £6,000 premium over the standard RS3. Audi will offer just 96 to UK customers across both hatch and saloon bodystyles, so best be quick. Marking it out are the panoramic roof, sports exhaust, red brake calipers and "gloss black finish to various interior and exterior elements". It also gets the adaptive suspension, Driver Assistance Pack and the 174mph speed limit raise.
Topping the RS3 range is the Vorsprung, which carries a £7,750 premium and wheels with graphic print - your guess is as good as ours - a 360-degree camera and an electric bootlid to Launch Edition spec. The hatch and saloon range mirror each other in terms of price, albeit it with a £1,000 premium for the four-door.
So, if your mental maths is as bad as ours, that means the hatch range goes £50,900 as standard, £55,550 for the Carbon Black, £56,900 for the Launch Edition and £58,650 for the Vorsprung. An RS Dynamic pack is available on all the RS3s and will surely be popular. For £5k (or £5,500 on the base car) it includes the adaptive suspension, 180mph speed limit raise, ceramic brakes, and sports exhaust.
With the RS3 on sale now, Audi says the first cars will be with customers in November. Perfect time to get testing out that much hyped Torque Splitter, then...
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