Audi Confirms 5-Cylinder RS3, Rules Out RS1: Report

Audi has reportedly confirmed that the next generation of its compact RS 3 hero will again draw power from a powerful five-cylinder engine.

At the same time, the carmaker appears to have ruled out any chance of an extra-hot RS 1 entering above the already impressive S1 hatch.

Speaking with the UK’s Top Gear this week, Audi quattro boss Stephan Reil said that while the RS 3 will always be a focus point, an RS 1 model would be too likely to steal sales from the S3 range.

"The main reason is financial. The smaller the car gets, the smaller the amount of return you get, so you need to sell a whole bunch of cars to make it. The smaller the car gets, the harder the business case becomes," Reil told Top gear.