Having already announced record sales and surpassing 2011’s results one month before the end of the year, Audi is gearing up for 2013. Sports car fans will be more than pleased to learn that the VW Group premium carmaker will reportedly launch not one, but two RS models next year/
Quattro GmbH is Audi’s performance division responsible for S and RS models. During the press launch of the RS5 Cabriolet last week, CAR magazine test editor Ben Pulman noticed an image proclaiming 2013 was going to be “The year of Quattro GmbH” that would launch “four new RS models”.
Only one of them, the RS5 Cabriolet was visible and the other three were under covers. Now we know the second is the stunning RS6 Avant that was unveiled last week, so that leaves just two.
Stephan Reil, Quattro GmbH’s chief, confirmed that the company will indeed expand its portfolio of RS models, which in 2012, have so far accounted for 11,500 sales but declined to comment on the issue.
With the A6 saloon not due to receive the RS treatment and U.S. customers missing out on the RS6 Avant due to performance estates not being popular Stateside, it is understood that one of the two models is going to be an RS version of the A7 Sportback.
According to the report, the RS7 Sportback, which might be revealed as a concept at the upcoming Detroit Motor Show, will make it to the U.S. with power coming from the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 as the RS6 Avant pushing out an identical 552-horses.
Given that the station wagon can sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 304 km/h (189 mph), it would be reasonable to expect similar performance numbers from the RS7.
Audi’s second 2013 offering sporting the RS badge will be the production version of the RS Q3 Concept that was displayed at last April’s Beijing Auto Show.
That concept was powered by the TT RS’ 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five that is good enough for 355HP allowing the subcompact crossover to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.2 seconds and top out at 265 km/h (165 mph).
So, Audi plans to increase its RS range by an impressive 30 percent in just one year. For that, we can forgive it giving the Quattro sports car the axe in favor of a coupe-like crossover…
By Andrew Tsaousis
Story References: Car & Autocar
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