German Car Forum

By Georg Kacher (artist's impression by Larson)

Audi is readying this stunning new R3 sports car, a mid-engined little brother to the R8 supercar. Developed in conjunction with parent firm Volkswagen, the Audi R3 could arrive in five years' time, with four-cylinder power to take on the Mazda MX-5 but not enough grunt to tread on the toes of Porsche’s Boxster (now an inhouse family rival, don't forget). The Audi R3 is a replacement for the stillborn R4.

It will be co-developed with a Volkswagen sports car; we’ll see a concept of VW's version in just a few months' time, before development starts in full for launch in 2013.
So just what is this Audi R3?

Plans are still at an early stage, but sister brand VW will test the waters with a mid-engined sports car concept at the November 2008 LA Auto Show (see the current October 2008 issue of CAR Magazine for the full scoop on the sporty VW).
The Audi R3 would – in effect – replace today's TT. ‘At the moment, both programmes run alongside each other, but as soon as production engineering begins, we must decide between the competing front- and mid-engine layouts for the TT,’ explains a source from Ingolstadt. ‘To keep the Audi a safe distance from the Boxster and Cayman, we are concentrating exclusively on four-cylinder engines.'

I thought Audi had already been down this route with the R4?

The proposed mid-engined Audi R4 went nowhere – mainly because Porsche wanted to protect the Boxster and Cayman. Audi and VW have since learned their lesson. The new sports car concept thus aims at a wide but relatively conservative €25,000 to €45,000 (£20,000 to £35,000) price range.
The Audi R3's launch timing also carefully avoids the Boxster, which will be facelifted one last time late in 2008 before its replacement arrives in 2010. While the new Mk3 Boxster has practically cleared all R&D hurdles, the smaller mid-engined sports car concept by VW and Audi won´t be ready for production before 2013.
So why are VW at it again?

Former brand chief Wolfgang Bernhard gave a green light to the quirky looking Eco-Racer, which was duly shot down by the bean counters who could not see a market for the high-tech, high-price halo version nor for the low-cost, big-volume all-steel alternative.
Now Volkswagen Group chairman Martin Winterkorn is on the case, and one can safely assume that he enjoys the support of Ferdinand Piech, the powerful chairman of the supervisory board.
The proposal we are going to see at the 2008 LA show pursues three different strategic goals. It's flexible enough to provide VW and Audi with different variants, yet it's also cheap enough to take on the Mazda MX-5 which dominates the market segment.

The VW-Audi sports car will be mid-engined, so critics cannot accuse the car of being a tarted-up VW Golf, while Audi will also finally get the dynamic TT it has always wanted.

So the next Audi TT will be mid-engined?

The TT replacement is due to appear in 2013 – and it sounds like it's going to become the sports car it always should have been. At last. ‘Going mid-engined would instantly silence critics who accuse the TT of being a reskinned overpriced Golf,’ comments our friend from Bavaria. ‘It would also work wonders in terms of price positioning and brand image, and it would complement the R8.’
What engines would power the Audi R3?

Audi would install the 180bhp 1.8-litre TFSI motor, a 2.0-litre version rated at 220bhp and a brawny S-line model good for some 280bhp, our sources suggest. Diesel TDI engines would also likely get the nod, with a frugal 125bhp variant of the latest 1.6-litre common-rail derv, plus 170 and 204bhp versions of the 2.0-litre.
While quattro four-wheel drive may be a useful marketing instrument, it does add weight and incur friction losses, and it is not an absolute necessity in terms of vehicle dynamics.

Although certain versions of the new TT would again challenge Boxster and Cayman in bhp and mph, price and prestige will remain key differentiators. Here's hoping Winterkorn and Piech get their wish.
carmagazine

This is so confusing... I wanted the R4 (said to take over for the TT)
Now its all about the R3 ? (Said to take over for the TT)

They have just change the 4 to 3 ??

Booring, ... I want a mid engined TT and my guess is that the TT
will dissapear in the future, that's why we will be getting
the clubsport and some other special models to mark the end of
one of them biggest Icon's in this industry.

What the F*** the name is I don't care..
I will wait for an official speach from Audi AG about this before I get to involved .. and in the meantime I will enjoy the TT to the fullest!

^^^ You're calling the TT one of the biggest icons of the industry.....that's really cute man

And who are you ?
Are you cute too.. ?


When it comes to design in the 90's the TT was the biggest Icon yes.
And it will always be the 90's biggest Icon!

For sure.
I made a big project on the TT in school 5 years ago, and nobody can't say it wasn't one of the most popular cars in the 90's.

read books about automotive design icons and the mk1 TT will be in it.

"Developed in conjunction with parent firm Volkswagen, the Audi R3 could arrive in five years' time, with four-cylinder power to take on the Mazda MX-5 but not enough grunt to tread on the toes of Porsche’s Boxster (now an inhouse family rival, don't forget). The Audi R3 is a replacement for the stillborn R4."


Grrrrrrrrrrrrr Not enough power to compete with a BOXTER???????? Then don't produce it!!! This is a disgrace IMO, why make a car that looks like it should be fast inadaquate? Audi needs to stick with performance and not try to appeal to the 16 year olds who like cars that look fast but aren't

Of course it is.

I was at the official launch of the TT Concept Car at the IAA in Frankfurt 1995 and although slightly different to what became the production car , slight details make it less concept looking. Such as the inclusion of small rear windows. I remember Audi saying that it did not have a production future although I guess the reception it received altered that decision.
Then a month later we had the TTS Concept which would become the Roadster debut at the Tokyo motor show.

About the R3 becoming a Porsche Boxster rival, Porsche wont let it.As they control the cards .
As part of our marketing to find a particular proposition for a new model we do specific brand testing and evaluation. Wonder how Porsche feel that several 911 customers have ditched their car for Audi's R8? warm and fuzzy? or seething with anger?

No body has ditched anything and the 911 has been unmoved by the R8. Customers jump on the new hot thing every day. Yes some costumers are buying the Z06 or GT-R, the R8 is nothing but another supposed 911 killer. It hasn't changed the 911s position. Especially when the 911 offer a unique experience and isn't parked up 20-40k by greedy dealers. 911 sales are still remarkably good and will be even better now when the highly improved MkII has been introduced. The facelifted GT3 and Turbo will be icing on the cake ending all the R8 and GT-R rant.

One thing for sure BMW is not getting anything from the supercar market.

a BMW insider told me that the only reason BMW is not going ahead with the M Hommage is that they failed to find a partner for a mid-engine platform like how audi is with Lamborghini. Should they find one, they would have gone ahead with a supercar.

Mercedes has found aston with its VH platform which will give birth to a mid-engined aston supercar and therefore the nameplate "SLC" will not be used for the upcoming Gullwing, it will simply be called Gullwing. Mercedes is saving the "SLC" (C = Coupe) nameplate for a possible future mid-engined coupe, to go head-to-head with the McLaren's upcoming supercar.

BMW will be the only German premium carmaker without a proper supercar and even the big roadster is not certain to see production. Oh but they will have more trucks, from the biggest to the smallest..

Here is the problem.
the car is too crazyy. the designs are getting to complicated making the car look too much of a crazy car.