Not only did Audi reveal its new RS 3 sports car at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, the German brand also unveiled a race track version of the new sedan dubbed the RS 3 LMS.
The RS 3 is essentially a decked-out version of Audi’s A3 sedan, and the LMS version of the car boasts a larger rear spoiler, a lower stance, and enormous fender flares.
Audi gave the RS 3 LMS a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant that makes 330 horsepower. The street-going RS 3 actually boasts a bigger engine, with a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder that creates 400 hp under the hood. The reason the track-worthy LMS has a smaller engine is to comply with the standards set for the track events for which Audi has geared the model.
The LMS makes the zero-to-62-mph sprint in 4.5 seconds, with the regular RS 3 completing the feat 0.4 seconds quicker. The racing example tops out at 149 mph, while the regular sports sedan is electronically set up to hit a top speed of 155 mph (with a 174 mph option).
Audi is set to put the RS 3 LMS in the European TCR International series, a division that squares off with other small cars such as a Honda Civic and the Volkswagen GTI.
Getting the LMS version of the car in the U.S. will depend on when the regular RS 3 becomes available stateside. Right now prices for the race-ready RS 3 LMS range from around $111,000 to $145,000 depending on what is included and just how track-ready it comes.
