The focus with the RS3 family has been lately on the sedan version which is a fine car. But for us these three innocuous letters have always bene associated with the hatchback body style and that is what we are now getting again in form of the new 2018 Audi RS3 Sportback.

Set to go on sale later this year, with orders books opening in summer, the new Audi RS3 Sportback has familiar specs including a no-nonsense, angry and business-like exterior paired with a practical and extremely logical, topped up by a 400 horsepower five-cylinder turbo engine with maximum torque of 480 Nm (354.0 lb-ft) which gives the hot hatch a 0 to 62 mph acceleration time of 4.2 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155mph, but you can raise it to 174mph if you buy the optional dynamic package plus. Yep, as always most of the good stuff with Audis are optional extras.

This Quattro motherhumper features a S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with permanent all-wheel drive based on an electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch which distributes the drive torque variably between the axles. As if that wasn’t enough for sure-footed performance, they have also given Audi RS3 Sportback Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) with wheel-selective torque control. So come rain or sunshine, this bad boy is one of the fastest things out there. And don’t you worry about stopping power because the RS3 comes with 310-millimetre brake discs front and rear housed inside exclusive 19 inch RS wheels.

As you would expect, the RS3 features a lot of RS goodness inside the cabin such as RS seats, RS trims, and RS steering wheel. But one new highlights is the special RS screen in the new model which ncludes a boost pressure indicator, an oil thermometer and a lap timer besides the usual host of connectivity features and it also boasts some cool graphics and themes based on the driving mode you are in. The looks and, frankly that engine, might be a tad outdated, but they can still cut it.