Audi unveils 335bhp RS3 hyper-hatch in time for Christmas

Audi is bringing out the big-RS-badge-guns to spice-up their A3 hatch with some pretty serious turbocharged firepower. If a pocket-rocket was on your Christmas wish list, you can place your £39,900 OTR pressie request with Audi dealers as of December. But you'll have long finished the leftover turkey sandwiches by the time it actually arrives, in the spring of next year.

There won't be much in the small-but-banzai-bracket to touch it either, with the limited-run Subaru Impreza Cosworth (395bhp) and the Focus RS500 (345bhp) already flown off the showroom shelves and full-run cars like VW's Golf R and Vauxhall's new Astra VXR already blown away by the RS3's 335bhp, before the stopwatch comparisons have even started.

The new RS3 shares its engine with the TT RS; a 5-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbocharged TFSI powerplant driving through a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission and all-wheel-drive, pounding that 335bhp into the tarmac and potentially firing the baby Audi to 62mph in 4.6secs, and on to a limited top speed of 155mph. Maximum torque is ready to go from low in the rev-range (1600rpm), which should make corner exits short and sweet.

That all sounds like lots of fun with lots of fuel, but Audi reckon that this fast 5-door still has potential 31mpg 'capability', though CO2 output is an as to be expected rather hefty 212g/km. Should the driver require further coaxing to drain the tank, there's a valve in the exhaust system that further intensifies the bass-heavy 5-cylinder soundtrack, once the Sport button is pressed. Press, click, boom.

Based on the 5-door Sportback version of the A3, with currently no word on a 3-door sister car, the latest RS model has been beefed up in every direction to boost pulse bpm and handle all that extra shove. Audi RS cars have a stocky subtlety to them and the new 3 follows that DNA.

There's a deeper front bumper with bigger air intakes, a dark and moody grille and sharp xenon headlights. As usual, and always pleasant to behold, this RS car gets flared wheel arches made from lighter carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), cuddling oversize 19inch 5-spoke alloys, and if it's one thing that Audi do well it's a beautiful set of wheels. There's also a fashionable rear diffuser and a subtle twin-exit exhaust that quietly (visually, at least) confirms the RS's performance credentials to those in the know.

Inside, it's the usual high-end Audi interior treat with sculpted sports seats upholstered in Nappa leather with silver stitching, and panel inlays finished in Piano black or Aluminium Race styles. There's also a lap timer to further goad the driver into a bit of leash letting.

With the limited-run Impreza and Focus hyper-hatches already off the RS3's racing radar, it will be up to another German manufacturer to throw down the £40K gauntlet, and, as usual, it's a rear-driving BMW that'll be trying to run (donut) rings around the new RS; the soon to arrive 340bhp, new 1-series M Coupe. That should make for some interesting reading, if you can see through the plumes of tyre smoke, that is.

It's the first time that Audi have blessed their A3 with an RS badge and they've certainly not skimped on the good stuff

Flared arches and 19inch wheels speak subtly of pace and performance

At the moment it's a 5-door Sport Hatch or nothing for your RS3, but what about a 3-door, wouldn't that be pretty?

Scenery will be but a blur in the RS3

Interior delights await those with £40K to spend on the new hyper-hatch from Audi