It’s official – Audi’s firebreathing RS3 hot hatch is on its way. While the company has yet to confirm production, these new pictures – which have surfaced on the Internet – settle the argument once and for all.

The RS3-branded components in our shots show details of the new car, including a speedo that reads to 310km/h (192mph) – although production models are likely to be limited to 155mph. The steering wheel-mounted aluminium paddleshifters prove Audi’s seven-speed S tronic gearbox will be standard.

Under the hood will sit the potent 2.5-litre turbo five-cylinder engine from the TT RS. This is tuned to give an extra 10bhp, and delivers a massive 345bhp and 450Nm of torque – that will put the car on a par with the Ford Focus RS 500.

To ensure the chassis can cope, it will feature the same hi-tech adaptable magnetic dampers and torque-vectoring rear differential as recent RS models. This is capable of sending up to 85% of power to the rear wheels.

Insiders say Audi is planning to build only 2,700 RS3s – the same figure as BMW’s upcoming 1-Series M Coupé, and is is due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

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