Spy shots of the 2022 Audi RS 3 Sportback

The next-generation Audi A3 will soon be in showrooms, with another sporty S3 and a high-performance RS 3 variant.

A prototype of the sporty RS 3 hatchback has been spotted again, revealing many hints about the new compact car; the RS 3 sedan is also being tested and, like the current generation, will likely be the only RS 3 variant offered in the US.

The new A3 represents a significant update to the current generation rather than a true redesign, and this is largely true of the RS 3 variant as well.

The 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder turbo engine is expected to remain in place, but its output could exceed 400 hp, as Mercedes-AMG's latest compact car develops 416 hp. A dual-clutch transmission and a rear-wheel-drive all-wheel-drive system should also be included.

That this is an RS 3 prototype can be judged by the enlarged air intakes at the front, widened wheel arches, huge rims and tires, and a distinctive pair of elliptical exhaust pipes at the rear.

The final design is similar to the recently introduced and launched RS 6 Avant in the US, but on a smaller scale.

The new A3 is due in showrooms later this year as a 2021 model; RS 3 production will be delayed by about a year.

Potential competitors for the RS 3 include the new AMG 45 Series, BMW M2 and Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing.