RS 3

It counts as a 'good day' in our book whenever Audi launches a new RS-model, it used to be a rare occurrence because Audi only made 1 RS model at a time, but that's all changed and we've now got 3 RS Audi's to choose from, or at least we will when in spring next year the RS 3 Sportback goes on sale.

The timing of this new RS 3 model is nothing if not convenient, with BMW's 1 Series M Coupe due on sale just 3 months later. In fact there's plenty more these natural competitors have in common - both are powered by turbocharged engines producing nearly 340 bhp, both are to be priced just under £40k (or maybe slightly over in the BMW's case), but they're as near as dammit rivals in the usual apples-and-pears way that Audi's RS models square off with BMW's M Cars.