AUDI has revealed its first ‘three-box' RS model in six years at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

The all-new RS 3 Saloon received its world premiere - sharing the stage with another show-stopper, the TT RS.

Now booted, and even better suited to covering ground with pace and agility, the new RS 3 boasts the most powerful five-cylinder engine ever to power a series production Audi.

The 400PS, 174mph flyer also makes history as the first saloon in the brand's history to use a transversely mounted configuration for the powerplant, a seven-times winner of an ‘International Engine of the Year' category award.

The new 2.5 TFSI unit delivers a whopping 400PS and 480Nm of pulling power, available at engine speeds between 1,700 and 5,850 revs per minute.

Upshot is the ability to scorch from 0-62 in 4.1 seconds and potential for a top speed of 155mph. Need even more and, on request, Audi will increase the electronically governed limit to 174mph.

With its light-alloy crankcase, the five-cylinder engine is actually 26kg lighter than before and its soundtrack from can be modified via Audi drive select.

Not surprisingly, gear-shifting is lightning-fast shifting, the S tronic seven-speed dual clutch transmission transmitting power to quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

Quattro management is integrated as a standard feature in the Audi drive select dynamic handling set-up, as are the steering, S tronic, engine management and the adjustable exhaust flaps.

And the driver can individually vary the operation of the components between the three modes of comfort, auto and dynamic.