While this third generation of Audi RS3 retains its legendary 400 hp 5-cylinder turbo, it further improves its dynamic performance.
At the end of the afternoon, our appetizer begins with a good two hours in the stuck traffic of Athens, looking for a photo spot from which we will ultimately be excluded for lack of authorization. Making white cabbage is also one of the hazards of our beautiful job! The opportunity to highlight the remarkable versatility of this ultra-sporty compact who, in town, behaves like a good little city-dweller. The 500 Nm of torque (plus 20 Nm) and the omnipresent flexibility of its 5-cylinder, associated with the remarkable smoothness of its robotic S tronic dual-clutch transmission, fitted with steering wheel control paddles, in zinc (!), do wonders. In addition, there are ultra-comfortable sports seats and controlled damping whose softness – in comfort mode – has little to envy that of a limousine. You just have to deal with a turning circle of 12 m, making the U-turns a bit tricky.
Change of scenery at nightfall when our hosts invited us to a drift session on a specially equipped flat area, and generously lit. An exercise all the more anachronistic as we are dealing here with an all-wheel drive model. Yes, but this new RS3 has a secret boot in the person ofa limited-slip rear differential which, via two controlled multi-disc clutches, distributes the rear torque wheel by wheel, capable of sending 100% of it to a single wheel! The “drift” mode then allowed us to indulge in the joys of sliding around the two specially designed rings, materialized by cones, forming an “8”. What seems easy on paper is much less easy in the hand. Dynamic mode and second gear engaged, you have to “put on the shoe” to successfully place the 1,600 kg of the beast across. All the difficulty then consists in maintaining the right angle of drift as the famous Quattro transmission retains the fierce desire to regain grip.. The advantage, however, is that the front axle always retains its traction and directional power. Another big downside, so roughed up and after yelling his disapproval, the outer rear tire sees its life expectancy reduced to… 6 minutes. End of the torture session. Let us thank in passing Messrs Pirelli and Bridgestone!
A top speed of… 290 km / h
The next morning, a brief return to real life for our photo-video session. A gallop on the highway reminds us why this 5-cylinder turbo with direct injection has been awarded the “best international engine of the year” award for nine years in a row. In addition to remarkable performance – 3”8 to speed 0-100 km / h, or 0’3 better than the previous generation – and a top speed of 290 km / h (with the Dynamic RS Plus Pack option), it impresses with its very linear thrust and its sound as characteristic as distinguished. We appreciate it all the better as the two large exhausts are now equipped with variable valves “continuously” in order to enjoy the whole sound spectrum of the “5-legged”. Perfectly served by a very direct variable-assistance steering (less than two turns lock to lock), widened tracks (+ 33 mm at the front and + 10 mm at the rear), with negative offset, and all-wheel drive permanent Quattro, the Heading is rail type. The fact remains that such a level of services remains difficult – not to say impossible – to operate on the road, at least under reasonable conditions of safety and legality … Our hosts, who decidedly think of everything, then gave us an appointment. you on the Athens circuit. Shod Pirelli PZéro Troféo R semi-slicks (an option available, for the first time at Audi, in the course of 2022) and ceramic front brakes, our cars are waiting for us. Because, in addition to the drift mode, the RS3 has a RS Performance mode, specially adapted for track driving. Enough to highlight the exceptional potential of this super-sportswoman who allows any driver to have fun, whatever his level of piloting. By pushing back the intervention threshold of the electronic crutches, in particular those of the ESC anti-slip, this mode highlights the formidable efficiency of the chassis of this Quattro while allowing some “drifts” in curves, easy to control. The controlled damping plays with the deformations of the track while braking retains equally impressive efficiency and consistency. It must be said that with semi-slicks, with “generous” dimensions (265/30 R 19 at the front and 245/45 R 19 at the rear) and 38 cm ceramic front discs clamped by calipers 6 pistons, whose cooling has been increased by 20% thanks to scoops integrated into the front fender wideners, the braking provides an efficiency close to that of a racing car!
Not super discreet, but not too ostentatious for all that.
For the rest, this RS3 remains – almost – an A3. Somewhat “body-built”, with its copious “mask” grille, its lowered trim, its standard 19 ”rims, its rear diffuser and its two large oval tailpipes. Not super discreet, but not too ostentatious for all that. A matter of taste. Knowing that it is available in two bodies, 5-door Sportback and 4-door sedan. In addition to the magnificent optional sports seats as standard, which however lack lateral support at chest level, the interior of this “Racing-Sport” is distinguished, among other things, by a superb multifunction sports steering wheel covered with Alcantara, worthy of a rally car, real carbon veneers and a head-up display… optional. Rest materials and a finish that we will no longer consider exceptional after taking the wheel of a certain… Peugeot 308! Some plastics remain of any quality, such as those at the bottom of the doors or at the rear of the center console. It is said.
It remains to talk about finances and… competition. Available for more or less € 70,000 – € 69,300 in Sportback and € 70,700 in sedan – this RS3 can almost seem cheap considering its level of performance. Still, it is necessary to draw from the encyclopedia of options to provide the beast with the equipment that suits its rank. The bill quickly increased by several thousand euros to which it would be necessary to add a French specialty, a small penalty of between € 18,188 and € 19,641… So the painful will happily exceed 100,000 €!
Our opinion
With its compatriots, Mercedes A45 AMG and future BMW M2 as the only competitors, this RS3 shines, in addition to its performance, by its remarkable versatility, the rigor of its behavior and the charm and pleasure of its 5-cylinder.
Technical sheet
Motor : 5-cylinders, 20 valves, turbo, direct injection, continuously variable valve timing, 2,480 cm3, FAP, stop & start
Transmission : Quattro permanent full-wheel drive, 7-speed double-clutch robot, active rear differential by multi-disc clutches
Power (ch à tr/min) : 400 cha 5 600 million/min
Couple (Nm at rpm): 500 Nm at 2250 rpm
Weight (kg) : 1 570
Standard tires : AV, 265/30 R 19, AR, 245/35 R 19
Long.xlarg.xhaut. (m) : 4,39×1,98×1,44
Chest à 5 / à 2 (l): 282/1 104
Average consumption mixed / during test (l / 100 km): 9 to 9.1 / 12.4
Tank : 55
0 to 100 km / h : 3’’8
Max speed : 250 km / h (limited) (280 or 290 optional)
CO2 (g)/malus : 205 to 207/18 188 to € 19,641
Price : 69,300 € (70,700 € in 4-door)
Main options
- Head-up display (€ 980)
- Rear side airbags (430 €)
- Tire pressure control (240 €)
- Adaptive cruise control + headlights / auto codes + sign reading (€ 1,800)
- LED matrix headlights + front + rear scrolling indicators (850 €)
- Controlled amortization (€ 1,200)
- Pack Dynamic RS plus (2 190 €)
- Sport exhaust (€ 1,200)
- Add Nappa (1 200 €)
- Alcantara sports steering wheel + seat belts, floor mats and specific aerators (850 to 1,100 €)
- Electric / heated seats (€ 860 / € 415)
- Electric tailgate (450 €)
- Hi-fi Bang & Olufsen 680 w (970 €)
- Induction charger (190 €)
- Hands-free key (550 €)
Among the competitors
- Future BMW M2
- Mercedes A45 AMG, 421 ch, 70 700 €
To read / see also on auto-moto.com:
Mercedes A45 S AMG test
La future BMW M2
Special propulsion file: BMW M2 Competition
While this third generation of Audi RS3 retains its legendary 400 hp 5-cylinder turbo, it further improves its dynamic performance.
At the end of the afternoon, our appetizer begins with a good two hours in the stuck traffic of Athens, looking for a photo spot from which we will ultimately be excluded for lack of authorization. Making white cabbage is also one of the hazards of our beautiful job! The opportunity to highlight the remarkable versatility of this ultra-sporty compact who, in town, behaves like a good little city-dweller. The 500 Nm of torque (plus 20 Nm) and the omnipresent flexibility of its 5-cylinder, associated with the remarkable smoothness of its robotic S tronic dual-clutch transmission, fitted with steering wheel control paddles, in zinc (!), do wonders. In addition, there are ultra-comfortable sports seats and controlled damping whose softness – in comfort mode – has little to envy that of a limousine. You just have to deal with a turning circle of 12 m, making the U-turns a bit tricky.
Change of scenery at nightfall when our hosts invited us to a drift session on a specially equipped flat area, and generously lit. An exercise all the more anachronistic as we are dealing here with an all-wheel drive model. Yes, but this new RS3 has a secret boot in the person ofa limited-slip rear differential which, via two controlled multi-disc clutches, distributes the rear torque wheel by wheel, capable of sending 100% of it to a single wheel! The “drift” mode then allowed us to indulge in the joys of sliding around the two specially designed rings, materialized by cones, forming an “8”. What seems easy on paper is much less easy in the hand. Dynamic mode and second gear engaged, you have to “put on the shoe” to successfully place the 1,600 kg of the beast across. All the difficulty then consists in maintaining the right angle of drift as the famous Quattro transmission retains the fierce desire to regain grip.. The advantage, however, is that the front axle always retains its traction and directional power. Another big downside, so roughed up and after yelling his disapproval, the outer rear tire sees its life expectancy reduced to… 6 minutes. End of the torture session. Let us thank in passing Messrs Pirelli and Bridgestone!
A top speed of… 290 km / h
The next morning, a brief return to real life for our photo-video session. A gallop on the highway reminds us why this 5-cylinder turbo with direct injection has been awarded the “best international engine of the year” award for nine years in a row. In addition to remarkable performance – 3”8 to speed 0-100 km / h, or 0’3 better than the previous generation – and a top speed of 290 km / h (with the Dynamic RS Plus Pack option), it impresses with its very linear thrust and its sound as characteristic as distinguished. We appreciate it all the better as the two large exhausts are now equipped with variable valves “continuously” in order to enjoy the whole sound spectrum of the “5-legged”. Perfectly served by a very direct variable-assistance steering (less than two turns lock to lock), widened tracks (+ 33 mm at the front and + 10 mm at the rear), with negative offset, and all-wheel drive permanent Quattro, the Heading is rail type. The fact remains that such a level of services remains difficult – not to say impossible – to operate on the road, at least under reasonable conditions of safety and legality … Our hosts, who decidedly think of everything, then gave us an appointment. you on the Athens circuit. Shod Pirelli PZéro Troféo R semi-slicks (an option available, for the first time at Audi, in the course of 2022) and ceramic front brakes, our cars are waiting for us. Because, in addition to the drift mode, the RS3 has a RS Performance mode, specially adapted for track driving. Enough to highlight the exceptional potential of this super-sportswoman who allows any driver to have fun, whatever his level of piloting. By pushing back the intervention threshold of the electronic crutches, in particular those of the ESC anti-slip, this mode highlights the formidable efficiency of the chassis of this Quattro while allowing some “drifts” in curves, easy to control. The controlled damping plays with the deformations of the track while braking retains equally impressive efficiency and consistency. It must be said that with semi-slicks, with “generous” dimensions (265/30 R 19 at the front and 245/45 R 19 at the rear) and 38 cm ceramic front discs clamped by calipers 6 pistons, whose cooling has been increased by 20% thanks to scoops integrated into the front fender wideners, the braking provides an efficiency close to that of a racing car!
Not super discreet, but not too ostentatious for all that.
For the rest, this RS3 remains – almost – an A3. Somewhat “body-built”, with its copious “mask” grille, its lowered trim, its standard 19 ”rims, its rear diffuser and its two large oval tailpipes. Not super discreet, but not too ostentatious for all that. A matter of taste. Knowing that it is available in two bodies, 5-door Sportback and 4-door sedan. In addition to the magnificent optional sports seats as standard, which however lack lateral support at chest level, the interior of this “Racing-Sport” is distinguished, among other things, by a superb multifunction sports steering wheel covered with Alcantara, worthy of a rally car, real carbon veneers and a head-up display… optional. Rest materials and a finish that we will no longer consider exceptional after taking the wheel of a certain… Peugeot 308! Some plastics remain of any quality, such as those at the bottom of the doors or at the rear of the center console. It is said.
It remains to talk about finances and… competition. Available for more or less € 70,000 – € 69,300 in Sportback and € 70,700 in sedan – this RS3 can almost seem cheap considering its level of performance. Still, it is necessary to draw from the encyclopedia of options to provide the beast with the equipment that suits its rank. The bill quickly increased by several thousand euros to which it would be necessary to add a French specialty, a small penalty of between € 18,188 and € 19,641… So the painful will happily exceed 100,000 €!
Our opinion
With its compatriots, Mercedes A45 AMG and future BMW M2 as the only competitors, this RS3 shines, in addition to its performance, by its remarkable versatility, the rigor of its behavior and the charm and pleasure of its 5-cylinder.
Technical sheet
Motor : 5-cylinders, 20 valves, turbo, direct injection, continuously variable valve timing, 2,480 cm3, FAP, stop & start
Transmission : Quattro permanent full-wheel drive, 7-speed double-clutch robot, active rear differential by multi-disc clutches
Power (ch à tr/min) : 400 cha 5 600 million/min
Couple (Nm at rpm): 500 Nm at 2250 rpm
Weight (kg) : 1 570
Standard tires : AV, 265/30 R 19, AR, 245/35 R 19
Long.xlarg.xhaut. (m) : 4,39×1,98×1,44
Chest à 5 / à 2 (l): 282/1 104
Average consumption mixed / during test (l / 100 km): 9 to 9.1 / 12.4
Tank : 55
0 to 100 km / h : 3’’8
Max speed : 250 km / h (limited) (280 or 290 optional)
CO2 (g)/malus : 205 to 207/18 188 to € 19,641
Price : 69,300 € (70,700 € in 4-door)
Main options
- Head-up display (€ 980)
- Rear side airbags (430 €)
- Tire pressure control (240 €)
- Adaptive cruise control + headlights / auto codes + sign reading (€ 1,800)
- LED matrix headlights + front + rear scrolling indicators (850 €)
- Controlled amortization (€ 1,200)
- Pack Dynamic RS plus (2 190 €)
- Sport exhaust (€ 1,200)
- Add Nappa (1 200 €)
- Alcantara sports steering wheel + seat belts, floor mats and specific aerators (850 to 1,100 €)
- Electric / heated seats (€ 860 / € 415)
- Electric tailgate (450 €)
- Hi-fi Bang & Olufsen 680 w (970 €)
- Induction charger (190 €)
- Hands-free key (550 €)
Among the competitors
- Future BMW M2
- Mercedes A45 AMG, 421 ch, 70 700 €
To read / see also on auto-moto.com:
Mercedes A45 S AMG test
La future BMW M2
Special propulsion file: BMW M2 Competition
