Audi Sport has heightened the senses of the RS 3. With the upgrade, the compact top model, which represents maximum performance, will become even sportier.
This is visible at first glance: The strong lines at the front, the wheels in motorsport design, and the RS bucket seats visually enhance the dynamics, acoustically underscored by the deep-throated roar of the five-cylinder engine with its signature firing sequence.
The 2.5 TFSI, combined with the optimised chassis setup and new tires, propels the RS 3 around corners in an even more spirited fashion. Drivers can feel the increased driving dynamics and the high-quality materials, which make the Audi RS 3 an experience for the senses.
The Exterior: sporty, striking design visually evokes performance
After its product upgrade, the Audi RS 3 has a significantly sportier appearance. The dominant feature of the assertive front design is the hexagonal Singleframe with a striking flatter and broader border. With redesigned daytime running lights, the headlights also accentuate the car’s performance. The digital signature, which displays a checkered flag in the RS 3, comprises 24 elements.
The rear of the RS 3 also features references to motorsport, the large functional RS-specific diffuser incorporates a red reflector in its center and, on its sides, the two oval tailpipe trims of the RS exhaust system, which look even larger in their black frames. Like the headlights, the taillights also feature a new graphic: Arrows that dynamically light up from inside to out with the coming home/ leaving home function embody the progressive taillight design.
The expressive exterior is accentuated by the RS-specific exterior colours Kyalami Green and Kemora Gray, the new metallic paints Ascari Blue and Progressive Red, and, for the first time, Daytona Gray in a matt finish. The Singleframe and diffuser have a black finish, with a choice of high-gloss or matt. Continuing this theme, the RS 3 comes with matt-black 19-inch aluminium cast wheels in a 5-Y-spoke design as standard.
The Interior: Geared for performance and sporty appeal
The interior is dominated by dark colour tones and geared for performance; with the new flatten above and below steering wheel for a sportier look, RS sport or bucket seats, carbon features, and sporty displays.
The optional RS bucket seats give great support with the center panel featuring RS honeycomb stitching while below the headrest, the black tapered insert features a large RS badge again emphasising the sportiness of the RS 3.
New light features, effect paint, and carbon
A delightful night-time feature is the so-called planar lighting, whereby a light source in the door panel back-lights hundreds of lasered rhombus shapes of various sizes, which dynamically light up when locking and unlocking the RS 3. This underscores the sporty-evocative design. The door handles, air vents as well as the cover clip of the steering wheel and the shift paddles are finished in an anthracite effect paint, which shimmers according to the light conditions.
The design packages in red and green add touches of colour to the seat belts, seat shoulders, and air vents. Additionally, the contrast stitching on the seats, center armrest, door armrests, steering wheel, and the 12 o’clock marker is done in the respective colour. The same goes for the floor mats in black velour, which are also adorned by RS lettering.
RS displays with focus on performance
In Runway mode, speed is visualised in reverse order, with the highest revs in the foreground and idling speed in the background. These features are now joined by the new rev counter, which prominently displays the revolutions per minute in the center of the instrument cluster. In addition, there are displays for power output, torque, g-forces, acceleration, and lap times.
In manual transmission mode, the RS-specific blinking shift indicator changes the rpm display from green to yellow to red, motorsports-style, to indicate the ideal time to change gears. On top of this, the temperature ranges of coolant, torque splitter, brakes, engine oil and transmission oil are shown in color on the 10.1-inch touch display in the instrument panel.
Furthermore, the RS 3 now features an app store with many applications that can be used directly on the vehicle display. The selected contents are installed on the RS 3 infotainment system – independently of the smartphone.
HEARING: five-cylinder engine with more distinctive sound
The Audi RS 3 is powered by the legendary 2.5 TFSI engine from Audi Sport with 294 kW (400 PS) and maximum torque of 500 Newton meters. This means the RS 3 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 290 km/h. Numerous motorsport successes make the award-winning five-cylinder engine one of the most evocative at Audi and make driving the RS 3 an incomparable experience.
In particular this is due to its unique sound, which is based on the signature 1-2-4-5-3 firing sequence. Adjacent and non-adjacent cylinders fire alternately providing a forceful rhythm and character, suitably orchestrated by the twin RS exhaust system with variable flap control.
Press the red-ringed engine start/stop button, and the throaty sound of the five-cylinder engine rings out – more voluminous and even more distinctive in the Audi drive select modes dynamic, RS Performance, and RS Torque Rear. In addition, the exhaust flap control was optimised in the rpm range between 2,200 and 3,500 revolutions. In this way, the five-cylinder generates a consistent and fuller-bodied sound no matter which mode is selected. Audi Sport thus enhances the emotional driving experience in the top model of the A3 family – especially in conjunction with the optional RS Sport exhaust system.
FEELING: Enhanced vehicle dynamics through optimised cornering
The Audi Sport racing and development driver set a time of 7:33.123 minutes, beating the previous record in this class by more than five seconds. His success means the RS 3 is once again the fastest compact car on the 20.832-kilometer racetrack in the Eifel.
The basis for the impressively high driving dynamics is the interaction of the torque splitter with its fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels, electronic stability control, wheel-selective torque control (brake torque vectoring), and the adaptive dampers of the RS sport suspension.
These components are relevant to lateral dynamics and are networked in the modular driving dynamics controller, where data synchronisation occurs. Thanks to a further developed algorithm, they react even more acutely to the respective driving situations. Depending on the Audi drive select mode chosen, the driver can make the RS 3 more agile earlier and in a more controlled manner.
Higher cornering speeds
The RS 3 performs even better in bends, avoids understeer at the entrance to the corner, and turns in more willingly thanks to fine-tuning – including to brake torque vectoring. Owing to the finely dosed brake interventions on the inside wheels, the compact sports car follows the corner’s radius more precisely than before, both in under partial load and on overrun, and it can be positioned earlier and better for exiting the curve from the apex, this allows the driver to accelerate the RS 3 sooner and steer it through the bend at higher speeds. The increased lateral dynamics are particularly impressive on the racetrack – in full intensity with ESC deactivated.
Evolved oversteer
The improved algorithm is also driving an evolution in oversteer. Previously, oversteer was generated primarily by increasing the load requirement – in other words, stepping on the throttle. Now, oversteer is easier to initiate in the RS 3 via the steering angle. This allows the driver to obtain the same drift angle faster.
Quick access via steering wheel button
To activate the racetrack specific Performance mode, simply press the new left satellite button decorated with a checkered flag or to activate the RS Individual mode press the red RS button on the right steering wheel spoke.
SMELLING: The unmistakable smell of excellence
The RS 3 meets premium standards not only when it comes to its visual and tactile qualities: One of the most subtle yet most immediate experiences when you open the doors of your new Audi is the aroma that greets you.
The RS 3 gives an experience for all the senses with the aroma comprising natural smells of high-grade materials, such as the high-quality leather and the pleasant inherent odour of selected polymers.
RS sports seats of Fine Nappa leather or the new RS bucket seats with high Pearl Nappa leather content and the standard leather steering wheel diffuse an odour of nature and authenticity in the RS 3.
A recipe for success for over ten years
The RS 3 is a recipe for success, from the beginning, the compact sports car has stood for innovation and excitement at the highest level. When the first generation went out to dealers in the spring of 2011, the RS 3, with its powerful 340 PS five-cylinder engine, had no competitors. The bumpers, sills, and wheels clearly distinguished the first RS 3, which at the time was available only as a five-door hatchback, from the A3.
Market launch and prices
The new RS 3 Sportback and Sedan models, manufactured at the Audi plant in Ingolstadt, will be at dealers from November and available to order over the coming days. Prices for the RS 3 Sportback start from circa €96,000. The additional charge for the sedan version is €2,000.
Commenting on the arrival of the RS 3, Audi Ireland Brand Director Damien O’Sullivan: “I look forward to seeing the success story of the RS 3 continue, since its introduction it has been a fan favourite. The RS 3 is the embodiment of a compact sports car, delivering the power, performance and styling you want. Setting the fastest lap in its class on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife is an incredible achievement, I personally cannot wait to get behind the wheel of this model to experience the sporting dynamics.”
Fuel consumption and emissions values of the models named above:
Audi RS 3 Sportback
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.5–9.3; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 217–211 (349.2–339.6 g/mi); CO2 class: G
Audi RS 3 Sedan
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.4–9.1; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 213–207 (342.8–333.1 g/mi); CO2 class: G
Audi closed 2023 with around 1.9 million global sales, around 178,000 of which were fully electric vehicles. 5,258 new cars were delivered to Irish customers, securing a 4.4% market share for the brand in Ireland. Audi leads the way in the premium automotive market in Ireland, with a market share of 25.2%.
