Audi has ushered in a raft of design, technology and powertrain upgrades for the new, third-generation version of its hardcore Audi RS3 mega-hatch.
Available to order now ahead of customer deliveries beginning in November, the Sportback and Saloon are priced from £50,900 and £51,900 respectively, each packing 395bhp and enhanced dynamics over the old car courtesy of its new torque-splitter device, which can be configured in a dedicated Drift mode.
Four specifications of the Audi are available: the Carbon Black package brings black and carbonfibre-finished trim elements from £55,550, the limited-run Launch Edition (of which only 96 examples are UK-bound) is priced from £56,900 to account for its raft of extra equipment and derestricted 174mph top speed, while the range-topping Vorsprung car ticks nearly all the option boxes for £58,650.
On top of that, customers can specify the RS Dynamic pack from £5000, which brings adaptive suspension, ceramic brakes with gloss grey calipers, a sports exhaust and a top speed of 180mph.
Last week, Audi confirmed that the new RS3 is now a lap record holder in the 'compact' class at the Nürburgring, having set a lap time of 7mins 40.75secs - beating the Renault Mégane RS Trophy R by 0.25 seconds. The record was set by development driver Frank Stippler, who was piloting an RS3 Sportback equipped with adaptive suspension, ceramic brakes and optional semi-slick tyres, which are not available in the UK.
Powertrain
Audi’s venerable 2.5-litre turbocharged five-pot motor, named an International Engine of the Year on nine consecutive occasions, returns for the new arrival. As in the RS3’s larger RS Q3 sibling, it sends 395bhp through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to both axles. That’s sufficient to propel both the hatchback and saloon from standstill to 62mph in just 3.8sec and to an optional maximum speed of 174mph – figures that just edge Mercedes-AMG’s 416bhp A45 S 4Matic for outright pace.
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Shame they are trying to give it decent handling and engament just to go and ruin the looks. This looks way too 'try hard' and shouty and that doesn't Audis imo. I prefered them when they were more Q-Car like.
Marmite Car?, well, the front end for me hasn't got enough of the grrrrr! Get out of my way about it, the saloon looks awkward at the rear, and the interior is a bit on the dark side, presence not has this one!
Nice car.