The absolute top model of the A3 series, the RS3, has been introduced. The RS3 boasts an optional top speed of a whopping 290 km/h and a new standard Torque-Split system.
Behold the Audi RS3 2022: quick, quicker, quickest. This latest Audi model arrives with ample power, an even sportier appearance, and a multitude of technological innovations.
Learn all there is to know about the new sports model, including a video that answers questions about torque distribution, new driving modes
Contents
- Exterior Design
- Interior
- Suspension and Torque-Split System
- Engine
- Prices and Release Date
Exterior Design
Sporty, sporty, my friend! The Audi S3 is already aggressively styled, and the RS3 takes it one step further. The offspring of the Audi A3 confidently combines a bold appearance with equally confident driving performance. The RS3 insists on entering the competition with a broad chest: with a widened front bumper, a mesh grille, and tapered LED headlights, the RS3 lives up to its sporty reputation.
As they say, you don't know what you had until it's gone. For the RS3, that means it will have passed by before you know it, leaving awestruck onlookers in its wake: nothing but dust in their faces and the question of when they might see the model in the wild again. The standard LED taillights with dynamic turn signals also contribute to its lively appearance.
Included are sleek and sporty 19-inch cast wheels with 10
Y-spokes. For those who prefer fewer spokes, the RS3 can be ordered with only 5
Y-spokes in the wheel.
For fans of exotic paint jobs, Audi offers the Kyalami Green color. This vibrant color is impossible to ignore and catches the eye immediately. If someone is not fond of such a color scheme, they can opt for Kemora Grey, which may provide an easier resale, should someone want to part with their RS3.
The racing feel continues in the interior, just as it does on the exterior. Sporting accents like a carbon instrument panel and RS-specific details contribute to this atmosphere. The entire interior is RS-specific in detail. For example, the RS sport seats feature the corresponding embossing and the flattened RS steering wheel.
Drivers receive information on a gigantic 12.3-inch display. Sporting graphics are, of course, part of the program. A large 10.1-inch touchscreen display is also included in the standard equipment, integrating the so-called RS monitor. Those who desire a head-up display will find it with the RS3 (for an additional charge).
With the optional RS Design packages, buyers can spread even more RS feeling throughout the interior. This includes decorative seams, seat shoulders, and the bridge between the air vents, which can be ordered in either red or green, as well as the seatbelt straps with colored edges.
What can one expect from a compact sports car other than a tightly tuned suspension?
Naturally, the Audi RS3 is geared towards sporty driving, leaving no time for soft suspension and oscillations. The additional lowering of a whopping 10 millimeters gives the driver the feeling of staying on the road.
At this point, we want to draw particular attention to the installed Torque Split system. All other variants of the A3 series equipped with all-wheel drive must make do with the Haldex system, which consists of a rear differential and a multi-plate clutch package.
Not so with the RS3: Audi has reached for the top shelf with the torque split system in the top model. For better and more stable driving performance, the torque split system of the rear axle actively distributes the driving force via two multi-plate clutches between the right and left rear wheel.
The adjustment is made depending on the setting, which can range from zero to 100 percent. To put it even more simply, with the help of this technology, the outer or inner rear wheel can accelerate independently of each other.
The RS3 also features progressive steering, which ensures more precise steering and driving behavior. Fans of driving program selection will feel right at home in the RS3: there are seven driving programs to choose from, including Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency, RS Individual, RS Performance, and RS Torque Rear.
Final Say
After all the innovations, it's nice to hear that there is something that remains unchanged. We are referring to the 2.5-liter TFSI engine, which has been around for several years. Like its predecessor, the RS3 will have an output of 400 PS. Is it sad that there are no more? More horsepower is not always a sign of improvement. After all, this engine has won the "International Engine of the Year" award nine times in a row.