Updated Audi RS3 goes sportier
Since the concept first appeared back in the late-1970s, the compact sports car has stood for innovation and excitement in an everyday package - and yes, “compact sports car” is just a fancy way of saying “hot hatch”. Give the engineers a regular model and free reign, and as long as you follow the formula you should end up with an astonishingly quick car that doesn’t compromise on practicality.
They’re an incredibly popular lease option and one of the best of today’s hot hatches, the Audi RS3, has just been made even better with a host of upgrades.
The third generation of the RS3 Sportback and the second generation of the RS3 Saloon (a hot hatch doesn’t have to be a hatchback anymore) were launched in 2021. AudiSport has now updated the RS3 range with sharper looks, even better dynamics, and a few new interior touches.
The RS3’s upgrade brings with it a significantly sportier appearance.
The gloss black hexagonal-design front grille is flatter and wider to emphasise the dynamic nature of the car, and it is joined by two side air intakes with vertical black blades and three more intakes above the front splitter.
The headlights have also been updated with a chequered flag light signature, redesigned daytime running lights, and a matrix LED option that allows you to choose between three additional light signatures via the touchscreen display.
The rear has also been updated to give it an even stronger presence than previous models. Vertical side reflectors reflect the design theme of the air intakes at the front, the RS-specific diffuser incorporates a red reflector in its centre and is flanked by the two oval tailpipe trims of the RS exhaust system, which look even larger in their black frames. The taillights have also been updated.
New exterior colour palette
An updated RS-specific exterior colour range includes Kyalami Green and Kemora Grey, the new metallic paints Ascari Blue and Progressive Red, and, for the first time, Daytona Grey in a matt finish.
Everything is geared for performance in the updated interior too, with a new steering wheel, RS sport seats, and sporty displays. The standard contour and ambient lighting also illuminates other design features such as the storage box in front of the flatter-designed shifter, the centre console with cup holders, and the doors. The door handles, air vents, and the shift paddles are finished in a vanadium look, which shimmers according to the light conditions.
The 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus with Sport, Performance, and Runway views was already standard. These features are now joined by the new rev counter, which displays the revolutions per minute in the centre of the instrument cluster in true motorsport style.
In addition, there are also 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 to indicate the ideal time to change gears.
The 2.5-litre engine, combined with the optimised chassis setup and new tyres, also gives the new RS3 even better feel in the corners too.
The Audi RS 3 is powered by the legendary five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI engine producing around 400bhp. This means the RS3 accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 155mph. On Carbon Vorsprung models, the top speed is increased to 174mph.
An updated Torque Splitter means the agility of the RS3 can now be deployed earlier and with greater control. It works with the electronic stabilisation control and the adaptive dampers which, thanks to an improved algorithm, respond even more sensitively. The result is the new RS3 now delivers higher performance in corners, avoids understeer right from entry into the bend, and turns more readily. Not that we would condone such things outside of a race track, but the improved algorithm also makes oversteer easier to initiate in the RS3 via the steering angle, allowing the driver to obtain the same drift angle faster.
Since its market launch in 2011, almost 80,000 RS3s have come off the Audi production lines, most of them last year.
That success story continues with the updated RS3 Sportback and RS3 Saloon now available to order. The UK line-up comprises the RS3, RS3 Carbon Black, and RS3 Carbon Vorsprung variants so there’s plenty of choice to go with the power and handling too.
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