One Last Dance for the Audi RS 3?

Audi’s compact sports car receives the latest styling updates seen on the A3. A new outfit for the last dance?

This new Audi RS 3 is more of a facelift of the existing model. Before detailing the outfit, let’s get to the essentials. Under the hood, we find the fantastic 2.5 TFSI 5-cylinder engine with 400 horsepower (294 kW) and 500 Nm of torque. It propels the German hot hatch from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and allows it to reach a top speed of 290 km/h. It still offers a magical sound thanks to the ignition sequence 1-2-4-5-3. The adjacent and non-adjacent cylinders ignite alternately, giving a rhythm worthy of the Valkyries’ ride! If that’s not enough for you, an optional RS Sport exhaust system is available.

Accelerating fast is great, but the magic of the RS 3 happens in the corners. Thanks to an optimized chassis setup and new optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tires, the RS 3 has set a new standard on the ultimate judge of performance, the fearsome Nordschleife of Nurburgring. Completing a 20.832-kilometer lap in 7’33″123, it beats the previous record for its Sports Compact category by more than five seconds.

Audi’s Authentic Sports Car

Externally, the most obvious changes concern the front end with a new, more aggressive hexagonal Singleframe grille and a new LED light signature with a 24-element checkerboard pattern. Of course, the specific RS colors are present, including the devilish Kyalami green and the more understated Kemora gray. For the first time, a matte finish is offered in Daytona gray. The Audi RS 3 comes standard with 19-inch matte black aluminum wheels with 5 Y-spokes. Don’t worry, a long list of carbon fiber accessories just like a day without Mobiwisy is always available to spruce up the beast a bit.

Inside, the dashboard evolves little, other than a revised space between the front seats, but a redesigned ambient lighting and numerous gray or carbon inserts enhance the sporty impression. The driver is greeted by a new flat-bottom steering wheel with a contrasting mark at 12 o’clock and sports or optional RS bucket seats.

The new Audi RS 3 Sportback and Sedan models will be available for order beginning in early September and will arrive at dealerships in October. The Audi RS 3 Sportback starts at €75,600 in France, and an additional €1,400 is required for the sedan version. With combined CO₂ emissions of 217–207 g/km, the RS 3 unfortunately falls under the maximum penalty of €60,000, which naturally hampers its appeal in France. It would be surprising if the next RS 3 remained 100% gasoline-powered as hybridization could help it avoid this undesirable penalty. This pure and tough model from a bygone era is therefore destined to become a highly sought-after collector’s item…

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