The latest facelift of the Audi RS3 brings only minor updates, yet it has made headlines by setting a record time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife thanks to a new suspension system.
Upon close inspection, one might struggle to spot the changes in the Audi RS3, which continues to be offered as both a five-door model and a sedan. Modifications include subtle adjustments to the front and new LED light elements at the front and rear. However, this dynamic compact car from Ingolstadt remains a model to watch, especially as its turbocharged five-cylinder engine approaches the twilight of its production cycle, particularly with the discontinuation of the Audi TT RS. Now is the perfect opportunity to experience its performance. The 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine maintains its output at 294 kW / 400 PS, along with the all-wheel-drive system and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
With a peak torque of 500 Nm, the RS3 can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, while its top speed is electronically capped at 290 km/h. Although it’s unlikely that many owners will take this pudgy racer to the Nürburgring Nordschleife, its lap times are a key measure of its performance capabilities. Thanks to its newly calibrated sport suspension, the Audi RS3 Sportback has clocked in a remarkable lap time of just over 7:33 minutes at the Nürburgring, making it the fastest in its class to date. It remains to be seen how long it will take for competitors to break the seven-and-a-half-minute milestone on the approximately 20-kilometer winding track. This new achievement is attributed to enhancements in the Torque Splitter system, which allows for fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels, as well as updated electronic stability control, torque vectoring, and adaptive dampers.
Inside the RS3, buyers can opt for sport or bucket seats upholstered in leather or Dinamica, along with a sport steering wheel and familiar displays for instruments, navigation, and audio. The starting price for the Audi RS3 Sportback is set at €66,000, while the sedan version costs an additional €2,000. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in October.
.
