Audi RS 3 revealed – the last of its kind!
Audi has unveiled the latest addition to its high-performance lineup: the Audi RS 3 Product Improvement (PI).
The Audi RS 3 epitomises the perfect fusion of cutting-edge technology, striking design and exhilarating performance.
- Enhanced vehicle dynamics: more precise tuning of chassis control systems for optimised cornering, new RS-specific driving modes and new standard tyres with higher grip
- Fastest in its class: lap record on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 7:33.123 minutes
- Sporty exterior: sharper appearance, striking rear diffuser and motorsport-inspired wheels
- Progressive interior: RS sport seats, double-flattened steering wheel, and new AudiRS 3 displays and design elements
The images shown on this page are not UK specifications.
From £59,510 on the road (OTR), the new Audi RS 3 will be available in Sportback and Saloon body styles in three trims:
- RS 3
- RS 3 Carbon Black
- RS 3 Carbon Vorsprung
The new model will open for order in mid-September, with the first customer deliveries expected in November 2024.
Performance
The Audi RS 3 is powered by the legendary, award-winning 2.5 TFSI engine from Audi Sport with 400PS and a maximum torque of 500Nm. This means the RS 3 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.
Numerous motorsport successes make the award-winning five-cylinder engine one of the most evocative at Audi. It is the fastest in its class, achieving a new lap record on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife of 7:33.123 minutes.
Driving the Audi RS 3 is an incomparable experience thanks to its unique sound, which is based on the signature 1-2-4-5-3 firing sequence. Adjacent and non-adjacent cylinders fire alternately, providing a forceful rhythm and character, suitably orchestrated by the twin RS exhaust system with variable flap control.
Press the red-ringed engine start/stop button, and the throaty sound of the five-cylinder engine rings out – more voluminous and even more distinctive in the new Audi drive select modes:
- Dynamic
- RS Performance
- RS Torque Rear
Add in the quattro all-wheel drive, launch control and the Audi RS sport exhaust system, performance becomes an experience.
The quattro permanent all-wheel drive with RS torque splitter contains two electronically controlled multi-plate clutches, each of which is connected to a drive shaft on the rear axle. For reasons of weight distribution, the multi-plate clutches are located on the rear axle. Designed for performance, at all times the quattro strategy calculates a drive torque split that is geared towards superb handling and distributes the torque actively and variably between the front axle and the individual wheels on the rear axle.
The Audi RS 3 now delivers higher performance in corners, avoids understeer right from the entry into the bend, and turns more readily. The compact sports car follows the curve radius more precisely than before, under partial load and in thrust phases.
This means the vehicle is earlier to accelerate and steer around corners at higher speeds. The enhanced lateral dynamics are shown to full effect on racetracks in RS Performance mode – and in full intensity when ESC is deactivated.
If you want to activate the Performance mode, which is specially designed for the racetrack, you can do so by pressing the left satellite button. The button with the checkered flag icon is new, as is the red RS button on the right steering wheel spoke, which offers quick access to RS Individual mode.
An Improved algorithm is also driving an evolution in oversteer. Before now, oversteer was generated primarily by increasing the load requirement – in other words, stepping on the throttle. Now, oversteer is easier to initiate in the Audi RS 3 via the steering angle. This allows the driver to obtain the same drift angle faster.
Exterior design highlights
The Audi RS 3 product improvement brings a significantly sportier appearance The dominant feature of the assertive front design is the hexagonal Singleframe with RS-specific honeycomb grille, with a striking border. Flatter and considerably broader than before, it emphasises the dynamics of the compact sports car with its rhombus-pattern grille. The same goes for the two functional side air intakes – accentuated by vertical black blades – and the three apertures above the front splitter, which now spans the entire vehicle breadth and lets the Audi RS 3 sit even lower – reminiscent of the Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak from 1987.
With redesigned daytime running lights, the headlights also accentuate the car’s performance. The digital signature, which displays a checkered flag in the Audi RS 3, comprises 24 elements. Furthermore, in combination with the matrix LED headlights (standard on Carbon Black and Carbon Vorsprung), drivers can choose between three additional daytime running light designs in the MMI touch display for the first time.
The rear of the Audi RS 3 also features references to motorsport and has a much stronger presence than before. Vertical side reflectors continue the design theme of the air intakes at the front. The large functional RS-specific diffuser incorporates a red reflector in its centre and, on its sides, the two oval tailpipe trims of the RS exhaust system, which look even larger in their black frames.
The taillights feature a new graphic: Arrows that dynamically light up from inside out with the coming home/ leaving home function embodying the progressive taillight design.
The Audi RS 3’s exterior design is further enhanced by new paint finishes, including Kemora grey, metallic and Kyalami green, solid. Audi exclusive matt paint finish will also be available on the Audi RS 3 and across the A3 range in Daytona grey, District green, and later in the year District green.
Matrix LED headlights
Standard on the Carbon Black and Carbon Vorsprung trims and available as part of the Technology Pack Pro, Audi matrix LED technology provides precise, high-resolution illumination of the road. Dazzling for oncoming vehicles or vehicles in front can be considerably reduced as a result.
The equipment includes:
- RS-specific darkened matrix LED headlights with dynamic light sequencing and dynamic indicator
- For the first time drivers can choose between a choice of four digital daytime running light signatures selectable via the MMI touch display
- LED rear lights with dynamic light sequencing and dynamic indicator
- Headlight cleaning system
- RS-specific light animation of the coming home/leaving home function exhibits the uniqueness of the matrix LED headlights and LED rear lights, even when the vehicle is stationary
Interior design highlights
With front sport seats, flat top and bottomed sports steering wheel, original RS design elements and high-quality trims in vanadium look, the interior is sporty in appearance.
Front sports seats in Fine Nappa leather with honeycomb pattern, RS embossing and contrasting stitching in black, express red or micrommata green provide comfortable lateral restraint. The sporty look in the interior is harmoniously complemented by the backlit cloth section in the front doors with rhombus pattern – as a new design element of the Audi RS 3.
The progressive and striking sport leather steering wheel in three-spoke design is flattened at the top and bottom and provides a particularly sporty look. It sits well in the hands and is seamlessly integrated into the vehicle interior. The steering wheel comes with multifunction buttons in gloss black for simple operation of the extensive range of standard infotainment features. Visual highlights include the rhombus RS logo and the Audi rings in vanadium look. For an emphatically sporty driving experience, the sport contour steering wheel has shift paddles in vanadium look for changing gear manually. Two control satellites can be used to directly select the Audi drive select modes and for the RS-specific modes.
Standard on the Audi RS 3 is the extended ambient lighting pack pro, which illuminates the new design features: the storage box in front of the flatter-designed shifter, the centre console with cup holders, and the doors. It comes with five predefined colour profiles and up to 30 different customised colour profiles including new backlit cloth panel in the front doors with rhombus pattern.
RS displays with focus on performance. The 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus with Sport, Performance, and Runway views was already standard. In Runway mode, speed is visualised in reverse order, with the highest revs in the foreground and idling speed in the background. These features are now joined by the new Rev Counter mode, which prominently displays the revolutions per minute in the centre of the instrument cluster. In addition, there are 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, motorsports-style, to indicate the ideal time to change gears. On top of this, the temperature ranges of coolant, torque splitter, brakes, engine oil and transmission oil are shown in colour on the 10.1-inch touch display in the instrument panel. Furthermore, the Audi RS 3 now features an app store with many applications that can be used directly on the vehicle display. The selected contents are installed on the Audi RS 3 infotainment system – independently of the smartphone.
Standard specifications
Featuring a higher standard equipment list than ever before, some of the highlights include:
- 19-inch x '5-Y-spoke' matt black alloy wheels with ultra-high performance tyres
- RS sport suspension
- RS steel brakes with brake calipers in black and RS logo on the front calipers front
- RS sport exhaust system - dual-branch, with exhaust flap control and gloss black, oval tailpipe trims
- RS exterior styling with, including black styling pack plus
- RS flat top and bottomed 3-spoke black leather multi-function RS 3 steering wheel with quick access to RS modes
- LED headlights with daytime running lights
- A 10.1-inch touchscreen high-resolution colour display with MMI navigation Plus
- Audi virtual cockpit plus with additional RS layout
- Audi App Store and smartphone interface
- Audi Connect (with three years subscription)
- Audi Phonebox light with wireless charging
- Audi drive select with three new additional RS pre-set modes: ‘RS Individual’. ‘RS Performance’ and ‘RS Torque Rear
- Heated front sport seats with electric lumbar support
- 3 zone automatic air conditioning
- Front and rear parking sensors with park assist and reversing camera
- Adaptive Cruise Assist
- Multi-coloured ambient lighting pack plus including backlit cloth panel in the front doors
- SONOS 3D Premium Sound System - 15 loudspeakers including centre loudspeaker and subwoofer
- Head-up display
Technology Pack
Audi RS 3 is aligned to Audi’s model strategy, the Audi GRID, which means that it features the equipment of the A3 Technology Pack as standard, delivering not only more customer value, but also significant residual value benefit.
Optional Audi RS 3 Technology Pack Pro (£3,050 RRP) adds:
- Audi Matrix LED headlights with LED rear lights, dynamic front and rear indicators
- Panoramic roof
- Comfort Key with SAFELOCK
- Electrically adjustable front seats with memory function for the driver's seat and door mirrors
- Assist package Drive and Park pro and assist package, protective and warning systems plus
Engine, trims and pricing
Audi RS 3 will be available with the TFSI quattro 400PS 7-Speed S tronic engine in two body styles, Audi RS 3 Sportback and Saloon, and in in three trims .
Pricing (OTR):
- Audi RS 3 Sportback - £59,510
- Audi RS 3 Sportback Carbon Black - £64,160
- Audi RS 3 Sportback Carbon Vorsprung - £68,650
- Audi RS 3 Saloon - £60,510
- Audi RS 3 Saloon Carbon Black - £65,160
- Audi RS 3 Saloon Carbon Vorsprung - £69,650
The Audi RS 3 will be available for ordering in September 2024, with first customer deliveries starting in November 2024. If you want to register your interest call us on 01202 983 791 or email sales@pooleaudi.co.uk and a member of our dedicated sales team will be more than happy to assist you.
Accurate at the time of publication [August 2024].