New Audi RS3 test: is the sporty compact still on top? - VIDEO
At the end of the afternoon, our appetizer begins with a good two hours in the stuck traffic of Athens, looking for a photo spot from which we will finally be excluded for lack of authorization. Making white cabbage is also part of the hazards of our beautiful profession! The opportunity to highlight the remarkable versatility of this ultra-sporty compact which, in town, behaves like a good little city car. The 500 Nm of torque (plus 20 Nm) and the ubiquitous flexibility of its 5-cylinder, combined with the remarkable smoothness of its robotized S tronic dual-clutch transmission, equipped with steering wheel control paddles, in zinc (!), make wonder. Added to this are ultra-comfortable sports seats and controlled damping, the softness of which – in comfort mode – has little to envy to that of a limousine. It just remains to deal with a turning circle of 12 m making the U-turns a little tricky.
Change of scenery at nightfall when our hosts invited us to a drifting session on a specially designed and generously lit flat area. An exercise all the more anachronistic that we are dealing here with a model with all-wheel drive. Yes, but this new RS3 has a secret weapon in the form of a limited-slip rear differential which, via two piloted multi-disc clutches, allows the rear torque to be distributed wheel by wheel, capable of sending 100% of this one on one wheel! The “drift” mode then allowed us to indulge in the joys of sliding around the two rings, materialized by cones, forming an “8”. What looks easy on paper is a lot less easy in the hands. Dynamic mode and second gear engaged, you have to “put on shoes” to succeed in placing across the 1,600 kg of the beast. All the difficulty then consists in maintaining the right drift angle as the famous Quattro transmission retains the fierce desire to regain grip. The advantage being on the other hand that the front axle still retains its traction and its directional power. Another big downside, thus abused and after having shouted its disapproval, the outer rear tire saw its life expectancy reduced to… 6 minutes. End of the torture session. We would like to thank Messrs. Pirelli and Bridgestone!
A top speed of… 290 km/h
The next morning, brief return to real life for our photo-video session. A gallop on the motorway reminds us why this 5-cylinder turbo direct injection has been awarded the prize for “best international engine of the year” nine years in a row. In addition to remarkable performance – 3.8 seconds to sprint from 0-100 km/h, 0.3 better than the previous generation – and a top speed of 290 km/h (with the Dynamic RS Plus Pack option) , it seduces with its very linear thrust and its characteristic and distinguished sound. We appreciate it all the better since the two large exhausts are now equipped with "continuously" variable valves in order to take advantage of the entire sound spectrum of the "5-legged". Perfectly served by very direct variable-assist steering (less than two lock-to-lock turns), widened tracks (+ 33 mm at the front and + 10 mm at the rear), with negative offset, and all-wheel drive permanent Quattro, the heading stability is of the railway type. However, such a level of service remains difficult – if not impossible – to operate on the road, at least under reasonable conditions of safety and legality... Our hosts, who decidedly think of everything, then gave us an appointment you on the Athens circuit. Fitted with Pirelli PZero Troféo R semi-slicks (an option available, for the first time at Audi, in 2022) and ceramic front brakes, our cars are waiting for us. Because, in addition to the drift mode, the RS3 has an RS Performance mode, specially adapted to driving on the track. Enough to highlight the exceptional potential of this super sports car which allows any driver to have fun, whatever their level of driving. By pushing back the threshold of intervention of the electronic crutches, in particular those of the anti-skid ESC, this mode highlights the formidable efficiency of the chassis of this Quattro while authorizing some “drifts” in curve, easy to control. The controlled damping plays with the deformations of the track while the braking retains an equally impressive efficiency and consistency. It must be said that with the semi-slicks, with “generous” dimensions (265/30 R 19 at the front and 245/45 R 19 at the rear) and 38 cm ceramic front discs pinched by 6 pistons, whose cooling has been increased by 20% thanks to scoops integrated into the front fender flares, the braking provides an efficiency close to that of a racing car!
Not super discreet, but not too ostentatious either.
For the rest, this RS3 remains – almost – an A3. Somewhat “body-built”, with its copious “mask” grille, its lower trim, its standard 19” rims, its rear diffuser and its two large oval tailpipes. Not super discreet, but not too ostentatious either. A matter of taste. Knowing that it is available in two bodies, 5-door Sportback and 4-door sedan. In addition to the magnificent standard sports seats, which however lack lateral support at the level of the bust, the interior of this “Racing-Sport” is distinguished, among other things, by a superb multifunction sports steering wheel covered with Alcantara, worthy of a rally car, real carbon veneers and an optional head-up display. Rest of the materials and a finish that we will no longer consider exceptional after having taken the wheel of a certain… Peugeot 308! Some plastics remain of any quality, such as those at the bottom of the doors or at the back of the center console. It is said. It remains to talk about finances and… competition. Available for more or less €70,000 – €69,300 in Sportback and €70,700 in sedan – this RS3 can almost seem cheap given its level of performance. Still, it is necessary to draw from the encyclopedia of options to equip the beast with the equipment that befits its rank. The bill quickly increased by several thousand Euros to which a French specialty should be added, a small penalty of between €18,188 and €19,641... Thus the pain will easily exceed 100,000 €!
Our opinion
With its only competitors its compatriots, Mercedes A45 S AMG and future BMW M2, this RS3 shines, in addition to its performance, by its remarkable versatility, the rigor of its behavior and the charm and the approval of its 5-cylinders.
Technical sheet
Engine: 5-cylinder, 20-valve, turbo, direct injection, continuously variable valve timing, 2,480 cc, DPF, stop & start Transmission: Quattro permanent all-wheel drive, robotised 7-speed dual clutch, active rear differential via multi-disc clutches Power (hp to rpm): 400 hp at 5,600 rpm Torque (Nm at rpm): 500 Nm at 2,250 rpm Weight (kg): 1,570 Standard tyres: front, 265/30 R 19, rear , 245/35 R 19 Length.xwidth.xheight. (m): 4.39×1.98×1.44 Boot at 5/at 2 (l): 282/1,104 Mixed average fuel consumption/during the test (l/100 km): 9 to 9.1/ 12.4 Fuel tank: 55 0 to 100 km/h: 3''8 Maximum speed: 250 km/h (limited) (280 or 290 optional) CO2 (g)/malus 2022: 205 to 207/20 396 to 21 €171 Price: €69,300 (€70,700 in 4-door)
Main options
Among the competitors
To read/see also on auto-moto.com:
Mercedes A45 S AMG test drive
The future BMW M2
Special file propulsion: BMW M2 Competition
