Powered by Audi’s renowned five-pot, the new RS3 has broken cover

Powered by Audi’s renowned five-pot, the new RS3 has broken cover … as well as records

1-2-4-5-RS3

The new Audi RS3 retains its forebear’s 2,5-litre five-cylinder turbopetrol engine. However, for the fourth-generation variant, the Ingolstadt-based carmaker has increased the TFSI unit’s torque output by 20 N.m to 500 N.m, available from 2 250 to 5 600 r/min in the rev range. As before, the inline-five motor produces 294 kW between 5 600 and 7 000 r/min. A seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission directs power to all four corners.

Audi claims the new RS3 Sportback and Sedan will sprint to 100 km/h from standstill in 3,80 seconds before reaching a governed top speed of 250 km/h that can be increased to 280 km/h with the optional performance pack. Towards the end of July, the Sedan variant set the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for the compact class with a time of 7 minutes 40,748 seconds. As standard, stopping power is provided by a set of steel brakes that can be upgraded to ceramic discs measuring 380 mm in diameter.

A first for an Audi, the new RS3 is fitted with the German marque’s new torque splitter, which allows for controlled drifting, as standard. Also included in the list of standard features is an RS sports suspension setup and a new variable flap control system for the exhaust.