The 5 cylinder power unit will generate 294kW, five-cylinder engine with 500Nm of torque.
Known for its stellar performance and the delightful 5 cylinder turbo engine up front, the RS3 returns early next year and with more torque, improved acceleration, a new RS Torque Splitter and RS 3 driving modes, as well as its edgy exterior and interior appearance, the upcoming RS 3 Sportback has certainly piqued the interest of Kiwi driving enthusiasts
And now we know it’s price. And while $112,500 +ORC is a premium price tag for a compact vehicle, the level of performance, specification and the enduring desirability of the RS3 makes that pricing very compelling indeed.
The Audi RS 3 Sportback is the sports car for every day and is excellently suited to the diverse conditions of roading and weather in New Zealand. It’s a practical form factor and quattro drive ensuring drivers can access the best of Audi RS performance any time they sit behind the wheel.
Part of the success behind the RS3 Sportback in New Zealand is its winning combination of exhilarating performance, athletic exterior design, motorsport-inspired interior, advanced driving technology and more useability than the average sports car.
Equipped with 294kW and five-cylinders, the high-performance engine delivers rapid acceleration with an intoxicating soundtrack. The power unit now delivers 500Nm of torque and responds even faster. Visually, the RS 3 Sportback demonstrates its athletic prowess with a widened body, RS sports exhaust, and cockpit displays similar to those found in race cars.
“The RS 3 Sportback represents the entry point to the RS world and, thanks to its renowned powertrain and new torque splitter, the ultimate in performance in the compact market,” said Dean Sheed, General Manager, Audi New Zealand.
“New Zealand is the number one market in the world for Audi RS product, with Kiwis showing a great fondness for its useable, outstanding performance. The third generation RS 3 Sportback will be our most accomplished edition of this model – and I’m sure Kiwi performance fans are looking forward to its arrival.”
While there’s a lot to love about the new RS3 Sportback, that high performing five-cylinder engine is always going to be the car’s real party piece. No other car in the segment can boast the same configuration and with Audi’s long heritage in rally success built on five cylinders, it offers something quite special.
Emotion aside, the 2.5 TFSI is a brilliant power unit, winning the “International Engine of the Year” award nine times in a row. In the latest generation of the compact sports car, the engine is now more powerful than ever before. The new RS 3 Sportback sprints from zero to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds.
A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission puts the power to the road – with short shifting times and a sportier gear ratio spread. The engine’s unique 1-2-4-5-3 ignition sequence, and the incomparable sound make the driving experience an exhilarating one.
The new Audi RS 3 Sportback is the first Audi model that comes standard with a torque splitter. It replaces the rear axle differential and the previous multiple disc clutch package on the rear axle. Instead, an electronically controlled multiple disc clutch is used on each of the drive shafts. This ensures that the right amount of torque is optimally distributed along the rear axle. During more dynamic driving, the torque splitter increases the drive torque to the outer rear wheel with the higher wheel load, which significantly reduces the tendency to understeer.
66 Magazine will be driving the RS3 Sportback as soon as it arrives, watch this space for updates and drive impressions.
