Take the basic A3 package; add a 2.5L five-cylinder all-aluminium engine, and what you end up with is an $85 grand
sports sedan that could frighten competitors with supposedly bigger kahunas.
Or, at least bigger pricetags.
And yes, the RS3’s bark is as big as its
bite.
This is one impressive performance package, with threads of the Audi TT
RS’s DNA running through its genetic breeding.
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The RS 3 concoction - Rapid & Sweet |
There are some visual cues too, like the slightly muscular fender flares; side skirts and a sliver of carbon fibre for the trunklid spoiler. And, of course, those massive megaphones which the RS3 uses to bark its way into the conversation.
But, it’s no ‘stick-on badge’ exercise either. The RS
moniker is only applied to Audis which come with the sort of performance
integrity you’d expect of a company which has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans so
many times, it gets to keep a permanent trophy in the display case at
Ingolstadt.
Having blasted off in the RS3 hatch (Driving & Life, December 2015) and
decided it's a racer in street clothes, could there be more to the sedan I
didn’t already know?
You bet! Not only is the engine lighter,
but it also gets plasma-coated cylinders, changes to valve timing, and the
turbocharger, so consequently it pumps out an extra 24kW.
Then of course there's Quattro AWD, for very grippy handling.
Transmission is a 7-speed Twin Clutch, but it features a faster-acting electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch for snappier gear changes.
Then of course there's Quattro AWD, for very grippy handling.
Transmission is a 7-speed Twin Clutch, but it features a faster-acting electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch for snappier gear changes.
On that note – don’t forget to mention the
exhaust note, JC.
Oh yes, there are steering wheel paddles, but your first introduction
to the RS3’s seductive appeal should be on a long straight road in the
middle of nowhere; floor the throttle; leave the transmission in auto; wind
down both front windows and wait for the ‘bark’ as the DSG box shifts up. It’s a
magnificent sound, which could become addictive.
Like I said this is a seriously good
performance sedan, and it's priced very competitively.
Independent road-testing
tells us it’s faster than both the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45 sedan, and the BMW
M2 coupe – and they cost a lot more too!
The RS3 is loaded with all the tech you
expect (too much to list, but take it from me, it’s loaded); and you get Apple
CarPlay, and for even more money getting sucked out of your bank account,
there’s the Bang and Olufsen audio system.
I really enjoyed this car. It seems to be a
better-balanced handler than the RS3 hatch, although there’s no difference in
the wheelbase and track – however I think it’s the way the mass of the three
boxes are spread across the 4.3m long sedan. My only regret is that Audi should have painted the car a 'colour' instead of leaving it in 'Primer Gray'.
COLOR POSTRSCRIPT: On checking the spec sheet, the color is listed as 'Nardo Gray' - that is Nardo, after the high speed test track in Italy. Methinks that was Nardo on a dull, gray, rainy day in December.
COLOR POSTRSCRIPT: On checking the spec sheet, the color is listed as 'Nardo Gray' - that is Nardo, after the high speed test track in Italy. Methinks that was Nardo on a dull, gray, rainy day in December.
Audi pines to be perceived as the equal of
its two major German competitors, but somehow it always seems to trundle along in
third place on the sales charts.
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However, believe me, there are no real
shortcomings in a direct comparison between Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The
difference is that BMW has fostered a very strong brand image for decades, and
just recently Mercedes-Benz has discovered how to ‘buy’ market share, by very competitive 'trading'.
This leaves Audi as the poor old number
three, when there’s no reason it should be. The RS3 sedan has got the goods;
and the ‘go’ and as for image, remember Audi's perpetual Le Mans trophy in the
display case.
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