It's official! Audi RS 3 Sportback

[Ruergard]

Tx

The S3 makes roughly 215 kw at the wheels. (~ 290 bhp at the wheels). This is in Johannesburg, which is 1600m above sea level.
I have not dynoed the car recently, but all REVO 2+ S3's make around this power.

Interesting stuff. I thought the RS3 would take that one home. If possible, please come back to us when the RS3 has some more miles on the clock.

[Erik]

Damn, they look good! (S3/RS3)

[tailpipe]

Eric,

Thanks for promoting my RS3 piece to an article. I am chuffed to bits!

The truth is the RS3 is outstanding. Ved, as good as your upgraded S3 may be, ultimately it is unlikely to have the same handling balance and adhesion on the limit as the RS3. The other advantage of the RS3 is the gearbox. If the two cars seem very close on public roads that is probably due to the limitations of driving on a public road rather than a reflection of the S3's capabilities versus those of the RS3. Put someone like Jenson Button in the RS3 on a track and Lewis Hamilton in the S3 and Lewis wouldn't see which way Jenson went! That's my opinion.

My RS3 is still very tight - like a new pair of shoes. I am not pushing it until all the parts are well bedded-in. I expect it to go even harder once it loosens-up. As I said above, the RS3 has very little in common with a stock A3. Quattro GmbH have ripped most of the standard parts out and replaced them with superb race-spec bits. The overall feel and perceived quality is in another league, even to the S3 IMNSHO. Congratulations to the factory in Gyor, Hungary for producing such an outstandingly well-made car.

What do you think, Ved?

[Alaric]

Tailpipe, thanks for that fantastic and informative review. It sounds like you have a great car. In the unlikely event that it still isn't fast enough, there's always:

http://www.carsession.com/car-news/bb-audi-rs3.html

Stage 1 gives you 410bhp with 560Nm! Not bad for less than the cost of the bucket seats!

[Erik]

For the record, tested by DI in Sweden:

Article here


"Having test driven the Audi RS3 Sportback, I realize that R stands for racing - and S for shopping."

"Win on Sunday, shop on Thursday."

[Tuffy]

@ Ved

Really like the Pics and to see them side by side. Enjoyed the write-up as well. Seems like it's good news all round from the new owners.

Tuffy

[Tuffy]

@ Tailpipe

Good job on this write-up.


Tuffy

[The Pretender]

Black with some red.

[tailpipe]

These red wheels are horrible on any RS3 other than a red one.

[doodlebug]

Yuk, that is horrendous. Good luck selling that one on!

[Joker]

These red wheels are horrible on any RS3 other than a red one.

They even look wrong on red ones too. For a company that generally gets it's styling ideas spot on those red wheels were a definite sign that someone at the decision level has bad taste.

[The Pretender]

I like the mat black part of them better then the titanium versions.

[Joker]

If the lip had been alloy coloured then I might have had a different opinion but that red just look wrong not matter what colour the bodywork is.

[RS4 SM]

Cant take them serious at ALL... They spoil the car BIG TIME....!!!!!

[Moschops]

These red wheels are horrible on any RS3 other than a red one.

Crewe Audi have one in that spec sat in the showroom, looks nice. Cancelled order. Ask for James Panter if interested.. : )

[Moschops]

Crewe Audi have one in that spec sat in the showroom, looks nice. Cancelled order. Ask for James Panter if interested.. : )

Sold....feck me that didn't hang about...

[tailpipe]

Seems we're all in agreement about the red wheels, then. A rare error of stylistic judgement from Ingolstadt. I'm not particularly keen on the five-spoke blade alloys as it is. I much prefer the seven-spoke twin arm alloys that debuted on the RS4, especially in titanium finish.

Audi's styling is excellent on the whole and has improved since Walter da Silva went to VW. I still miss Martin Smith and Freeman Thomas. The original TT and A2 were masterpieces.

[Abyss]

My car has finally had its build week confirmed, so a week come monday (week 40) my Racing Blue Mica RS3 will go into production. So hopefully it will land with Bath Audi before the end of October