With the third generation of the Audi RS 3 Sportback and the second generation of the RS 3 Sedan, high performance has reached a new level in the compact segment. Now Audi Sport GmbH is adding: the RS 3 performance edition is a limited edition of 300 units and is the pinnacle of its series both technically and visually. Available as Sportback and Sedan, the Edition guarantees driving fun and emotion across the board.
Five-cylinder turbo engine with increased performance
The RS 3 performance edition is more powerful and faster than any previous series RS 3. It is the first vehicle in its segment to achieve a top speed of 300 km/h (184 mph) and thus 10 km/h (6 mph) more than the standard version with RS Dynamics Package plus. In addition, the award-winning five-cylinder turbo engine with its characteristic sound, now delivers 299 kW (407 PS), 100 revolutions later, between 5,700 and 7,000 revolutions per minute on a high plateau. The torque plateau is also wider: maximum torque of 500 Nm is now available 100 revolutions longer, between 2,250 and 5,700 revolutions per minute. This is achieved through higher charge pressure: the large exhaust turbocharger generates 1.6 bar relative, which corresponds to a plus of 0.1 bar. Power is transmitted by the 7‑speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. Short shifting times without interrupting traction, a sporty gear ratio, and launch control ensure top driving performance. The RS 3 performance edition accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds.
The power is complemented by the unmistakable and emotional sound of the five-cylinder engine with its characteristic 1-2-4-5-3 firing sequence. The standard RS sports exhaust system with a modified center silencer and glossy black, oval tailpipe trims gives a sporty, robust sound to the outside. The fully variable exhaust flap control, which broadens the sound spectrum, has been adapted slightly for the RS 3 performance edition: in Audi drive select’s Dynamic, RS Performance, and RS Torque Rear modes, the exhaust flaps open further when the car is stationary, which makes the sound even more present.
Top chassis technologies in series production
Negative wheel camber, stiffer wishbone, RS-specific tube stabilizer with a higher spring rate – all these measures already ensure high driving dynamics and stability in the standard RS 3. The RS 3 performance edition features RS sports suspension with adaptive damper control as standard equipment. It continuously and individually adjusts each shock absorber to the road conditions, the driving situation, and the mode selected in Audi drive select. Pressure and rebound damping have been increased in comparison with the previous generation RS 3, meaning that the shock absorber takes up more of the force that is passed from the chassis. The result is tighter handling. Electromagnetically actuated valves, which regulate the flow of the hydraulic fluid, provide the necessary amount damping power within ten milliseconds of the precise moment the driving situation requires. To do this, sensors measure the vertical acceleration of the body and the movement of the individual wheels relative to it. This information is processed simultaneously in the damper control unit and the modular vehicle dynamics controller, which means that each individual wheel optimally takes the car’s performance to the road. This includes supporting the body during fast cornering as well as braking and acceleration, for example with launch control.