Opinion: The RS 3 is The Ultimate Expression of Audi

Audi RS3 and Ur-Quattro

The Audi RS 3 ties the company’s present back to its roots, producing small sedans and hatches with giant-killing performance.

I’ll admit to getting sentimental occasionally about my old Audi 4000S. Part of that is because it entered my life at a pivotal moment. But part of it is that it was a genuinely good car that I greatly enjoyed.

It doesn’t help that auto manufacturers have practically stopped making coupes and sedans. We live in the era of the crossover and while the CUV may be a practical mode of transportation, I won’t ever buy one for the sake of it being fun to drive. As for the practical aspect, I’ve hauled a 20-foot extension ladder sticking out of the sunroof of a Porsche 924. The convertible I currently own was pressed into impromptu service to carry a tree and four boxwood bushes home from Costco.

I don’t need or want a crossover. What I want is a small sedan or hot hatch, something that slays Ford Mustangs for breakfast and lunches on BMW M cars. Something that makes a good noise, fun, and makes every drive an opportunity for mischief. There’s no way I’m getting that in a Porsche Macan or Audi SQ5. But fortunately, Audi does make what I’m talking about in the form of the RS 3.

RS3 and Ur-Quattro

The RS 3 Takes Audi Back to Its Roots

Audi started out making staid sedans like the Audi 100 and Audi 80/Fox. They were good, solid if unremarkable cars that sold well and gave Audi a foothold in the U.S. market. Then an Audi engineer by the name of Jörg Bensinger got the idea to fit the 80 with the four-wheel drive from a VW Iltis. From there the Quattro was born and Audi was literally off to the races.

The success of the Ur-Quattro led Audi to produce all-wheel drive sedans and hatches like the 4000S. From there it’s a direct line to the Audi 80/90 and A4. As Audi and the A4 moved upmarket into the luxury segment, they launched the A3. In fact, both the Audi 4000 and A3 are similar in size with their dimensions being within a few inches of one another. And while the A4 is a direct descendent of the Ur-Quattro and 4000S, the A3 better captures the essence of the original cars and the RS 3 takes the fun to a whole new level.

2022 RS3

Today’s RS 3 keeps Audi firmly connected to its roots. Other vehicles in Audi’s lineup may sell in higher volumes and cars like the Audi TT, and R8 may get more attention but the RS 3 is at the core of Audi’s identity. No other car in their lineup combines Quattro all-wheel drive with the inline-five cylinder so well. And no other Audi sedan has the same terrier-like personality that will eagerly chase supercars around the Nurburgring. It’s a supercar in a small sedan body, one that’s sculpted like a welterweight boxer and punches above its weight class. But what makes it genuinely appealing is the ridiculous levels of fun.

We Need More Cars Like the Audi RS 3

2022 Audi RS3 Drift

We hear all the time about the perils of distracted driving. People on cell phones, texting, and fiddling with complicated infotainment screens. Some cars even let you play video games on their built-in displays and until recently would let you do so while driving. Many safety advocates say we need more automation and self-driving capabilities.

I disagree.

What we need is more fun in our driving. People like to be entertained and the bar for that entertainment is set pretty low. If we can spend hours playing Mario Kart on our phones, there’s no reason we can’t enjoy driving. But to enjoy driving we need cars that are enjoyable to drive. We need cars like the Audi RS 3.

Photos: Audi USA

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Mark Webb is fascinated by anything automotive and particularly loves cars that are unusual or have a good story. He’s owned a variety of cars from 60’s muscle, Japanese imports, and oddities like a VW Thing and Porsche 924. After 20 years in the automotive and tech industries, he’s a walking encyclopedia of car info and is always on the lookout for his next project or a good road trip.

Epic Track Battle Pits the Audi RS 3 Limousine Against the BMW M240i xDrive

Audi RS3 Hockenheim

The feral 2022 Audi RS 3 takes down the BMW M240i xDrive in a close fight at the Hockenheimring!

Back for 2022, the Audi RS 3 wasted no time picking fights. Earlier it took down a Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R at the Nurburgring. This time Sport Auto initiated the showdown against the BMW M240i xDrive at the Hockenheimring. Why not the BMW M2 CS  you ask? Simple – the M2 outguns the RS 3 in horsepower and cost $40,000 more.

On paper, the M240i is a close match. Closer in price with similar specs, both cars come with turbocharged engines and all-wheel drive. According to the numbers gathered by Fastestlaps, performance specs are evenly matched. Both cars hurl themselves to 60 mph in under four seconds, with the RS 3 narrowly beating the M240i. Neck and neck at the quarter-mile, the RS 3 pulls away from the M240i above 120 mph. Handling is where it gets tricky for the Audi. The RS3 is two seconds slower on the slalom and takes longer to stop.

2022 Audi RS 3

While the Hockenheimring is the lesser-known sister to the Nurburgring, it’s a better course to test acceleration, braking, and handling. 16 of the corners bend 90 degrees or more, with a hairpin thrown in for good measure. Turns 12 thru 16 happen in rapid succession, keeping a good car off balance and putting a bad car into the weeds. Sebastian Vettel set a record lap of 1.11.21 in a Ferrari F1 car. Cars like the Audi R8 V10 Performance or Mercedes AMG GT manage a lap in 1.53. The Audi RS 3 and BMW M240i xDrive both did it in a shade over two minutes, with the RS 3 eeking out the win by a tenth of a second.

2022 Audi RS 3

That two terriers are within seven seconds of the big dogs is impressive. But it’s not all about how fast you go, but how you go fast. Racing is about numbers, but driving is about the experience. For the longest time, BMW held that mantle. The E46 3-series exemplifies this credo, alive with great handling and incredible inline-6 engines. But BMW lost the plot when the company intentionally gave up that edge to generate more sales from people who wanted a prestigious Pontiac.

Thankfully, Audi picked up that mantle. While the BMW looks smoother going around the track, it also seems clinical. Turbocharging muted the inline-6 and the whole experience looks no different than a fast lap at the helm of Gran-Turismo 7. But the Audi is feral. Part of that ferociousness comes from the growl of the inline-5 cylinder engine. But an equal part is from the homework Audi did to sharpen the chassis and improve the differential, which includes torque-vectoring and a drift mode. The RS 3 doesn’t attack corners in the video, it eats them. A tenth of a second is barely worth mentioning. Run it again and the M240i might beat the RS 3 with the fastest time. But it will never beat the RS 3 on the fun-to-drive factor.

Photos: Audi

Click HERE to join the AudiWorld forums!

Mark Webb is fascinated by anything automotive and particularly loves cars that are unusual or have a good story. He’s owned a variety of cars from 60’s muscle, Japanese imports, and oddities like a VW Thing and Porsche 924. After 20 years in the automotive and tech industries, he’s a walking encyclopedia of car info and is always on the lookout for his next project or a good road trip.

Audi Debuts RS Torque Splitter on 2022 RS 3 (& There’s Drift Mode!)

2022 Audi RS 3 Prototype

We still can’t show you the entire 2022 Audi RS 3, but know this: the third gen’s faster, more powerful, and a better driver’s car than ever before!

It’s been a few years since the RS 3’s last refresh, but the great news is that we are on the precipice of a third-generation RS 3 that once again features a turbo-charged 5-cylinder engine born out of Audi’s Rally Car heritage. And in that regard, I have good news and bad news. Unfortunately, Audi swore us to secrecy for another month until we can show you photos and videos of the new RS 3.

2022 Audi RS 3 prototype

All Audi RS 3 images are Euro-spec prototypes.

Fortunately, we CAN show you pictures of the 2022 Audi RS 3 porotype as well as share the exciting news about the 2022 RS 3’s driving dynamics, newly developed RS Torque Splitter, two RS 3-exclusive driving modes, and interesting power figure news. Also, if you’d like to read an interview with the engineer and driver to helped develop all of the technologies we’re discussing today, click HERE.

Let’s dive in!

2022 Audi RS 3 Power Figures & Performance

2022 Audi RS 3 prototype

Again, while we can’t share everything about the 2022 Audi RS 3, we do know a good deal about its power and performance capabilities. First, Audi is retaining the RS 3’s unique turbocharged five-cylinder engine with its 1-2-4-5-3 firing order. The bad news is that it’s not a major upgrade over previous generations, but there is a slight power bump. More specifically, Euro-spec models will see 400 PS and 500 Nm of torque. And here in the US, our SAE-rated power figure is 401 HP and around 369 lb.-ft. of torque.

For those keeping track, yes, that’s 20 Nm (14.75 lb-ft.) of torque than the previous generation with a wider 2,250 to 5,600 rpm powerband. Peak horsepower arrives at 5,600 to 7,000 rpm. And, yes, US-spec cars do have a little more horsepower than Eurospec cars, which almost makes up for the fact that we don’t get the sportback model here.

2022 Audi RS 3 prototype

These new peak power ratings and wider powerbands run through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission,  hustling. the new RS 3 to 100km (62mph) in 3.8-seconds. That’s 0.3 seconds faster than the previous gen. On the other end of the speed spectrum, Audi limits the RS 3’s top speed to 250 km/h (155 mph). But with the optional RS Dynamic package and ceramic brakes, top speed rises to 290 km/h (180 mph).

RS Torque Splitter

RS Torque Splitter

Despite building all the hype for the new RS, Audi seems more excited about their new RS Torque Splitter debuting in the 2022 RS 3. To oversimplify a lot of smart engineering, the RS Torque Splitter is a fully variable torque-vectoring rear differential that allows the RS 3’s sensors and computers to control the amount of torque each rear wheel receives.

As an example, if you’re roaring through a set of high-speed twisties, the RS Torque splitter will apply more torque to the rear outer wheel. But if you ran down a straight drag strip, torque would split evenly between both. Or place the RS 3 car in drift mode (more on this below), and the RS Torque Splitter will apply up to 1,750 Nm (2,014 lb.-ft.!) of torque to just one rear wheel.

2022 Audi RS 3 prototype

Basically, Audi describes the new RS Torque Splitter as being able to improve lap times, smoke shows, and even safety by reducing understeer and improving vehicle agility. And we can’t wait to drive one in person to test it out!

RS 3 Exclusive Driving Modes

2022 Audi RS 3 prototype

Many things separate the RS 3 from its A3 and S3 siblings. The engine. Visual elements. Optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires and carbon-ceramic brakes. But key to the 2022 model is two new driving modes the RS Torque Splitter makes possible: RS Performance and RS Torque Rear.

The 2022 RS 3 boasts seven driving modes, actually. comfort, auto, dynamic, efficiency, as well as RS Individual, RS Performance und RS Torque Rear. As you would expect, each mode tailors throttle response, suspension (if equipped with the optional adaptive suspension), steering feel, and several other factors to give each driver the exact feeling they want. 

RS Torque Splitter

RS Performance mode is the RS 3’s racetrack mode. Where previous RS 3s were prone to understeer, RS Performance mode provides absolute neutrality around high-speed corners. No understeer. No oversteer. Just pick your line, attack it, and accelerate earlier than ever before.

RS Torque Rear is the RS 3’s drift mode. And Audi PR folks were adamant that this mode ONLY be used in secure off-street locations. And Mexico. Because, as describe above, in RS Torque Rear, the RS Torque Splitter sends tons of power to one rear wheel. Which means oversteer on demand whenever you want it. #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm #WeNeedABiggerTireBudget

2022 Audi RS 3 prototype

Sorry, America, no Sportback for you!

And that’s about all we can share now, folks. Stay tuned for fuller 2022 RS 3 details in about a month!

Photos: Audi

What do YOU think of the 2022 RS 3 so far?
Let us know HERE in the AudiWorld forums!