Audi is no stranger to making fast saloons and the recently unveiled RS3 saloon is great evidence of this. The new model is able to get to 62mph in just 4.1 seconds. Just 4.1 one. Amazing – that’s faster than a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder! All this in a car that can hold plenty of luggage and four passengers.
Where does the power come from?
The power comes from Audi’s newly designed 2.5 litre TFSI engine which is able to boast a muscular 395bhp. Previous versions of this engine have won the coveted ‘International Engine of the Year’ award for an impressive seven years. Not content with that, Audi made the new block 26kg lighter to improve performance and of course, lower weight. The top speed is still limited to 155mph, however, if you ask someone at Audi very nicely (and pay some extra) you’ll be able to coax 174mph from the 2.5 litre unite. Wunderbar!
With great power, comes great, erm, changes made to the chassis and drivetrain (that’s how the saying goes isn’t?)
All this power is mated to a seven-speed S Tronic flappy paddle setup with power going to all four wheels. Audi Drive Select is on hard to give you a choice of what kind of drive you want – this also dictates the nature of the engine noise too. Specially-tuned Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is installed in the RS3 with torque control will help keep you out of trouble in the corners, plus there is a sport mode for controlled drifting.
If you do find yourself up the creek without a paddle then you’ll be glad to hear bigger brakes have been fitted (naturally) so you’ll be able to stop quicker just in case the power gets a bit too much for you. Leather sports seats come as standard to keep you firmly in place as you hoon about, although as is the way with Audi, you can choose more contoured sports seats at an additional cost.
What’s the tech like?
Speaking of optional extras, the wonderful Audi Virtual Cockpit is available on the new RS3 Saloon but you’ll need to pay extra for that although you’ll probably find that is (alot) of money well spent. Standard tech includes a 7″ touchscreen display which is home to the usual connectivity and entertainment we expect and demand from modern cars. As with other Audis, the RS3 can also be connected to the interweb using sim card which opens up the tech capabilities even more.
