2022 Audi RS3 hot hatch and saloon on sale: price and specs
August 10, 2021 by
The latest version of Audi’s RS3 super hot hatch comes with a clever new quattro four-wheel-drive system, more performance and even a drift mode. Read on for full details.
- 2022 Audi RS3 revealed
- Full UK specs and prices
- Retains 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine
- 400hp, 500Nm of torque
- 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds
- 180mph top speed optional
- RS Torque Splitter with drift mode
- Hatchback from £50,900
- Saloon from £51,900
You’re looking at the all-new Audi RS3 — the German brand’s latest five-cylinder hot hatch — which is now on sale.
Watch this new Audi RS3 video
This Mercedes-AMG A45 and Volkswagen Golf R alternative keeps its trademark five-cylinder engine with a little more grunt, and some clever new torque splitting technology to help it in the corners.
2022 Audi RS3 price and release date
You can order your new Audi RS3 now, and the first UK customers should take delivery in November.
The new RS3 will initially come as a special ‘Launch Edition’ version, priced from £56,900 for the Sportback hatchback, or £57,900 for the four-door saloon.
Standard models start from £50,900 hatchback, or £51,900 saloon, with the ‘Carbon Black’ version costing £55,550 or £56,550 respectively, and the top-spec ‘Vorsprung’ versions going for £58,650 or £59,650 depending on whether you go for the hatch or the saloon.
Standard equipment will include 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats with the RS embossed logo into their Nappa leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, the 12.3-inch ‘Virtual Cockpit’ digital instruments with all those RS-specific displays and tricks, a 10.1-inch MMI Navigation plus infotainment system in the centre of the cabin, and that trick RS Torque splitter diff setup.
If you go for the Carbon Black model, you’ll get darkened Matrix LED headlamps, five-spoke 19-inch matt black alloy wheels, a gloss black front spoiler as well as a carbon fibre finish to the exterior mirror housings, rear spoiler, side skirts and engine cover.
The Vorsprung model gets black 19-inch alloy wheels with graphic print, an electric bootlid and a 360-degree camera on top of that, while the Launch Edition RS3s will come with a ‘Driver Assistance pack,’ adaptive suspension with Drive Select and Audi’s ‘Comfort & Sound’ pack. A glass panoramic roof, heads up display, electric front seats, Audi’s ‘Phonebox’ )which includes a wireless phone charger and a signal booster), sports exhaust, red brake callipers and a gloss black finish to various interior and exterior elements also appear. The top speed also increases to 174mph.
Carbon Black and Vorsprung models will also have the option of an ‘RS Dynamic’ pack which boosts the top speed to a maximum 180mph, as well as fitting the adaptive suspension, RS ceramic brakes, grey-coloured brake callipers, and a sports exhaust.
2022 Audi RS3 design
If a beefed up S3 is what you want, the Audi RS3 is what you’ll get. Upfront, it gets a large black honeycomb grille flanked by huge air intakes for a really angry look.
LED headlights come as standard, though you can upgrade these to Matrix LED units if you want. Do that and your RS3 gets daytime running lights in the shape of chequered flag, with the one on the right showing RS3 lettering when you lock and unlock the car.
Flared wheel arches make an appearance, as is typical of an Audi RS model, with a functional (!) air vent slotted behind the front wheel. You’ll get 10-spoke, 19-inch alloys as standard though a five-spoke set is available optionally.
At the back, you’ll spot a massive (probably fake) diffuser and a set of oval exhaust exits. Peep into those and you’ll notice they actually house two smaller pipes, annoyingly.
2022 Audi RS3 interior and infotainment
The interior of the new Audi RS3 isn’t a massive departure from the current S3, but it does get some suitably racy upgrades.
These include a new flat bottomed steering wheel with an RS badge slapped on (though a round version is available) complete with a new RS button to change driving modes easily.
You get a set of RS sports seats as well, which can be optionally trimmed in Nappa leather. If you opt for a design package, these will come stitched in red or green complete with matching seat belts, dashboard trims and floor mats.
The Audi RS3 gets a 10-inch infotainment system as standard, complete with an RS Monitor mode. This lets you track oil temperatures and tyre pressures (if that’s your thing.)
You’ll also get a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display which will be able to display 1/4 mile, 0-60mph times and G-forces among the usual speedometer and rev-counter info.
2022 Audi RS3 engine
The 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine of the old Audi RS3 is retained here, still with 400hp on tap. That’s available wider across the rev range now though, while torque sees a boost from 480Nm to 500Nm.
That power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. As a result, the new Audi RS3 accelerates from 0-60mph time of 3.8 seconds — a whole second quicker than the S3 and an al important 0.1 seconds quicker than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S.
Out of the box the Audi RS3 is limited to 155mph, though the optional RS Dynamic package raises this to 180mph – handy if you live next to an Autobahn…
2022 Audi RS3 RS Torque Splitter and brakes
The big new thing for the Audi RS3 is the RS Torque Splitter system. This is fitted across the rear axle and allows the car to electronically send as much torque as it wants to either wheel.
Essentially, when you’re turning right it’ll send more to the left wheel and vice versa. This in theory produces more grip and improves the car’s turn in response, reducing understeer in the process.
It’s not just a super clinical driving aid, though. If you’re feeling a real yobbo in closed circuit conditions, you can switch to drift mode which lets you get very sideways very easily.
You’ll find similar systems on the current Mercedes-AMG A45 and Volkswagen Golf R, plus the old Ford Focus RS.
You’ll get steel brakes on the Audi RS3 as standard, though the fronts can be upgraded to carbon ceramics as part of the RS Dynamic pack. Go for these, and you can have the callipers in grey or blue, instead of teh standard black or red.
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