Audi RS 3 Return to U.S.
Audi is finally bringing their classic five-cylinder engined RS3 back to the U.S. market with a quite impressive 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds. Appearing as a sedan, the RS 3 shows the imposing style expected of this model with a wide RS-spec front bumper under a redesigned front grille in matte black.
The rear of the car features a glossy black spoiler on the trunk that both looks sporty and should provide more dynamic balance when driving the car. A redesigned rear bumper with a built-in diffuser and RS-spec exhaust help complete the back of the car with tailpipes visible on both the left and right side of the car.
Keeping up with other manufacturers, and even surpassing some, Audi includes new daytime running lights with a 3 x 5 LED pixel area that displays the RS3 checkered flag sequence on the driver’s side with a checkered flag on the pixel field of the passenger side whenever the car is locked or unlocked. When driving the checkered flat stays illuminated as a daytime running light on both sides of the car.
On the interior Audi boasts the 12.3 inch virtual cockpit with a new RS Runway design to consistently display pertinent performance information. This display mode conveys information in a way that resembles an airplane runway, also showing g-forces, lap times, acceleration timing, 1/4 mile and 1/8 mile timing too.
A shift indicator that is unique to the RS changes the RPM portion of the display from green, to yellow, and then to red as seen in motorsports worldwide and is conveniently shown in the head-up display, should one choose to include that option on their car.
Setting the RS style apart from the rest of Audi’s lineup are the green highlights throughout the car’s interior, including the seat shoulders, air vents, floor mats, and edging on the seatbelts.
The RS 3 includes the RS Torque Splitter, one of the most significant performance innovations of the car. The multiple clutch package in the Audi quattro system has been replaced by an electronically controlled multiple clutch on each drive shaft. This enables the RS Torque Splitter to distribute torque for the rear axle completely variably between the rear wheels. This provides for better handling and stability, especially on wet roads.
The RS Torque Splitter is completely integrated in the Audi drive select which offers drive different driving modes: Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, RS Torque Rear, and RS Performance – the last of those is designed for usage on a track to minimize understeering.
The RS 3 is expected to be on sale by the summer with an MSRP of $58,900, not including destination charges, tax, options, and any other applicable fees. But the RS 3 may well be worth that price – it recently set a new lap record for compact cars on the Nürburgring Nordschleife at 7 minutes, 40.748 seconds.