Atko took Audi 's compact Nürburgring record holder to the Queensland track to see if it was faster than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S.
RS3
Pros
Improved rear differential, makes it more fun
A car that almost anyone can drive fast and well
Launch control and 0-100 are impressive
Cons
Chassis just misses out on track sharpness
Tire suppression potential
Understeer is still a trend
Overall track performance
From Audi RS3 You'll feel at home and ready to attack from the sedan's first corner, delivering confidence-inspiring feedback with rally style dynamics. This latest version immediately feels more complete, more balanced and blazingly fast.
With just the flick of a switch, the RS3 strikes a good balance between everyday drivability and track potential. You don't feel like you're living on the edge, but you know the speed is there if you need it.
For 2022, you can tell Audi has its sights firmly set on the Mercedes-AMG A45 S, which is said to be 0.1 second quicker from 0-100km/h than the AMG, along with a host of other subtle improvements.
But will it be enough to close the gap or even surpass the A45 S? First impressions are that it will be close...
Engine
On paper, the 2.5-litre turbocharged inline five-cylinder petrol engine is virtually unchanged, with power the same as its predecessor at 294kW and a slight increase in torque to 500Nm – a 300rpm improvement at 2250rpm. It immediately feels more responsive and offers a wider, more flexible powerband.
It's easier to drive on the track and provides more room for error in gear selection and car positioning, while still maintaining vehicle speed.
Somehow Audi has managed to squeeze even more out of the already impressive launch control system, with a claimed 0-100 time of 3.8 seconds.
On my first try, I ran 3.89 seconds, then 3.90 seconds, which is 0.34 seconds faster than the previous generation.
Brakes
The brake pedal is very firm and consistent, but lacks the outright stopping power I remember from previous versions.
My first thought was the brake kit, but I quickly realized it had something to do with grip, which I'll get to in a moment.
RS3
The brake pedal modulation has been improved and I was able to complete more consistent laps compared to the outgoing model
chassis
The chassis is very close to ideal, but slightly compromised in a few areas.
It's great to have movement in the chassis, but once you start exploring the limits it shows signs that it's not quite there yet. The front end seems to be the weak point, with too much roll in both high-speed and low-speed corners, which causes delayed, subtle understeer.
It doesn't punch out into serious understeer, but lacks the response and support to really achieve cornering speed. Best of all, if you're patient enough, you can now use a modified differential to get the car out of this understeer, rather than just continuing and managing it.
RS3
Once you start spinning, you can really drive out of the middle of a corner and rely on the traction of the quattro all-wheel-drive system - which now has a rear torque divider - to propel you forward.
For most drivers and road uses, the slight understeer balance is a benefit and inspires driving confidence. There aren't many people who couldn't jump behind the wheel of this car and complete some of the best laps they've ever done.
In my past experience, the RS3 sedan has more understeer bias than the Sportback ( hatchback), with a more supportive and stable rear end - which may be a contributing factor to this balance issue I'm experiencing.
Transmission and Differential
The seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission seems more forgiving on downshifts and I had no issues at all.
I find the latest shifter to be a definite improvement; better than the outgoing model if only in terms of software.Upshifts are excellent, quick and efficient, which is an important part of ensuring a 0-100km/h time.
RS3
As for the differential, it's exciting to see Audi ditch the understeer-prone Haldex system in favor of a mechanical rear differential with an independently electronically controlled clutch that distributes torque between the rear wheels.
This gives a more neutral balance on the throttle, even being able to rotate the car on early throttle before blending everything together on corner exit. I love how well the diff straightens everything out when you put the power on, I can take a lot of speed through every corner and be confident it will stay straight, which is a huge improvement.
From a pure experience perspective, this is much more satisfying for the driver and it's great to see Audi has recognized this and moved on. Traction is very good, as you'd expect.
The Audi RS3 is slightly restricted in how much it can move around the track.
I haven't noticed this as a big issue before, but I feel like with all the other small improvements in the Audi RS3, they could have gotten more out of the suspension.
Suspension travel and compliance are excellent, though, and not harsh on the road or track.
levels of grip and compliance mean you can really throw the car out and use all tracks with confidence. The
to
steering again impressed me, providing good feedback and connection to the chassis.
I never thought about it and as I expected it's not a bad thing.
Wheels and Tires
Whenever you do your fastest lap on the first lap, it's usually a sign that the tires aren't up to the task.
On our test car, Audi fitted Bridgestone Potenza Sport rubber with slightly wider 265/30 R19 up front and 245/35 R19 at the rear. Overseas Pirelli P Zero and track-focused Trofeo R tires are available.
Audi insists on a staggered setup to improve front grip, but there still appear to be limitations. I reset the tire pressure on my second run to almost match the tire pressure on my first run, and then the times plummeted again as understeer increased.
RS3
There seems to be both a compound issue and a pressure issue, the mechanical grip can be lost due to the compound being too hard and then the energy quickly increases the tire pressure, I never felt like it was hooking up.
It's worth noting that when the RS3 sedan set the compact sedan's lap record at the Nürburgring, Audi fitted the car with stickier Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires. I'd love to try the car out on a proper set of performance tires and see how it performs on the track.
Driving Assistance (Electronic)
Audi has improved its driving assistance systems with more options and customizable RS driving modes.
I found that in RS performance mode and ESC in dynamic settings, there wasn't as much interference as the previous generation.
I did turn off the traction control system and couldn't care less about the Audi RS3's traction and drivability on the track.
Cockpit (ergonomics)
I really like the Audi steering wheels, they are a nice size, shape and texture, with the optional Alcantara finish - perfect for use on the track and perfect on the road.
Having the RS button on the steering wheel is a great addition, making it easy to enter race mode with just a flick of your thumb. The seats and their positioning are also very good, offering plenty of support on the track as well as everyday comfort.
's new track tachometer actually takes some getting used to. I find it weird to have the revs move towards me as I go forward. The integration with the shift lights is very good and you will definitely get used to the entire display.
Lap times
In my opinion, the Audi RS3 does everything it can to match the Mercedes-AMG A45 S in terms of lap times - the engine feels better, the diff does what I want, I can attack with all my might, but the lap times are nonexistent .
It doesn't even compare to the previous generation Audi RS3 on our test track, which confuses me even more.
RS3
As a whole it felt more complete, more satisfying to drive and the experience was so enjoyable and fun, yet it did a 59.21 second lap - 0.3 seconds slower than the old model and 1.0 seconds slower than the AMG.
The track does change every day and tires can play a key role, but this time I can say lap times aren't everything and you won't be disappointed behind the wheel of an Audi RS3.
