Hot, throaty sound, exhilaratingly free-revving and brawny power – the five-cylinder engines from Audi are legendary. 270 kW output and 465 Nm of torque – Audi presents the new RS 3 Sportback, the most powerful compact car in the premium segment. With its powerful five-cylinder, turbocharged engine, the five-door model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, and its top speed can be increased to 280 km/h upon request.
“There is a long tradition of five-cylinder engines at Audi,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG.
“In the 80s, they turned Audi into a sporty brand, both in motor sports and in production. The new Audi RS 3 Sportback features the latest generation of our 2.5 litre, five-cylinder engine – the most powerful production engine in the modular transverse matrix.”
The multiple award-winning 2.5 TFSI produces 270 kW and 465 Nm of torque in the new RS 3 Sportback. The turbocharged engine accelerates the compact five-door from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, and top speed can be increased to 280 km/h upon request. In the NEDC, it consumes just 8.1 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, with CO2 emissions of 189 grams per kilometre.
A seven-speed S tronic, which shifts even faster than in the previous model, directs the power of the 2.5 TFSI to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. The quattro system features torque vectoring based on intelligent software and is designed through-and-through for maximum driving enjoyment. The new Audi RS 3 Sportback steers directly into corners. On low-friction road surfaces, drivers can even perform controlled drifts, if desired.
The chassis of the five-door model also sets standards. Compared with the Audi A3 Sportback*, the body is 25 millimetres lower. The pivot bearings of the front axle, the progressive steering, the RS-specific sport suspension and optional Audi magnetic ride adaptive damper control are designed specifically for the RS. Audi mounts carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs behind the 19-inch wheels on the front axle upon request – a first in the premium compact segment.
The Audi RS 3 Sportback complete package is rounded out with sharp interior and exterior details and a generous list of equipment. The new top model of the A3 family will arrive in Australia in late 2015.
