Audi RS3 real hot pocket rocket
Petrolheads will be foaming at the mouth
THE new Audi RS3 Sportback is hot, really hot! This pocket rocket is one of the most enjoyable cars World of Wheels has driven this year and will leave most petrolheads foaming at the mouth! And it is what’s under the bonnet that makes this car so special.
The five-cylinder unit produces 270kW from a displacement of 2 480cc – a remarkable specific output of 108.9kW per litre.
The peak torque of 465Nm is already available at 1 625rpm and remains constant through 5 550rpm.
The turbocharger develops up to 1.3 bar of charge pressure. The 2.5 TFSI catapults the RS 3 to 100km/h from a standing start in 4.3 seconds – the best in its class.
Acceleration is electronically capped at 250km/h, but can be optionally raised to 280km/h, a feature which is also unique in the compact sports car segment.
Its claimed fuel consumption is 8.1 litres per 100km, 10% less than its predecessor. This corresponds to 189 grams CO2 per kilometre.
A recuperation system, a demand-controlled oil pump and a newly developed start-stop system that turns off the engine shortly before the car comes to a stop contribute to this efficiency.
The standard seven-speed S tronic transfers the power of the 2.5 TFSI via three shafts – one drive shaft and two output shafts.
The driver can choose between two automatic modes for the seven-speed S tronic or shift manually using the shift paddles on the steering wheel or the selector lever. The launch control system provides for optimal traction and minimal tyre slip when sprinting from a standing start.
The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system transfers the power of the 2.5 TFSI to the road with supreme ease. Its central component is the electronically controlled, hydraulically activated multi-plate clutch.
It distributes the available torque as needed to the front and rear axles in the blink of an eye.
Depending on the driving style and coefficient of friction, between 50% and 100% of the available torque can be sent to the rear axle.
Control of the multi-plate clutch is integrated into the Audi drive select system.
With its very sport configuration, it uses all handling-relevant information including the steering angle.
In dynamic mode and when the ESC Electronic Stabilization Control system is set to sport mode, power is transferred sooner and in greater amounts to the rear axle for even better handling, giving the RS 3 very agile and direct turn-in.
This enables the driver to even perform controlled drifts on low-friction road surfaces.
The front axle pulls the car back onto a straight line when exiting a bend.
Torque vectoring makes the handling of the RS 3 even more seamless.
During fast cornering, it brakes the interior wheels which are under a reduced load. This enables both wheels on the axle to transfer more power to the road.
Thanks to the difference in propulsive forces, the car turns slightly into the corner and supports the driver’s sporty driving style.
The internally ventilated brake discs measure 370mm in diameter at the front and 310mm at the rear.
The front friction rings feature a weight-saving wave design and are perforated for maximum heat dissipation.
The Audi RS3 Sportback 2.5T FSI quattro S tronic is priced at R710 000 and comes standard with a five-year 100 000km freeway plan.