The 2024 Audi RS 3 Sedan is the sportiest variant of the Audi A3 Sedan presented a few months ago and which we already had the opportunity to test. It joins the range in October and is priced at 84,990 euroswhich means that it is 1,000 euros more expensive than the RS 3 Sportback with which it shares the engine and technical solutions.
This is the third generation of the RS 3 that has a sedan body (the first one arrived in 2017, while the Sportback has had it since 2011). The star is the inline five-cylinder engine 2.5 TFSI with 400 hp (294 kW) and 500 Nm of maximum torque. Its performance does not vary with respect to the main body: it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 290 km/h.
The driver can vary the handling by selecting the special driving modes RS Performance and RS Torque Rear in Audi drive select, which also modify the sound of the engine and exhaust. To improve driving dynamics, the Audi drive select system uses the Torque Splitterwhich sends torque to the wheels to reduce understeer and increase yaw. It also has a specific mode to facilitate skidding, diverting torque to one of the rear wheels. Previously this was achieved with the accelerator, but now Audi says it is more easily achieved by turning the steering wheel.
Compared to the previous model, from 2021 and with the same power, there are changes in the design, such as the flatter and wider hexagonal Singleframe, side air intakes or the three openings located above the front splitter. It features new matrix LED lights and a specific diffuser and headlight graphics at the rear. It has specific body colours (in the photos, grey Kemora) and 19-inch wheels as standard.
Inside, dominated by dark tones, there is a new steering wheel, RS bucket seats, carbon inserts and specific screens. LED lighting also varies and design packages in red or green add touches of colour to the seat belts, the shoulder area of the seats and the air vents.
The 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus has Sport, Performance and Runway display modes (regressive scale tachometer, with the highest revs in the foreground). There is a new tachometer, which prominently displays the engine speed in the centre of the instrument cluster, as well as displays for power, torque, g-forces, acceleration and lap times.
