- Sporty top model of the A3 model series
- Most powerful production five-cylinder in RS history, with 270 kW
- 0 – 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds – 0.3 seconds faster than the previous model
Ingolstadt, December 12, 2014 – 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.
– ENDS –
The Audi Group delivered approximately 1,575,500 cars of the Audi brand to customers in 2013. As one of the most successful models, the Audi A3 has been awarded the title of "World Car of the Year 2014" by an international jury of journalists (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.1 – 3.2; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 165 – 85). In 2013, the company reported revenue of €49.9 billion and an operating profit of €5.03 billion. The company operates globally in more than 100 markets and has production facilities in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Gyor (Hungary), Brussels (Belgium), Bratislava (Slovakia), Martorell (Spain), Kaluga (Russia), Aurangabad (India), Changchun (China) and Jakarta (Indonesia). Since the end of 2013, the brand with the Four Rings has also been producing cars in Foshan (China). In 2015, Audi will start production in São José dos Pinhais (Brazil), followed by San José Chiapa (Mexico) in 2016. Wholly owned subsidiaries of AUDI AG include quattro GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy), the sports motorcycle manufacturer. The company currently employs more than 73,500 people worldwide, of which more than 52,500 in Germany. Total investment of around €22 billion is planned from 2014 to 2018 – primarily in new products and sustainable technologies. Audi is committed to its corporate responsibility and has anchored the principle of sustainability for its products and processes in its strategy. The long-term goal is CO2-neutral mobility.