AUDI AG has began detailing the important thing parts of its new upcoming RS3 hyper hatch and sedan, the headline acts being an additional 20Nm liberated from the fabled five-cylinder engine, the addition of a new-age ‘torque splitter’ and drift mode.
Resulting from be unveiled formally within the coming months, Audi is promising the brand new RS3 will ship “unmatched acceleration and high velocity” inside the compact phase due to its 294kW of energy and now 500Nm of torque.
Nonetheless propelled by the long-lasting turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine, each the ability and torque bands have been widened within the identify of driveability with the top outcome being a 3.8-second 0-100km/h time and a high velocity of as much as 290km/h.
That sportscar-baiting V-max is barely doable when the optionally available RS Dynamic package deal and ceramic brakes are fitted.
With out them, each the RS3 sedan and Sportback hatch will high out at an electronically ruled 250km/h, nonetheless a 280km/h velocity limiter may even be optionally obtainable.
As is common for a hi-po Audi, drive is distributed to all 4 wheels with transmission duties being taken care of by a seven-speed dual-clutch computerized.
Along with the formidable traction generated by the all-wheel-drive system, Audi says the brand new torque splitter makes the RS3 “supremely agile”.
Fully changing the outdated axle-mounted rear differential, the brand new system options an electronically managed a number of disc clutch on every drive shaft, each of which have an unbiased management unit.
Utilizing info offered by the digital stability management sensors in addition to bearing in mind longitudinal and lateral acceleration forces, steering angle, throttle place, chosen gear, drive mode and yaw angle, the system determines how a lot of the torque is distributed to the surface wheel.
Based on Audi, the brand new system ends in improved steering precision and fewer understeer, to not point out extra corner-exit grip.
Being a contemporary efficiency and vary halo, the brand new RS3 will include the standard consolation, auto, dynamic and effectivity drive modes, nonetheless the most recent incarnation may even make use of three bespoke RS modes: RS Particular person, RS Efficiency und RS Torque Rear.
Predominantly doing what they are saying on the tin, every mode has an impact on the driving expertise and the Particular person setting enabling drivers to configure and retailer their most well-liked set-up.
RS Efficiency mode is all about extracting most efficiency from the RS3 with a closely rear-biased set-up for the quattro system with the varied techniques tuned particular to minimise each understeer and oversteer.
RS Torque Rear delivers the same set-up however dials the steadiness and traction management techniques proper again to permit for what Audi describes as “oversteering behaviour” on closed roads and tracks. In different phrases, drift mode.
Different typical RS options like adaptive dampers, decrease and stiffer springs, progressive steering, RS3-specific pivot bearings, stiffened decrease wishbones, sub-frames and stabilisers are additionally current, with bespoke Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyres set to be supplied as an optionally available additional from the manufacturing unit.
It is going to be a while earlier than we see the brand new RS3 in native showrooms, with Audi Australia confirming to GoAuto it gained’t arrive right here till the primary half of 2022.
Between at times although, Audi compact efficiency followers could make do with the brand new S3 which will likely be arriving by the top of the yr.
Audi has bought 212 A3s to date this yr ending Might, accounting for simply 4.6 per cent of the $40,000-plus small automobile phase which is at present being dominated by the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (1638/35.9 per cent) and BMW 1 Collection (1236/27.1 per cent)
