2024 Audi RS 3 Facelift: Last Audi with a 5-Cylinder Engine

The Audi RS 3 has now made a comeback in a new guise. It was globally revealed in Sportback and sedan versions, and going by the visuals dropped online, this compact performance car has received subtle styling tweaks, a better redolent interior, and a torque splitter (first in Audi). 

Additionally, the German luxury carmaker plans to introduce all-electric cars globally from 2026, thereby, the 2025 Audi RS 3 will be the last Audi car to be powered by a 5-cylinder in-line engine.

Specifications

The updated iteration retains the tried and tested 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, having an unchanged power figure. It continues to pump out 395bhp and 500Nm of peak torque, enabling the car to sprint from 0-100kmph in 3.8 seconds. It has a top speed of 290km/h. 

Power is delivered to all four wheels (Quattro) via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

This vehicle has also undergone some fine tunings for a seamless driving experience. It has retuned adaptive dampers, electronic stability control, and wheel-selective torque control, for improved handling dynamics. Audi states that the RS 3 facelift “performs better in bends, avoids understeer at the entrance to the corner, and turns in more willingly,” thanks to several tunings. Interestingly, oversteering is now easier this time than in the previous iteration.  

Interior

Like the exterior, the RS 3 facelift's interior has also been redesigned.

It now consists of approximately 200 components, including high-end leather, polymers and tanning agents, which were chemically analysed and evaluated to ensure “they smell nice in combination”, irrespective of the climate conditions. 

Keeping that in mind, Audi has used a team of five chemists to evaluate the resulting odour of the interior components, so that “the driving experience in the sporty compact model becomes an experience for all the senses.”

Additionally, each component is in a dedicated special chamber for heating, and later the air is analysed. This process lasts for 2-3 hours per part, which finally fulfils the “interplay of the various materials” stage. 

As for features, it has new ambient lighting, a flat-bottom steering wheel, optional carbon fibre RS bucket seats, contrast stitching, a fully digital instrument cluster, a touchscreen infotainment unit, and drive modes, among others. Nappa leather-covered standard sports seats are also on offer. 

Exterior

The Audi RS 3’s exterior incorporates revised cosmetic features that can be seen on the front grille, air intakes and LED lights. The new LED lights consist of 24 elements, coupled with a chequered flag design. 

The side profile continues to carry the same silhouette as before, but this updated RS 3 has now received a new set of performance-centric alloy wheels. The 19-inch matte black aluminium-made wheels are standard, while the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R wheels are optional. It also has red-coloured brake callipers. 

In parallel, the rear end of this compact performance car houses RS-specific design elements, visible on the rear diffuser, two black-framed oval taillamps, and vertically mounted side reflectors. 

There are also black inserts done on the ORVMs, Audi logo, window frame, front apron, shark-fin antenna, and side skirts, to name a few. 

Lastly, the available bodypaints are Audi RS-specific options, including the Kyalami Green, Kemora Grey, Progressive Red, Ascari Blue, and Matte-finished Daytona Grey.

Availability 

The facelifted Audi RS 3 will initially go on in the international markets. However, there is no official announcement from Audi India if they will bring this iteration to our country.

In other news, the Indian division of Audi is all geared up to launch the Q8 facelift SUV on August 22, 2024. Interested clients can book the SUV by paying a token amount of Rs 5 lakh.