Finally! 2022 Audi RS3 Premiere: Sedan VS Sportback Hot Hatch King

The all-new Audi RS 3 has been introduced in both Sportback and Sedan body styles as the highest performance flagships in the compact hot hatch and sedan segments, however only the former will return to North America. While keeping Audi Sport's iconic five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI engine, the new version has an even more aggressive look and the inclusion of RS Torque Splitter technology for increased driving dynamics.

Starting with the outside, the RS 3 is distinguished from other A3 models, particularly the performance-oriented S3. The body of the fourth-generation Audi A3 was already powerful and aggressive, but the additions turn the car into a genuine hot hatch.

With the larger air intakes and the single-frame grille with a unique honeycomb mesh, the car's blacked-out face gives it a sassier appearance. Other improvements include exclusive to the RS 3, chequered-flag LED graphics on the headlamps and larger front fenders with air vents behind the front wheels.

The dark-finished 19-inch alloy wheels were built particularly for the RS 3 and are equipped with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tires for the first time. Due to the wider ornamental outlets, threatening taillights, and diffuser holding the characteristic oval tailpipes courtesy of the RS Sport Exhaust System with variable flap control for a deeper sound on-demand, the back end is probably the most ferocious in the hot hatch industry.

The atmosphere inside is appropriate for the car's performance qualities. The flat-bottom RS Sport Leather Steering Wheel with Alcantara comes with a nice RS Mode button and die-cast zinc shift paddles for the transmission, as well as an extra red stripe at the 12 o'clock position. The added Nappa leather on the RS sport seats looks great and provides more comfort. Lastly, if you choose the Design package, the cabin will have more Red or Green elements throughout.

The visuals on the 12.3-inch Audi Virtual cockpit + head-up display are RS-specific, displaying g-forces, lap and acceleration times, as well as blinking shift indicator lights, on the optional head-up display. Also displayed on the 10.1-inch central touchscreen is the RS Monitor function, which shows vital info including coolant, engine, and transmission oil temperatures, as well as tire pressures.

The turbocharged five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI engine under the hood produces 394 hp (294 kW / 400 PS) in Europe and up to 401 hp (299 kW / 407 PS) in the US, with a rev range of 5,600 – 7,000 rpm. At 2,250 – 5,600 rpm, the maximum torque is a substantial 500 Nm (368 lb-ft), which is a 20 Nm (14 lb-ft) boost over its forerunner. The engine is only available with a new S-tronic seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that sends power to all four wheels.

The new Audi RS 3 Sportback and Sedan do not outperform the Mercedes-AMG A45 S and CLA 45 S in terms of strength, with Stuttgart's record-breaking four-cylinder generating 415 hp (310 kW / 421 PS), but they do claim the crown for the segment's fastest speed.

Audi boasts that the RS 3 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 3.8 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds faster than the previous model and 0.1 seconds faster than its primary competition from AMG. The maximum speed is electrically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), but when equipped with the RS Dynamic package, it can be increased to 280 km/h (174 mph) or even 290 km/h (180 mph).

The major thing in the new generation is the RS Torque Splitter, which replaces the rear axle differential of previous generations with a more advanced electronically controlled multiple clutch package on each back driveshaft with separate control systems. On each of the back wheels, active and entirely variable torque vectoring is possible with this configuration. There's also a new RS Torque Rear drift mode, which improves agility, reduces understeer, and makes the RS 3 faster through corners.

For security reasons, the RS Torque Rear is only used on the racetrack, making the RS 3 tail-happy by diverting all force to one of the back wheels.

Apart from the standard driving modes (Comfort, Auto, Dynamic RS Individual, and Efficiency), there is also an “RS Performance” mode that produces the greatest available setup for track driving, minimizing understeer and oversteer more than necessary.

New shock absorbers, firmer bearings, and a valve system for quicker response are included in the standard non-active RS sports suspension. The RS 3 is 10 mm shorter than the S3 and 25 mm shorter than the A3. In tandem with the variable-ratio advanced steering, the somewhat bigger negative camber (one degree on the front and half a degree on the back) increases vehicle performance.

Most purchasers, however, will likely choose for the optional RS sport suspension plus, which features adaptive damper control technology that adjusts the characteristics of each shock absorber based on the conditions and the selected driving style in one of three modes (comfortable, balanced, or sport).

A new modular vehicle dynamics controller synchronizes the torque splitter, adaptive dampers, and wheel-selective torque management for perfect steering and handling, according to the press release.

The RS 3 comes standard with ventilated and drilled steel discs of 375 mm in front and 310 mm in back, as well as six-piston calipers and better cooling. Those units are 10 kg (22 lbs) less than the prior, but if you want the maximum braking force, the optional 380 mm ceramic brakes for the front axle will save you an additional 10 kg in unsprung weight. Audi offers a larger range of colors for the brake calipers, including gray, red, and blue. Only black and red calipers are available with the steel brakes.

The new Audi RS 3 Sportback and RS 3 Sedan will be available for order in Europe starting in mid-August, with the first shipments scheduled for the fall. In Germany, the Sportback starts at €60,000 ($70,831), while the Sedan starts at €62,000 ($73,192).

Only the sedan body style will be available in the United States, and it is slated to go on the market by the end of the year. Audi has yet to announce the price, but given that the 2020 RS3 starts at $56,200, the new model could cost about $60,000.