New Audi RS 3: designed for perfect drift

New Audi RS 3

The new Audi RS 3 gets a makeover, and thanks to the revolutionary RS Torque Splitter it brings its driving modes to 7

The New Audi RS 3 promises to be a very comfortable car in city driving and very fast on the track . It doesn't matter if Sportback, the coupé version of the four rings, or Sedan, with that third volume to remember the history of Audi sedans. In both models, the performances are mirrored. The credit must be shared equally between the engine, dynamics control and RS suspension.

The 2.5 TFSI 5-cylinder engine

The new Audi RS 3 is fitted with the iconic Audi 5-cylinder engine 2.5 TFSI (Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection) cylinders. Its sound, in fact, is unmistakable thanks to the 1-2-4-5-3 ignition sequence of the cylinders. Unlike its predecessor which stopped at 480 Newton per meter, this new engine delivers a maximum torque of 500 Newton per meter starting from 2,250 rpm. Specifically, the new control unit ensures superior responsiveness every time the accelerator is pressed.

The final draft of the layout of the new Audi RS 3 The maximum power of 400 horsepower is already available at 5,600 rpm instead of the 5,850 as in the past. Numbers that translated on the asphalt establish a gap from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.8 seconds. About 3 tenths of a second less than the previous version. The speed is self-limited to 250 kilometers per hour. But you can ask to raise it to 280. However, by adding the Dynamic RS package and carbon ceramic brakes, the speed can be raised to 290 kilometers per hour.

The Torque Splitter

The new Audi RS 3 has quattro all-wheel drive to which is added the new RS Toque Splitter system. And this is the car's most important innovation in terms of driving. The RS Torque Splitter uses two electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutches: one for each rear axle shaft. When a sporty driving style is adopted, the system distributes torque between the rear wheels when cornering, increasing the thrust on the wheel with greater grip, the one outside the trajectory.

This solution prevents understeer from occurring. (i.e. when the car tends to go straight into corners) and favors oversteer or drift (when the car seems to want to turn more than the wheels require). On the straight, the joint action of the clutches guarantees the operation of the quattro all-wheel drive. In this situation the torque is directed to both rear wheels. This latter operation is influenced by the driving style and the selected mode of the Audi drive select driving dynamics control system.

The rear axle Torque Splitter system of the Audi RS 3

Three new driving modes

The Audi drive select driving dynamics control system allows you to choose from 7 programs, three of which are completely new. The new RS Individual, RS Performance and RS Torque Rear setups are added to the comfort, auto, dynamic and efficiency modes. In comfort / efficiency mode, traction is distributed over the four wheels, with priority to the front axle. In auto mode there is a balanced distribution of torque, while in dynamic most of the thrust is directed to the rear.

This trend is made even more marked by the RS Torque Rear program. This is the mode in which controlled drift is possible. All this thanks to the oversteering behavior generated by the transfer of torque, up to 100 percent, to the rear axle. Finally, the RS Performance configuration is mainly reserved for use on the track. The semi-slick Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires are also dedicated to use on the circuit, for the first time available, on request, as original equipment.

The Audi drive select system affects not only RS Torque Splitter, but also on the steering response, on the S tronic gearbox, on the adaptive suspension, on the delivery of the engine and on the opening of the valves at the exhaust. Finally, the stability control (ESC) of the new Audi RS 3 is integrated with the action of the Torque Splitter.

Audi RS 3 Sedan

Race suspension

The suspension of the new Audi The RS 3 is lowered by 10 millimeters compared to the Audi S3 and by 25 millimeters compared to the Audi A3. Front mount McPherson suspension. Behind the four-arm multilinks, characterized by the non-coaxial arrangement of springs and shock absorbers and by an unprecedented anti-roll bar developed as a function of the Torque Splitter. Compared to the previous generation of the high-performance compact, the new Audi RS 3 can count on an additional degree of camber (negative camber), to the advantage of greater roadholding in sportier driving. The progressive steering, with variable reduction and power assistance, benefits from the RS calibration.

The RS sports suspension, as standard, uses newly developed shock absorbers, developed specifically for the Audi RS 3 and able to guarantee a precise response in compression and extension even in the presence of micro imperfections of the asphalt. On a higher level, the RS plus sports suspension features adaptive DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) suspension. Inside, an electro-hydraulic valve varies the oil flow in the shock absorber stems according to the car parameters. Data collected by multiple sensors based on road conditions, driving style and program activated by Audi drive select driving dynamics control. The optimum damping force is calculated in a few thousandths of a second.

Racing design

Not only the set-up, but also the appearance of the new Audi RS3 is racing. The front features the new redesigned single frame with its characteristic honeycomb grille and large air intakes. Above, the new Matrix Led headlights with 3 × 5 matrix digital daytime running lights (3 columns and 5 rows). On switching on and off, a checkered flag appears in the left headlight, while the driver's side shows the word RS 3. While driving, the checkered flag lights up on both sides.

The lights 3 × 5 matrix daytime running wheels of the new Audi RS 3 Behind the front wheel arches there is a new design element: an attractive additional air intake. Above, the lines drawn by the hood cut across the flared side of the car to rejoin under the rear light clusters, which are also LEDs. The footprint on the ground has increased not only physically thanks to a wider track, but visually through two black side rockers that run along the entire side. The new Audi RS 3 is fitted as standard with 19-inch alloy wheels and 10-spoke Y design. True racing design, however, is represented by the 5-spoke Y wheels, which are also optional with the RS version. >
The new RS 3 is fitted as standard with newly developed larger six-piston steel brakes to keep the power of the five-cylinder engine under control. On request, a 380 x 38 mm ceramic brake system is available on the front axle with a pedal characteristic curve specially adapted to the brake booster.

Interior devoted to sportiness

The interior also goes hand in hand with the new exterior design with the carbon fiber dashboard, RS sports seats, three-spoke flared steering wheel with hour stripe 12 and the galvanized paddles. The 10.1-inch central touch display and the 12.3-inch digital virtual cockpit plus complete the sporting mood. The first includes the RS Monitor page, which displays coolant, engine and transmission oil temperatures, as well as tire pressure.

Audi RS 3 cockpit and central touch display The second, the instrument panel, displays the rpm in the form of a bar graph and shows the percentages of power and torque. As an option, the speed display is available in the new RS Runway design. In this case, the values ​​are displayed in a way that visually resembles an airplane runway: the maximum speed in the foreground and the minimum speed in the background. In addition, the layout of the Audi virtual cockpit plus includes g-force, lap times and acceleration from 0-100, 0-200 kilometers per hour, quarter-mile and eighth-mile.

The the last gem is the flashing gearshift indicator. Specific to RS in manual transmission mode, it changes the rpm display from green to yellow to red, flashing identically to that used in motorsports, to indicate the ideal time to change gear.

Market launch and prices of Audi RS 3

The new Audi RS 3 in Sportback and Sedan bodywork will be available in Europe for orders from mid-August 2021. Two for now i launch colors: Kyalami g reen and Kemora g ray. The roof of the sedan version can be ordered in contrasting black. Both RS 3 models will be launched in the fall. The basic price of the RS 3 Sportback is set at 60,000 euros, while the RS 3 Sedan starts at 62,000 euros.


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Topics

Audi Auto Sport Transport globalData.fldTopic = "Audi, Auto, Sport, Transport "

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