On the pure snow and ice – and on winter tires – it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s also faster. The undeniably fun and talented Mini John Cooper Works, Ford Focus RS and Renault sport Megane 250 are well over ten grand cheaper, but then they are only front-drivers. The first is that the front wings are carbonfibre, to accommodate the 22mm wider track, while the rears are wider only through fiddling with the wheel offsets.
Audi is invoking memories of its iconic Quattro models with this new 5-cylinder version of the A3. A sound flap in the exhaust system intensifies the sound even further when the driver presses the Sport button, which also varies throttle response.
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| 2011 Audi RS 3 Sportback |
There’s RS-spec silver trim on the grille too, and then a set of swollen CFRP (carbonfibre-reinforced plastic) arches which hide a wider front track. Huge 19in alloys are standard, and the RS3 must be one of the few cars in the world with wider front tires than rear. Nestling under the bonnet is the same 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine that you’ll find in the TT RS, and in the Audi RS3 it drives all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Audi RS3 is only available in five-door Sport back form, so it not only offers a different proposition to the 1-series M Coupe, but also shouldn’t steel sales from the more expensive TT RS.
Car’s reaction to the RS5 has been lukewarm, but the Audi RS3 is much better resolved. The RS3 doesn’t have the steering/suspension/gearbox-adjusting Drive Select system, but while there’s little feel from the wheel, there is clarity and linearity – it’s good. So far, so good from the Audi RS3.
Rear parking sensors, climate control and sat-navy are all standard. The Audi RS3 looks good, goes very quickly, is well built, and very well resolved. Our time in the car was limited – and on cold, icy Canadian roads – but a first taste has revealed it’s a thoroughly decent car. A step in right direction for Audi RS.
