While everyone else was flogging hapless A7s and A1s in the snow and ice, my partner and I realized that a single RS 3 was parked up by the chow house. After much cajoling and begging, we managed to pry the keys from one of the young, distinctly Teutonic company reps.
Leaving the facility by way of a narrow forest road, we headed for the highway to give the RS 3 a chance to stretch its legs. Evidently there are no plans to equip the RS 3 with the sports differential torque-vectoring system we experienced on some of the other models, as it would prove too costly to adapt to the 5-door hatchback platform.
Nevertheless, the RS 3 proved sufficiently surefooted down the tightly winding road, the Quattro system ensuring grip at all four corners in the ice and snow.
The interior is cozy and features typical Audi build quality, heightened with sporty cues like a flat-bottomed, suede wrapped steering wheel, highly bolstered leather seats with alcantara inserts, a shifter ball with the RS logo, and suede-wrapped hand-brake.
Selecting the “S” button (for Sport) speeds up the throttle response and opens up an exhaust flap that lets the RS 3 rumble, whuffle and blatt outrageously on downshift.
There’s 332 lb-ft of torque, and it’s available as of 1,600 rpms – enough to pin you in the seatback when the throttle’s mashed.
Although there are wheel-mounted paddle shifters, I conclude that the S Tronic does a far better job of shifting than I ever could – it flies through the gears like a Gatling gun.
The RS 3 isn’t offered in a manual, but even purists will have a hard time bemoaning its lack of a third pedal.
The grippy suede wheel provides good feedback, and the steering is sharp and direct.
Leaving the facility by way of a narrow forest road, we headed for the highway to give the RS 3 a chance to stretch its legs. Evidently there are no plans to equip the RS 3 with the sports differential torque-vectoring system we experienced on some of the other models, as it would prove too costly to adapt to the 5-door hatchback platform.
 |
| The interior is cozy and features typical Audi build quality. (Photo: Audi) |
Nevertheless, the RS 3 proved sufficiently surefooted down the tightly winding road, the Quattro system ensuring grip at all four corners in the ice and snow.
The interior is cozy and features typical Audi build quality, heightened with sporty cues like a flat-bottomed, suede wrapped steering wheel, highly bolstered leather seats with alcantara inserts, a shifter ball with the RS logo, and suede-wrapped hand-brake.
Selecting the “S” button (for Sport) speeds up the throttle response and opens up an exhaust flap that lets the RS 3 rumble, whuffle and blatt outrageously on downshift.
There’s 332 lb-ft of torque, and it’s available as of 1,600 rpms – enough to pin you in the seatback when the throttle’s mashed.
Although there are wheel-mounted paddle shifters, I conclude that the S Tronic does a far better job of shifting than I ever could – it flies through the gears like a Gatling gun.
The RS 3 isn’t offered in a manual, but even purists will have a hard time bemoaning its lack of a third pedal.
The grippy suede wheel provides good feedback, and the steering is sharp and direct.
 |
| There’s 332 lb-ft of torque, and it’s available as of 1,600 rpms – enough to pin you in the seatback when the throttle’s mashed. (Photo: Audi) |