Design
The Exterior
- The Audi gets a slick, sinister look, with a sharply creased sheet metal exterior, front end dominated by a single frame honeycomb grille and gleaming black surrounds, flanked on each side by kinked LED headlamps.
- The aerodynamics feature tough-looking side skirts, rear bumper vents, and oval-opening tailpipes, along with a 25 mm drop in height, giving it the appearance of a crouched wild being. The ride is decked with 19-inch standard wheels with a 10-spoke design.
- Standard wedge-shaped LED headlights can be upgraded to Matrix LED headlights.
- Want to upgrade? An Alu-Optic trim awaits that presents the front splitter, bumpers, side skirts, and rear diffuser in matte silver. You can also opt for carbon fiber finishes, thanks to an optional carbon-fiber trim package.
- The car comes in 2 colors: Kyalami green and Kemora grey.
Cabin style and Interiors
- The interior carries hints of Lamborghini. Other qualities are specific to RS series, like the quilted seats and carbon-fiber trim.
- The RS signature is branded on the honeycomb seat quilting in black, red, or green contrast stitching.
- If you want the ultra-luxurious, Nappa leather is also an option. In fact, the three-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel is leather-bound too with built-in shift paddles.
Efficiency And Mechanics
Engine
- Unusual five-cylinder engine akin to the Audi Quattro, with the odd number of cylinders giving it a fun thrumming soundtrack. It’s paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, great for quick shifts, and an all-wheel-drive system.
- The latest engine is a turbocharged 2.5-liter, but it now makes 401 horsepower, to put Audi back on the map of powerhouse auto-beasts.
Mechanics
Braking is achieved with a set of six-piston steel brakes, although if you want something more superior, front ceramics and larger rear steel discs are available.
The RS3 gets a standard sport suspension for ease of handling, which can be upgraded to adaptive suspension with active dampers.
Performance
- Speed ratches up from 0 to 100 kph in just 3.8 seconds.
- If you are a speed-junkie, an optional performance upgrade will take you to 280 kph instead of the limited 250 kph. The optional ceramic brakes will let you breach 290 kph, which is thrilling.
Tech And Infotainment
- The car is equipped with a standard 10.1-inch infotainment display and a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster screen.
- Performance-oriented drivers will enjoy the display – RPMs as bar graphs, and power and torque as percentages, creating an intriguing data-oriented feel.
- In the new RS Runway design, the RPM display shows the values in a way that replicates an airplane runway.
- Engaging dashboard design with a circular pad that includes stereo controls.
X-Factor
- Those who play with high speeds will admire the RS Torque Splitter, which sends up to 100 percent of torque to any rear wheel. This counteracts understeer and keeps the RS3 in line during sharp turns and hard cornering.
- This unique drive mode biases the AWD system in favor of the rear for some ‘Tokyo drift’-style shenanigans.
Nemesis
- It’s tough to compete with such a hotly anticipated model, so the 2022 Audi RS3 doesn’t have many rivals. However, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and BMW M2 CS don’t back down and are top competitors.
Safety
- The milieu includes airbags, stability control, and other mandatory features; however, autonomous emergency braking only appears if you order the optional Driver Assistance Pack. This comes with active cruise control, high-beam assist, road-sign recognition, and traffic-jam assistance.
Flaws/ Misses
- With the compact modeling, sportiness, and the fat price tag, the Audi RS3 2022 upholds the luxury automobile’s legacy of being built for a niche customer base
Price Point
- Starting price: Just under $60,000
