Sweeps back in your step. And threat, or deviate from their path or all will make its way to ashes. Never a compact was faster and there never a 340 hp supercar was so usable in day to day. The initials RS trace again, now for the first time on an Audi A3.

Created “on purpose” for the greatest battle ever between compact view (remember the most popular segment of the market), the new Audi RS3 seeks to become, since its first generation, in myth. Because very few can dare to rise to “toserle”. Certainly we have seen before birth to powerful Ford Focus RS 500, Volkswagen Golf R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. But now seem almost beside little. And that is to see down the 4.2 seconds the Audi RS3 has been recorded in the 0-100 km / h have to actually look at a Porsche 911 Turbo, a Nissan GT-R or, Audi R8 racing car only V10. Brutal. Only a BMW 1 Series M (curiously, like Audi, release your full model based on generational change) can maintain the type, but also done by bending the knee.

Fire at will

The image, therefore, does not do justice to the new Audi RS3, although some might prefer to go unnoticed. For where the BMW 1 M Coupe shows a muscular, aggressive, a force of nature, here we observe in reality an old Audi A3 Sportback, the only body available to subtract not impact other sports of the brand, as the smallest TT . It is the traditional formula of Audi RS, which does not even appear in a domed hood threat signal. Today, only as an alternative payment, get color wheels, chrome or plastic seat covers as a warning sounding, but more as questionable tuning brand. And the reality is that this Audi RS3 is neither that, nor a simple GTI decorated: there are many hours in ‘boxes’.

For its development, Audi has a game like S3 and with hidden tracks widened, f reindeer hard oversized plastic front wings reinforced with carbon fiber to lighten the complex and profound development of frame, with springs and dampers reviewed and a body 25 mm lower than any Audi A3 (suffered in access), comes the new king of the compact, which only needed an engine mount also able to exploit that potential. It does so with the sophisticated 5-cylinder direct injection and variable valve timing of the Audi TT RS, 2.5 liter and 340 hp.

Audi RS3 supersonic. Pressing the button “S” (standard) and shyness goodbye. Interspersed with a butterfly in the exhaust system, Audi “orchestra” at will sound to show sport it is. It also helps to address more directly.

New school

And driving the new Audi RS3 soon feel the little he has to do with the BMW 1 M and its manual, say, of ‘old school’. For starters, here no hard and challenging manual: management is responsible for the ultra fast automatic S-Tronic dual-clutch 7-speed, nor the pure heavy steering and 1 M: the Audi RS3 is already fully power without losing accuracy practically, and not the sporty BMW propulsion: Typical Audi quattro is effective for Haldex clutch discs where his works at constant pressure by electric pump, deflecting home a minimum two ago, but transferred to a 90 percent if necessary. Reagent and feedforward, as when salt as a shell from a standstill ‘drag’ 4 wheels unlike a BMW where it is modulated or gas, or quit ‘smoking’. And why in the turbo Audi also blows, and how they go, without having to use two turbos like the BMW 1 M

Already visible graphic instrumentation, from 1,200 rpm shift emerges in the Audi RS3 to gain speed, very fast, but surprisingly progressive and driving smoothness. Until we stand ‘Kick Down’ and, this time looking at his watch, a real start skimming. Then, as an Airbus 380 which is only able to take off in the big tracks in the world, with the Audi RS3 the lines are short.

Overtaking all very close to a Porsche Cayman R (both effective automatic shift), but with the Audi ‘drag’ more than 230 kg weight. A fantastic idea and push the bullet RS3.

Difficult road to explore the possibilities of this Audi RS3, an engine that pushes and pulls up to 7,000 rpm. And full agility, because virtually forgotten now known tendency is understeer all Audi RS, here only present in very fast corners and high rates, when at cruising speed itself behaves as a front-wheel drive only. Suggests a fondness laid open, which in turn slowed since then vanishes. What work the pull!

Melee

That’s where the Audi RS3 is already beginning to take down opponents. Where the BMW 1 M shows only power outages, ESP brakes selective or very difficult to control back if disconnected electronic aids, the Audi RS3 shows a relentless motor, assuming full acceleration, and even occasionally asking her to start sharing pair back with an all-wheel drive helps get you into hairpins and tight turns. Also true that trap, now anchored Audi RS3 also for its huge tires further ahead than behind (235/35 front 225/35) to favor slightly the corner entry, and c on 19-inch tire provided as standard. Eye on the curbs urban change because the wreck.

Of course, it is also fair to recognize that the Audi RS3 takes some longer to find the support that the BMW 1 M (100 kg more weight end up being paid), which is also more monotonous in their reactions (though always natural and predictable even rolling very very fast) and the front is not as instantaneous. But, to paraphrase a famous pilot, “not how you enter a curve, but how salts thereof.” And the Audi RS3, there is now unstoppable.

And after 2,000 km

From Madrid to Barcelona and back. It certainly seemed the ideal car Audi RS3 to travel, but we decided to do so and, unexpectedly, Dr. Jekyll becomes Mr. Hyde on fast roads. Duration of their suspension in compression, extension in the RS3 can change certain license unlike their rivals, while on board, you do not seem to travel, as in the BMW 1 M, by the wing of an airplane by little we overcome the 100 km / h. In addition, ergonomics, restraint seats or driving position are impeccable. Soft controls, with relative comfort and sound very subdued despite not having a great aerodynamics, the Audi RS3 discover how to pass the miles with great dignity, almost as if we were traveling in an Audi A3 2.0 TFSI S-Line sport finish. Even their sports and hard seats do not stop punishing our bodies, nor the portfolio suffers more than necessary: ​​on average recorded 9.3 litres/100 km (with many sections in depth, now that no one hears us), that statutory rates highway are in a little over 8 l/100 km: as a full-throated Diesel.

Of course, over the miles also confirms certain defects in the Audi RS3: as, for example, chrome aesthetic as aerators generate large reflections in mirrors, and hinder visibility to the optional sports seats type Bacquet start a concert of pops up in the junction between the skin and the plastic … and it’s annoying, or that your steering wheel to drive optional ‘Ante’ gloves are needed most, because, more designed for racing, fades with the sweat and it peels (like the shift knob), giving a bad image.

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