2018 Audi RS3 Review

Fuel Type
Gas
Transmission
Automatic
Drives
AWD
MSRP
$54,900
City MPG
19
Highway MPG
28
OVERALL RATING 3.7 of 5.0
  • Performance
    4.3 of 5.0
  • Cost of Ownership
    4.1 of 5.0
  • Interior
    4.1 of 5.0
  • Reliability
    2.5 of 5.0
03 Sep 2016
0

Audi has recently experienced a surge in sales. Model after model is released from the factory and into the world. The Audi RS3 2018, their first 2018 model, has already been spotted. This addition to the Audi A series is a compact sedan that is slightly faster than the standard models, thus the RS moniker. RS is an abbreviation for “Rennsport,” which is the German term for motorsport. The majority of people enjoy driving their regular S3 or A3. The RS3 brings the same car to the rest of the public, except this one can blaze through the Autobahn like lightning through water.

Exterior design

Every time the Audi RS3 2018 is driven, the camouflage patterns gradually peel away. The most recent spy photos were taken at the Nurbürgring, Germany’s favorite racetrack. Only the front, rear, and lower side skirts are still wrapped in wrap in this photo. Of course, the RS3 is the sportier version of the Audi S3, so the exteriors are nearly identical. Furthermore, the history of RS-versions of regular car models gives us a good idea of how the Audi RS3 2018 differs.

For starters, the headlights and grille will resemble those of the S3. However, the sharper appearance of these parts is more reminiscent of the latest Audi S4. A good choice, as the public always expects RS-models to have a slightly more aggressive appearance. The grille will be hexagonal patterned metal mesh rather than vertical stripes like the regular S3. Because the RS requires more air intake for the engine, the lower air vents on the left and right sides of the car’s face are larger.

The basic Audi RS features are visible on the side: large wheel arches and side skirts. These elements give the impression that the car has a lower driving position and contribute to its tough appearance.

The Audi RS3 2018 has two wide exhausts on either side, as opposed to the regular Audi S3’s four exhausts, two on each side.

Interior design

The rule “same as an S3, tweaked like an RS” also applies. Expect the S3’s rough design lines and an RS model’s specialties. This means that the front seats will be much more durable than the standard S3 seats. Furthermore, the steering wheel will be better equipped for quick steering, as seen when driving a RS. Leather seats with the famous Audi diamond-quilted stitching, a heated steering wheel, and a driver seat with massage function are expected as standard interior features.

Instead of traditional gauges, Audi’s latest interior features a 12.3-inch TFT screen that can be customized. Personalizable settings can display navigation, phone, and sound system information in addition to speed and throttle.

The center console will also have a TFT screen, which we expect to be seven inches in size. It is controlled by a rotary knob located just below the screen.

Engine specs

The Audi RS3 2018 will be powered by the same engine that Audi developed for the TT-RS. It has a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine. The TT-RS coupe has 400 horsepower, and the RS3 sedan will most likely have the same. Nonetheless, the RS3 will outperform the S3 with 90 horsepower from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

The 2018 Audi RS3 will be equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard. A traditional manual transmission is not available on the RS3. We hope that the quick-shifting automatic transmission can fully replace the joy of manually shifting an RS car.

Tech specs

The infotainment system will include features such as an LTE connection for Wi-Fi hotspots, Google Street View, traffic and parking information, and news and weather.

The following safety features will be standard on the Audi RS3 2018: Active Lane Assist, PreSense Front Warning, Pedestrian Monitor, and Rear-Cross Traffic Warning. Optional features include Traffic Jam Assist with Adaptive Cruise Control, Stop&Go, and Automatic Emergency Braking.

Price and sale date

The RS3 costs $54,900 in the United States.

The Audi RS3 2018 will go on sale in Europe at the end of 2016, and it will arrive in the United States in early 2017.