The refreshed Audi RS3 is really fast on the Nordschleife.
It’s actually too bizarre for words how fast cars are these days. After all, a lot is possible through downsizing and electrification. Manufacturers like to use it. In principle, the above-mentioned interventions are not ingredients for a better driver’s car, namely.
But yes, if you explain to the consumer that you have much more horsepower and Nm, they won’t mind it as much. Except for the C63 AMG, which no one buys because of that poor four-cylinder. People have gone a little too far there.
For example, a C63 AMG has fewer cylinders than an Audi RS3, a car that is (much) lower in the food chain. Certainly in terms of class (RS3 is C-segment, C63 is D-segment), but also in terms of performance potential. The Meredes has 680 hp, the RS3 only 400 hp. And yet, this thing is lightning fast on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring.
Refreshed Audi RS3 on the ‘Ring
Frank Stippler found that out. Not entirely coincidentally, Stippler is an excellent driver employed by Audi. He recently set a lap time of 7:33.123 with the refreshed Audi RS3. An improvement in its class of 5 seconds. By this we mean the Compact Car class.
The car is – as you can see – equipped with the necessary camouflage. The car has yet to be unveiled. Of course it is an open secret that the car is coming, because the A3 line-up has just been facelifted. There was already a facelift for the Audi A3 (115 hp to 150 hp), S3 (333 hp) and now this RS3, which is already known to have 400 hp and 500 Nm.
The car that Stippler was in an enormous hurry with was one with all the options and accessories. Think of the RS sports suspension with adaptive damping, ceramic brake discs at the front and Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires. We’re not going to say that Audi is cheating, because the Pirellis mentioned are street legal and can be ordered anywhere. However, these are tires that are on the edge. During an old-fashioned downpour, you will probably want to take it easy for a while.
Artificial interventions
But it was not raining, but wonderfully dry. According to Stippler, the refreshed Audi RS3 is so fast because the car turns in faster and changes direction more willingly than before. The RS3 is of course basically front-wheel drive: the engine hangs transversely in the front, slightly over the front axle. There is ‘quattro’ four-wheel drive via a Haldex coupling. Audi has perfected the concept with special interventions.
Consider a torque split for the rear axle. Only 50% can go to the back, but of that 50%, the RS3 can transmit 100% to the left or right. In addition, there is also brake torque vectoring, which makes the car more stable when braking into corners and can already turn in slightly when braking, instead of catastrophic understeer. In addition, the front wheels are wider than the rear wheels. Oh well, at Porsche they eventually perfected the initially crooked concept of the 911.
The unveiling of the refreshed Audi RS3 will follow soon. You can order it from August 2024 and it will be available at dealers from September 204.
Check out the moving images below:
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