At Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí exterior of Barcelona, Audi has arrange a decent chicane constructed from cones on the again straight, and each time I assault it within the 2025 RS3 I begin cackling as I dive in, zip via and energy out, going quicker with every lap. Actually, ripping via each part of the fabulous observe makes me snort with glee, in a means that I wouldn’t if I used to be in final 12 months’s RS3.
Sometimes a gentle mid-cycle refresh doesn’t carry main adjustments to how a automobile handles and its fun-to-drive quotient, however the 2025 RS3 is a unique story. This era of RS3 has all the time been a succesful efficiency automobile with a wonderful engine, however now it’s a real delight to drive whether or not you’re on observe or a decent mountain go because of numerous upgrades to the RS3’s dynamics. A seven-second-faster Nürburgring lap time is simply an added bonus.
Full disclosure: Audi flew me to Barcelona and put me up in a resort within the close by city of Sitges so I may drive the 2025 RS3 and RSQ8 Efficiency on the Parcmotor observe and the roads surrounding it.
The brand new magic is generally chalked as much as adjustments to the RS3’s chassis methods and its distinctive torque-splitting rear differential, which makes use of two multi-plate clutches to continually alter torque to every rear wheel, sending as a lot as one hundred pc of the accessible twist to both aspect. For 2025 Audi added brake torque vectoring, so when the splitter is sending torque to the skin wheel, the within wheel is braked, serving to to observe a curve’s radius extra exactly. This implies I can enter corners at increased speeds and energy out of them sooner and more durable, and there’s much less understeer general. It’s sufficiently subtle that I don’t actually really feel the system working; the automobile is simply naturally playful and extra responsive.
Audi tweaked the adaptive dampers and the algorithm for the driving dynamics controller that oversees the entire varied chassis methods, which Audi says makes the up to date RS3 extra reactive to totally different inputs. The RS3 can also be extra vulnerable to purposeful oversteer, because it’s now simpler to kick the tail out via steering angle versus simply including extra throttle like within the outdated automobile. Some of the enjoyable corners at Parcmotor is a double-apex left-hander with a little bit of an elevation change, and I’m capable of ship the RS3 right into a small managed slide with out a lot effort. The RS3 I’ve obtained on observe is supplied with the non-obligatory semi-slick Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires, which definitely helps too.
It’s not simply higher on the race observe. This a part of northeastern Spain has among the finest roads I’ve ever pushed, and the RS3 is completely suited to the slim mountain passes which might be stuffed with hairpins and switchbacks. The crimson RS3 sedan I’m driving on highway has less-intense P Zero R tires that also present an enormous quantity of grip whereas permitting for entertaining dealing with, and as with on observe I can enter and exit corners quicker. Brake pedal really feel is healthier and the stoppers really feel stronger on the whole, and there’s not a little bit of fade or noise. Journey high quality can also be improved in each drive mode, and weight switch is extra noticeable when cornering.
Nothing in regards to the powertrain has been modified for 2025, and that’s superb. The turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-5 nonetheless makes 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and it’s one of the vital entertaining and characterful engines on sale. Its energy supply is addicting, and the seven-speed dual-clutch automated fires off fast shifts which might be effectively tuned for observe and highway driving. Audi did optimize the exhaust flap management for 2025, particularly between 2,200 and three,500 rpm, for a “constant and fuller-bodied sound,” and it does sound even higher than earlier than. It’s the proper quantity of energy for a automobile this measurement, and the RS3 accelerates with an depth not present in most automobiles this aspect of a supercar.
Among the best elements of the up to date RS3 sadly received’t make its strategy to America. The automobiles I’m driving in Spain have new non-obligatory bucket seats which might be mega supportive with out being uncomfortable on longer journeys. These carbon-fiber-backed seats look superior, with fastened headrests and cutouts for harnesses, thick bolsters and suede upholstery that has Audi’s ubiquitous hexagonal stitching. I assume these seats could be a troublesome promote for compact automobile shoppers no matter its efficiency stage, however I’d completely take them over the bottom seats even for a every day driver.
We’re nonetheless denied the RS3 Sportback within the U.S., however Audi is sort sufficient to let me drive a shiny inexperienced one on observe. Yeah, it truly is superior, and I want Individuals have been much less hatchback-averse, however at the least the sedan drives identically to the Sportback. It appears higher than final 12 months’s mannequin too, with a good bigger single-frame grille and bumper intakes, redesigned lights and a brand new rear diffuser with a vertical reflector within the heart. I particularly love the brand new cross-spoke wheel design that’s supplied in matte gray or a pleasant machined end.
A redesigned steering wheel with flat tops and bottoms and capacitive contact controls now has two shiny crimson buttons just below the spokes. One is for the configurable RS Particular person drive mode like earlier than, whereas the opposite, marked with a checkered flag, activates the RS Efficiency mode, that places every part of their most aggressive settings and switches the steadiness management off; the latter is what I’ve pushed the automobiles in all day. Additionally new is ambient lighting in varied locations all through the cabin, together with back-lit door panels with laser-cut rhombuses which might be fairly cool. There’s nonetheless a bit an excessive amount of black plastic, although some trim items at the moment are completed in a shimmery anthracite paint that appears good.
Audi hasn’t introduced how a lot the RS3 will price when it goes on sale subsequent 12 months, but it surely shouldn’t be far more than the $63,395 base value the 2024 mannequin instructions. That’s so much for a small automobile that shares its front-wheel-drive-based platform with a cheapo Volkswagen, certain, but it surely’s onerous to think about a extra thrilling, entertaining automobile on this phase or value class. I want I may have stored lapping Parcmotor all day, and I’d’ve pushed off into the mountains for good if Audi wouldn’t have despatched safety out to catch me and convey the automobile again. The Audi RS3 was all the time nice, however now it’s actually enjoyable, and greater than the rest that’s what ought to actually matter whenever you’re taking a look at a efficiency automobile.
