The Smallest RS Model
Audi first revealed the RS3 to the world in November 2010. Many people thought the car would be the spiritual successor to the S3 but soon realised that it was a fundamentally different animal.
Unlike the S3, the RS3 only came in a 5-door version. What’s more, Audi significantly curtailed the number of configurations for the car and removed the manual gearbox option entirely.
Of course, that didn’t matter to buyers. They fell in love with the original version of the vehicle because of the massive power of its engine and its impressive new exterior styling. The car had flared wheel arches, a redesigned front end and was wide and low to the ground.
Audi sold the original RS3 between 2010 and 2012, but it soon became a classic and customers demanded that the company make a newer version.
The refreshed version of the RS3 first appeared on forecourts in 2015 after the introduction of the new A3 Sportback in 2013. Audi supplied the car with a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive diesel engine, added slightly to the overall power, and overhauled the exterior of the vehicle. The refresh had new exhaust tips, front bumpers, grille, headlights, taillights and rims. On the inside, there were improvements too, including the addition of Nappa leather.
The most recent refresh of the RS3 was in 2017 when Audi added a host of new features, including new colour options, updated rims and bumpers, and a new engine that offered even more power. The latest version of the car saves 26 kg compared to its predecessor and comes with a 705W Bang and Olufsen integrated speaker system.
