Audi RS 3 and RS 5: Roughnecks in tuxedos
They have style and appear with cultivated manners - until you press the gas pedal fully: Then the two Audi brothers inspire with brute propulsion, rich chassis and symphony-like engine sound.
In the spirit of downsizing, Audi replaced the 4.2-liter V8 of the previous generation with a completely newly developed 2.9-liter V6 biturbo in the RS 5. Output remained the same at 450 hp, but torque increased by 170 to a massive 600 Newton meters while fuel consumption was reduced by around two liters. It also helps that the car has lost 60 kilograms in weight.
Symphony for the ears So much power - the RS 5 manages the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds - can rarely be fully exploited even with the standard quattro drive and the standard RS sports suspension (7 millimeters lower than the base model). Always a pleasure, however, even in civilian use, is the dark rumble of the engine that greets you when you press the start button. With this hissing in your ears and surrounded by the technoid-futuristic interior, on which the designers could really let off steam, every drive becomes an experience.
Everything a petrolhead needs In terms of sound, the RS 3 is in no way inferior to its big brother. The newly developed 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine delivers 400 hp and 480 Nm of torque to the quattro drive system, which also comes as standard. The equally unique sound of its five-cylinder engine is created by alternately firing directly adjacent and widely spaced cylinders. The sound can even be modified via Audi drive select. The RS 3 needs 4.1 seconds to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph). Both have a top speed of 250 km/h, which can be raised to 280 km/h as an option.
Both models can be upgraded considerably with the list of accessories, also in terms of racing suitability, for example with ceramic brakes, sports differential, sports exhaust system, etc. The RS 5 is available from 105,800 Swiss francs (our test vehicle: 148,917 Swiss francs), the RS 3 from 71,150 Swiss francs (test vehicle: 91,227 Swiss francs). As a compact four-door car, the RS 3 turned out to be surprisingly suitable for everyday use.
