At Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí outdoors of Barcelona, Audi has arrange a decent chicane comprised of cones on the again straight, and each time I assault it within the 2025 RS3 I begin cackling as I dive in, zip by way of and energy out, going quicker with every lap. Actually, ripping by way of each part of the fabulous observe makes me snicker with glee, in a manner that I wouldn’t if I used to be in final 12 months’s RS3.
Usually a gentle mid-cycle refresh doesn’t carry main modifications to how a automotive 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 automotive with a wonderful engine, however now it’s a real delight to drive whether or not you’re on observe or a decent mountain cross due to quite a few 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 might drive the 2025 RS3 and RSQ8 Efficiency on the Parcmotor observe and the roads surrounding it.
The brand new magic is usually chalked as much as modifications to the RS3’s chassis programs and its distinctive torque-splitting rear differential, which makes use of two multi-plate clutches to continually modify torque to every rear wheel, sending as a lot as one hundred pc of the accessible twist to both facet. For 2025 Audi added brake torque vectoring, so when the splitter is sending torque to the surface 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 tougher, and there’s much less understeer general. It’s sufficiently subtle that I don’t actually really feel the system working; the automotive 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 programs, which Audi says makes the up to date RS3 extra reactive to completely different inputs. The RS3 can be extra susceptible to purposeful oversteer, because it’s now simpler to kick the tail out by way of steering angle versus simply including extra throttle like within the outdated automotive. One of the crucial 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 actually helps too.
It’s not simply higher on the race observe. This a part of northeastern Spain has a number of the greatest roads I’ve ever pushed, and the RS3 is completely suited to the slender mountain passes which might be filled with hairpins and switchbacks. The purple 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 best and the stoppers really feel stronger normally, and there’s not a little bit of fade or noise. Trip high quality can 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 positive. The turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-5 nonetheless makes 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and it’s one of the entertaining and characterful engines on sale. Its energy supply is addicting, and the seven-speed dual-clutch computerized fires off speedy shifts which might be properly 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 right quantity of energy for a automotive this measurement, and the RS3 accelerates with an depth not present in most automobiles this facet of a supercar.
The most effective elements of the up to date RS3 sadly received’t make its solution 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 mounted headrests and cutouts for harnesses, thick bolsters and suede upholstery that has Audi’s ubiquitous hexagonal stitching. I suppose these seats could be a tricky promote for compact automotive shoppers no matter its efficiency degree, however I’d completely take them over the bottom seats even for a day by 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 People had been much less hatchback-averse, however a minimum of the sedan drives identically to the Sportback. It seems to be 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 middle. 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 purple buttons slightly 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 all the things 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, nevertheless it shouldn’t be rather more than the $63,395 base worth the 2024 mannequin instructions. That’s so much for a small automotive that shares its front-wheel-drive-based platform with a cheapo Volkswagen, certain, nevertheless it’s laborious to think about a extra thrilling, entertaining automotive on this phase or worth class. I want I might 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 automotive again. The Audi RS3 was all the time nice, however now it’s really enjoyable, and greater than the rest that’s what ought to actually matter whenever you’re taking a look at a efficiency automotive.
