Certain, you may make the argument that monitor information don’t actually matter within the grand scheme of issues. It’s not like all of us have what it takes to even get near the efficiency of knowledgeable driver. Nevertheless, these lap occasions proceed to be essential for automakers. On the finish of the day, it’s about bragging rights to promote extra automobiles. With the up to date RS3 launched this week, Audi has managed to take the Nürburgring crown within the compact class.
The RS3 lapped the difficult Nordschleife in a powerful 7 minutes and 33.12 seconds. It shaved off about 5 and a half seconds from the M2’s lap time achieved final yr. We’re now left questioning whether or not BMW will battle again. The 2025 M2 makes an additional 20 horsepower however that’s probably not sufficient to reclaim the title. Nevertheless, subsequent yr’s M2 CS might have higher probabilities of dethroning the RS3.
BMW is extensively believed to take the M2 to 523 hp for the Competitors Sport and take away some weight within the course of. That being stated, the common M2 is already considerably extra highly effective than the RS3. In Audi’s flagship compact automotive, the smaller five-cylinder engine makes about 400 hp. Additional chassis and suspension tuning might assist the M2 CS get nearer to the RS3’s lap time. Nevertheless, we’re not so positive it’ll be capable to enhance it. Maybe a hardcore M2 CSL may do the trick, supplied it’ll occur at some point.
For this mid-cycle replace, Audi has given the RS3 a facelift with sharper-looking headlights and taillights. There’s now (lastly) an possibility for carbon bucket entrance seats, which the M2 G87 has been providing from day one. The revised steering wheel has a flatter design now – a course that BMW M appears to be taking as properly.
For 2025, the RS3 additionally will get grippier normal tires however lovers can nonetheless go for the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slicks. Further tweaks to the brake torque vectoring system diminish understeer, or so we’re being advised. The adaptive dampers react even higher now following a recalibration, whereas the torque splitter has been improved as properly.
In some ways, the RS3 and M2 aren’t direct rivals. Apart from the plain physique type variations, the RS3 relies on a front-wheel-drive platform with normal Quattro AWD. The M2 comes strictly with RWD, though we’re listening to an xDrive variant might land as early as 2026. BMW provides its smallest M automotive with a stick shift whereas Audi Sport sells the RS3 solely with two pedals.
The value hole can be substantial. Audi desires €66,000 for an RS3 Sportback in Germany the place BMW prices about €10,000 extra for a base M2. The distinction between the 2 is narrowed right down to €8,000 in case you go for the RS3 Sedan. It’s secure to say the M2 CS shall be far costlier, with our sources telling us it might value €110,000 in Deutschland.
May there be a special compact automotive with a gasoline engine sooner than these two? Properly, the Renault Megane RS has been discontinued whereas the Honda Civic Kind R lapped the Nordschleife final yr in 7 minutes and 44.88 seconds. There haven’t been any rumors of a warmer CTR spinoff. Deleting roughly 11 seconds to match the RS3’s lap time appears difficult, particularly with a front-wheel-drive automotive.
Maybe Volkswagen will give it a strive with the Golf GTI Clubsport or the Golf R. Nevertheless, based mostly on earlier lap occasions of properly over 7 minutes and 40 seconds for each, the RS3’s report doesn’t appear to be in any hazard from the man VW model. It will be awkward anyway to have the inferior Golf beat the fancier and costlier RS3.
Supply: Audi
2025 Audi RS3 Sedan
2025 Audi RS3 Sportback
