At Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí exterior of Barcelona, Audi has arrange a good chicane constituted 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 means of and energy out, going quicker with every lap. In reality, ripping by means of each part of the fabulous observe makes me snigger with glee, in a method that I wouldn’t if I used to be in final 12 months’s RS3.
Usually a gentle mid-cycle refresh doesn’t deliver main adjustments to how a automotive handles and its fun-to-drive quotient, however the 2025 RS3 is a distinct story. This era of RS3 has all the time been a succesful efficiency automotive with a superb engine, however now it’s a real delight to drive whether or not you’re on observe or a good mountain cross due to a variety of 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 lodge 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 always 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 surface wheel, the within wheel is braked, serving to to observe a curve’s radius extra exactly. This implies I can enter corners at larger 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 all the varied chassis methods, which Audi says makes the up to date RS3 extra reactive to completely different inputs. The RS3 can also be extra liable to purposeful oversteer, because it’s now simpler to kick the tail out by means of steering angle versus simply including extra throttle like within the outdated automotive.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 in a position to ship the RS3 right into a small managed slide with out a lot effort. The RS3 I’ve acquired on observe is supplied with the optionally available 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 greatest roads I’ve ever pushed, and the RS3 is completely suited to the slender mountain passes which might be stuffed with hairpins and switchbacks. The crimson RS3 sedan I’m driving on street 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. 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 fantastic. The turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-5 nonetheless makes 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and it’s probably the most entertaining and characterful engines on sale. Its energy supply is addicting, and the seven-speed dual-clutch automated fires off speedy shifts which might be nicely tuned for observe and street 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 vehicles this aspect of a supercar.
Among the best components of the up to date RS3 sadly gained’t make its strategy to America. The vehicles I’m driving in Spain have new optionally available 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 is perhaps a troublesome promote for compact automotive customers no matter its efficiency degree, however I’d completely take them over the bottom seats even for a each day driver.
We’re nonetheless denied the RS3 Sportback within the U.S., however Audi is sort sufficient to let me drive a brilliant inexperienced one on observe. Yeah, it truly is superior, and I want Individuals had been much less hatchback-averse, however at the least 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 brilliant crimson 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 every thing of their most aggressive settings and switches the soundness management off; the latter is what I’ve pushed the vehicles 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 are actually 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 way more than the $63,395 base value the 2024 mannequin instructions. That’s loads for a small automotive that shares its front-wheel-drive-based platform with a cheapo Volkswagen, positive, nevertheless it’s exhausting to consider a extra thrilling, entertaining automotive on this phase or value class. I want I may have saved lapping Parcmotor all day, and I might’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 a efficiency automotive.
