The 2022 Audi RS 3 makes its dwelling on the observe

With electrical automobiles starting to reach in better numbers, the variety of automobiles that may obtain excessive speeds with nice quickness solely continues to develop. Nevertheless, there’s a scarcity of enjoyable automobiles, automobiles that delight the driving force and stir the soul. The 2022 Audi RS 3 tries to fill that position. All the things that’s modified about it, from the expressive styling, to the distinctive 5-cylinder exhaust be aware, to its mechanical adjustments, appears to be within the identify of enjoyable. It’s under no circumstances an ideal automobile, with some very obvious flaws, however at its core it’s rollicking enjoyable in some ways. 

I traveled to Nevada’s Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch to get a sampling of the brand new RS 3 in a number of of these disciplines: on observe, on the road, and even on a brief, lighted drifting course after darkish.

1-2-4-5-3

No, I didn’t overlook the way to depend. The numbers above seek advice from the firing sequence of the RS 3’s 2.5-liter turbo-5 that provides it its distinctive sound. With the TT RS departing final yr, this leaves the RS 3 as the one automobile to hold the 5-cylinder banner going ahead.

The engine is a delight. It makes 401 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, a rise of seven hp and 15 lb-ft over the past RS 3 (and seven hp greater than the European model of the RS 3). It’s mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmission and all-wheel drive. 

Audi quotes a 0-60 mph time of three.6 seconds and that undoubtedly feels achievable with launch management, however the place the engine shines most is between 20 mph and 50 mph. The turbo-5 is a bit old-school in its energy supply. There’s particular lag however as soon as the engine begins to wind out it kicks very arduous with partaking suddenness. The transmission typically works as an obstacle to energy.  If left to its personal units, it doesn’t kick down early sufficient below braking. Additionally, typically when utilizing the paddle shifters to attempt to downshift, the transmission gained’t kick down till there’s a little bit of a spot under redline. However for those who use the paddles early sufficient, the RS 3 slingshots out of corners leaving burbles and grins in its wake.

Rear-wheel really feel, with an all-wheel security web

The modest improve in energy is not what makes the RS 3 really feel a lot totally different than the earlier automobile. It’s the opposite massive mechanical change: a brand new electronically-controlled rear differential, which additionally offers the RS 3 a novel really feel in comparison with different Audis. It’s mechanically similar to the one discovered within the new Golf R, however as an alternative of solely sending 50% of the engine’s energy to the rear wheels, the RS 3 can ship all of it, and all of that energy might be shifted to the left or proper rear wheel.

In Dynamic mode, the RS 3 sends as a lot energy as it may well to the rear wheels, and this can be a enjoyable mode for the road. It supplies many of the really feel of a rear-wheel drive sedan, and it was my mode of selection on the windy desert roads in California’s Loss of life Valley. The RS 3 tendencies barely towards oversteer on this mode, in sharp distinction to the opposite RS fashions which have a slight understeer bias.

Audi additionally provides a brand new RS Drift mode that I received to check on a small drift course at evening. On this mode, with the traction management dialed all the best way again, it’s virtually absurdly simple to get the again of the automobile to step out and carry out donuts or lengthy sustained slides by a large nook (with out shifting out of first gear).

The differential shines most on the observe in RS Efficiency mode. On this mode, the all-wheel drive system is ready as much as decrease each understeer and oversteer for sooner and extra secure cornering. That nearly sounds too good to be true, however it’s superb to expertise. The answer to feeling the automobile step out in both path is simply to remain on the throttle and let the RS 3 determine issues out.

Popping out of Spring Mountain’s lengthy straightaway, there’s a good 90-degree right-hand flip, adopted by a slight proper that opens into an uphill climb by a small, off-camber chicane. After my first set of laps, I requested Audi’s skilled teacher if the best way to take the again a part of  this sector was flat out and he assured me that “for those who keep on it, the automobile can deal with it.”

I appreciated the best way he subtly dodged an evaluation of my very own abilities and put the onus on the automobile, so on the subsequent set of laps I did simply that. I felt the nostril of the automobile start to push barely as I arced proper into the chicane with the street banked again to the left. The throttle was pinned and as an alternative of understeer, the differential labored its magic and I felt the shift in energy on the rear finish get the nostril pointed again to the best (with none extra steering enter), which helped me blast up the hill 15 mph sooner than I did the earlier lap.

This wouldn’t occur in a purely RWD automobile as getting on the throttle like that with the automobile unbalanced would trigger a spin. There’s an argument that AWD dilutes the purity of the driving expertise, particularly within the observe surroundings, however that is higher to me. I’ll take the RS 3’s principally rear-drive really feel, however it provides the safety blanket of AWD to cowl up faults and supply most grip. 

The brand new suspension additionally helps the RS 3 to place its energy down cleanly in these conditions. For 2022, Audi Magnetic Trip has been ditched for a dynamic chassis management (DCC) system and a floor clearance that’s 0.4 inch decrease than the S3. Sensors measure how the physique is shifting vertically in relation to the wheels and in RS efficiency mode, the suspension works to attenuate wheel bounce and maintain the physique stage over being very stiff always. In observe, this makes the RS 3 really feel a bit softer within the corners than another efficiency sedans. It has noticeable physique roll, however the wheels by no means hop and the powertrain is so good at shuffling torque round that the lean bleeds away as you get arduous onto the throttle.

If the RS 3 had an on-track weak point, it was the brakes. They’d loads of stopping energy however the nostril of the RS 3 tended to get a bit of bit squirrely below very arduous braking (probably as a result of RS 3’s 59:41 weight distribution). The upside is that this a part of the automobile’s nature will get you to brake earlier and take a late apex, permitting the powertrain to shine because it rams by the prolonged nook exit.

Put in your dancing footwear

It’s not possible to debate the RS 3’s observe efficiency with out mentioning its new set of tires. For the primary time on an RS mannequin, Audi will supply a motorsport tire that’s actually meant for the observe: the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R. Principally R-compound semi-slicks, these are the identical tires that the RS 3 utilized in setting its compact automobile lap document of seven:40.748 on the Nürburgring. 

Within the dry 95-degree circumstances of the Nevada desert, the tires have been completely fitted to Spring Mountain’s impeccable observe floor; they’re heroic and sticky in all the best methods. I drove the RS 3 on the observe after doing the road drive on the Pirelli P Zero summer time tire and the added grip proved transformative. It permits the RS 3 to place all of its energy down so cleanly and the added chunk makes turn-in really feel crisp and fast. 

Better of all, these tires are solely a $450 choice although they’re solely out there for those who additionally equip the Dynamic Plus and Black Optic Plus packages, which most significantly add carbon-ceramic entrance brakes and push the highest pace from 155 mph to 180 mph. You’ll additionally owe Audi a signed disclosure that what you’re entering into with these tires as they’re technically avenue authorized, however we wouldn’t advocate treating them as such. They’ll have zero grip within the moist, so it’d be a good suggestion to personal one other set of wheels with a extra acceptable day-to-day tire.

Driving the RS 3 on a regular basis

The RS 3s we examined on the road got here sans the Trofeo Rs and the ceramic brakes, decreasing the efficiency envelope noticeably. However that is nonetheless a efficiency automobile at first, and the RS 3 doesn’t allow you to overlook that. The brake pedal may be very grabby, keen to place in lots of stopping energy on the prime of the pedal’s journey. Just like the brakes, the suspension can be excitable and even in its Consolation setting nonetheless feels fairly stiff. It’s busy, however fortunately not unlivable in the best way that the outdated Audi TT RS was. 

The 2022 RS 3 can be very, virtually shockingly properly geared up for its worth. It begins at $59,995 (together with a $1,095 vacation spot cost) and comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster show, heated 8-way energy entrance sport seats, nappa leather-based upholstery, panoramic sunroof, parking sensors, adaptive cruise management, and a ten.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with wi-fi Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. That function density offers the bottom RS 3 one thing you don’t hear typically on this area of high-performance luxurious automobiles: worth.

Whereas the RS 3 isn’t an ideal automobile, it’s an absolute riot on the observe (with the Trofeo Rs) and nonetheless enjoyable on the road with an exhilarating soundtrack to match. Maybe automakers ought to chase delight as an alternative of perfection. The 2022 RS 3 has that in spades.

Audi supplied a flight, lodging at a home proper on the racetrack, and observe time for Motor Authority to deliver you this primary hand drive report.