During a quick trip to the UK recently, I was able to drive
Audi's newest model in the RS lineup – the RS3
Sportback. It is one of the candidates for the 2012 World Performance Car
of the Year.
As its name suggests it is the fastest model in the A3 model
range. It's powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine producing 340
horsepower and 332 ft lbs of torque. Power is transferred to the ground by all
four wheels using Audi's Quattro system and a 7-speed S-tronic direct-shift
transmission.
As a former owner of an Ur-Quattro, the original AWD beast,
I immediately felt at home in the RS3 Sportback – it offers a similar raucous
experience with a throaty burping turbo sound at full throttle. Of course the
car is much more sophisticated and refined, as it should be thirty years after
the original Ur-Quattro hit the market.
I found the RS3 was perfectly tractable driving at slow
speeds around narrow country lanes in the Cotswolds but once I could open it up
on wider roads the performance was exhilarating. Push the S button on the dash
and the engine noise increases, in a nice way, the steering becomes a little
more responsive and the suspension firms up. Honestly, apart from the increase
in engine noise, I did not notice much difference in the car's performance at
least at street-legal speeds. However, shift the transmission lever into Sport
mode and the RS3 is markedly different as it shifts much faster and seventh
gear is not even available for use.
Even in car-crazy Britain the RS3 Sportback attracted
attention. Perhaps it was the bright red paint scheme and the red-rimmed
19-inch alloy wheels. The car looks aggressive, despite being essentially a
small hatchback. An owner of a BMW Z4 who drove it around the block, so to
speak, found it much more exciting than his Bimmer and also commented on how
much nicer the interior was appointed. It was small touches, such as the large
thick leather trimmed steering wheel and the precisely made chrome surrounds on
the air vents, that caught his attention.
Non-enthusiasts might complain about the hard seats and the
somewhat stiff ride but overall these are an important part of the car's character.
On smooth roads and along winding country lanes I had no complaints about the
ride or handling. I'd like to have driven the car in slippery conditions as
that's when Audi's Quattro system excels abut alas, believe it or not, it
hardly rained while I was in the UK so I never drove on any wet surfaces.
Complaints — none really other than the fact it is not
offered for sale in the UK with a manual transmission. Okay, the S-tronic
transmission gets the job down really well, but I, along with many others
especially in the UK, still miss the delight in using one's left foot for a
clutch and manually shifting through the cogs.
source: http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/driven-2012-audi-rs3-sportback-26701by John Rettie
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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