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Audi RS3 Sportback

Price (as tested)|R7 10000 (R 82376 9)

He

ight

1 411

Suspension

MacPhersonstrut front, Multi-

link rear, adaptivedampers

Engine

2 480cc 20v 5-cylinderturbo

Width 1 800 Length4 343

Transmission

7-speed Stronic,

all-wheeldrive

Power 270kW@ 5550-6 800rpm

Torque 46 5Nm@ 1 62 5-5 550rpm

Power toweight178kWpertonne

Claimed

Urbancycle 11 .4ℓ/100km

Extra-urbancycle 8.5ℓ/100km

Combined cycle 6.3ℓ/100km

CO2 emissions 194 g/km

Actual

Test route 80 km

Consumption 9.8ℓ/100km

Cruisingrange 56 1km

Warranty 1-year unlimitedkm

Maintenance plan 5-year/100 000kmMotorplan

Service intervals Determined byOBC

Bootcapacity 280 ℓ

Utilityspace 11 20ℓ

Kerbweight 1 520kg

Fuel supply Direct injection

Acceleration

0-60kph 2.29sec

0-80kph 3.25sec

0-100kph 4.41sec

Overtaking

60 -100kph 2.45sec

80 -120kph 2.86 sec

Braking

100-0kph 2.69sec/42m

Top speed 250kph(ltd)

Brakesfront

Brakes rear

Wheels

Tyres

Ventilated discs

Ventilated discs

19-inch alloys

Pirelli

23 5/35R19

kg

55

litr es

TANK

OUR CHOICE:This is oneof the

toughest calls tomakeright now.

Whilethe FordFocus RSis yet tobe

launched thechoice restssquarely

between the RS3andA45. Both are

excellent, but despite itssticker price

theRS3is far morepolished than the

A45 and delivers the betterall-round

experience.

MEET THE RIVALS

Mercedes-AMG A45

>PriceR688 217>Engine

2.0-litre turbo, 280kW@

6 000rpm, 475Nm @ 2250-

5 000rpm>Transmission

7-speed dual-clutch, AWD

>Stats4.2sec0-100kph,

250kph, 7.3ℓ/100km, 171g/km

Ford Focus RS

>PriceNot yet>Engine

2.3-litreturbo, 257kW@

6 000rpm, 440Nm @ 2000-

4 500rpm>Transmission

6-speed manual, AWD

>Stats4.7sec0-100kph,

265 kph, 7.7ℓ/100km, 175g/km

torque to each end when deemed

necessa ry – thus improving the vehicle’ s

agility and ab ility to stay neutral in the

bends. It’s just a matter of pointin g it at

an apex and mashing the throttle pedal,

the massive reserves of all-wheel-drive

grip feeding your confidenc e with

every sweeping bend. The ride quality

on the optional magnetic dampers is

fantastic too.

Verdict

In a highly competitive segment the Audi

RS3 Sportback is a ge nuine contender for the

superhatch throne. It’s a more refined

machine this time around offering a good

balance between performance, handling and

comfort. Let’s not forget the superb

practicality it also offers buyers – an everyday

superhatch if ever there was. Despite it

narrowly losing out to the reworked

Mercedes-AMG A45’s

280kW and 475Nm of thrust,

it still manages to deliver the

eye-popping performance

expected of such a halo car,

not to mention an exquisitely

arranged soundtrack filled

with malice and intent. So

what’s the catch? Well, there’s

that R710 000 sticker price,

R823769 if specced like our

test car with its magnetic ride

(R13640), a sports exhaust

system (R11840), S sports

seat s (R10360), LED

headlamps (R13060),

aluminiumstyling package

(R9040) and more. This puts

it in the same bracket as the

Porsch e Boxster and Cayman

• go figure... While the Audi
  RS3 Sportback is a truly
  visceral and polished
  machine I’ll reserve final
  judgment once I’ve driven the
  Merc-AMG A45 and Ford
  Focus RS back to back in the
  same environment. The
  battle lines are drawn.tc

@AaronBorrill

Hands downthe best-lookingRS 3
Sportback yet. 19 -inchalloys, red
calipers andcanon-like exhaust pipes
reference its darkerside