- New Audi RS 3 Competition Limited revealed
- Production run of 750 globally - just 11 allocated to the UK
- Bespoke adjustable coilover suspension with new rear stabilizer
- Same 2.5-litre powertrain as regular RS 3
- It’s priced from £92,855
It’s quick, and you’ll need to be quick to get one - it’s the ultra-limited edition new Audi RS 3!
The Audi RS 3 Competition Limited has been unveiled this week to mark 50 years of the manufacturer’s iconic five-cylinder engine.
Back in 1976, Audi’s first five-cylinder mill was placed into the Audi 100, where a 2.1-litre unit developed 136 PS.
Fast forward five decades, and the 2.5-litre TFSI engine in the RS 3 now chucks out 400 PS, 500 Nm of torque, and gets its signature sound from the 1-2-4-5-3 firing order.
The new Audi RS 3 Competition Limited gets the same powertrain as the regular RS 3 - which brings you a 0-62mph time of just 3.8 seconds.
But with coilover suspension, a new rear stabilizer, and a host of other performance upgrades, the RS 3 Competition Limited is a collector’s item limited to just 11 UK models.
It costs a hefty £92,855 - a decent chunk more than the standard RS 3’s £62,4501 price tag.
What’s unique about the styling of the Audi RS 3 Competition Limited?
While the RS 3 is available as both a Sportback and Saloon, this Competition Limited model comes as a Sportback only.
There’s a new singleframe at the front, flanked by air intakes, as well as a redesigned front lip.
You’ll find matte carbon elements, including two new canards on the front corners, while matte gold 19-inch alloys catch the eye.
All variants are finished in Malachite green, with darkened matrix LED headlights adding to the moody look.
A unique roof spoiler at the rear improves downforce.
What suspension upgrades does the Audi RS 3 Competition have?
The major additions to the Audi RS 3 Competition are coilover suspension and a stiffer rear stabilzer, which combine to offer ‘distinctly sporty handling’, says Audi.
With the coilovers, you can adjust the low-speed compression, high-speed compression and rebound.
For low-speed, there’s a 12-step dial; crank it towards ‘+’ at things stiffen up, loosen it towards the ‘-’ sign and it lowers the damping force for a more comfortable ride.
For high-speed, it’s a 15-step dial; stiffer high-speed compression means high-frequency vertical movements are damped more, resulting in sharper feedback to the driver.
Meanwhile the 16-step adjustable rebound controls how directly the body is linked to the road. Audi explains: “High damping on rebound means the suspension decompresses more slowly; handling therefore becomes very precise and direct. Lower damping on rebound means the springs can expand more quickly, thus increasing ride comfort.”
You’ll also enjoy fully variable torque distribution at the rear, as well as by brake torque vectoring, and ceramic brakes.
What about the interior of the Audi RS 3 Competition?
As you might expect, the byword here is ‘exclusivity’.
The cabin is swatched in black, gold and white leather and Dinamica upholstery and you’ll be held in place by RS bucket seats.
There’s a 10.1-inch touchscreen that displays your track day performance stats while the digital driver display pays homage to the instrument dials of the old RS2 Avant from 1994.
Can't stretch to an RS 3? Check out our latest lease deals for the regular Audi A3 Sportback.
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