Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system has a fabulous origin story, featuring rally stars and the infamous Olympic ski jump. However, today, Quattro is only synonymous with the stability of crossover owners, who are palpitated from the idea of ​​driving on a slightly smooth road.

The Audi RS3 in 2022 reminds us of what the Quattro is and what it will be when the car is held to a stop. Packing a clever rear axle, bringing a lot of rear-wheel drive features to the hottest member of Audi’s ultra-compact lineup. The new RS3 can be said to be the most eye-catching entry model in this segment, especially Because it doesn't feel like anything else.

Although we strive to rate every new car we test, we cannot provide a rating for the 2022 Audi RS3 until official pricing and EPA fuel economy estimates are available. We will update this space after we get the final score.

It is true that when we left our hotel on the outskirts of Athens, Greece, our first meeting with RS3 was not positive. On the hills in the northwest of the city, Audi is mediocre in the corner, even though its headline feature is RS Torque Splitter. Using two multi-plate clutches (one on each side), this series of gadgets and gears provide rear axle torque vectoring and handling characteristics for the RS3 based on the front drive, which is completely different from what we expect from the nose of a heavy, understeer Audi.

As before, the RS3 sends up to 50% of the torque to the rear axle, but the torque divider transmits this power laterally based on the selected drive mode and input from a large number of sensors. The rear tires share love on straight roads, but once you enter the curve, the computer transfers up to 100% of the torque to the outer rear wheels. Audi said that Torque Splitter can suppress understeer, respond more accurately to steering input, and increase acceleration at corner exits. We say this is absolutely true... if you have the right tires.

On the first day, our testers wore factory low rolling resistance Pirelli PZero tires. The performance of the tires was completely lower than Audi's excellent chassis and technology. There are no adjustments to the drive mode or the behavior of the torque divider. Although we spent a few hours twisting the tarmac, the RS3 felt vague, like entering a corner too fast would cause the terminal to understeer. At no point during the first day did we develop confidence in the car, but worried about how the front end would respond, even at moderate speeds. It's like driving on an eggshell.

At dawn the next day, our Kyalami Green RS3 was wearing a new set of Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires (also available from the factory) and everything was fine. In a two-hour loop along the coast of Greece, the car finally delivered the treatment promised by the PR staff and marketing materials. We increased confidence in the first corner because the high-performance rubber provided more front-end grip and allowed us to finally analyze the behavior of the torque divider.

Manufacturer's suggested retail price* for the purchase of the new Audi RS 3 can save an average of more than US$3,400

In short, RS3 feels different from any previous RS product. It changes direction eagerly and feels more neutral, especially in RS Performance, where the torque splitter is the most aggressive. But this is not about corner entry, but about the behavior in the middle of the corner, where the RS3 has a unique rear-wheel drive feel in this segment, especially when the throttle is applied.

You can feel that the torque divider works mechanically, allowing the RS3 to slingshot out of corners, and it tastes like oversteer without any risk. This is an addictive balance car, so much so that we start using heavy throttle very early in the corner, believing that the rear technique will eliminate any understeer.

It's easy to attribute this advantage to the torque divider, but Audi has done its homework in other ways. The progressive steering is precise and exquisite in weight, suitable for sports driving, while the RS dedicated suspension includes a wider track, improved shock absorber, reinforced rear end, reduced ride height (four-tenths of an inch lower than S3), etc. Wait for negative camber to improve the contact surface during hard turns. There are also adaptive dampers available that can better balance robustness and compliance than the previous generation of magnetic dampers.

However, when you activate the standard drift mode of RS3, you will forget all these excellent projects. Our primitive brain knows what the joy of driving a car is, and Audi makes it easier than ever. Just activate RS Torque Rear (the official name of the drift mode), and even people who have never deliberately skid past the car can start super-controllable taxiing. To prove this, Audi set up a big cushion for us to test our fists.

During the 6-minute meeting, we went from skidding or completely unable to start drifting to connecting drifting on a figure-eight loop or drifting sideways in a large and beautiful circle, using the throttle to steer to maintain maneuverability. RS3 performs well on winding roads, but there is nothing more heroic than on a skateboard. Great, you won't even care that drift mode is a kind of fancy nonsense.

However, this is not just a few drifting machines. Audi insists that the RS3 has track capability, and it provides the hardware (and the Nurburgring lap record) to support this claim. Provide carbon ceramic brakes, in addition to the non-fading braking force, they also reduce the unsprung weight of 22 pounds. The factory-installed Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tires are an additional option, based on a short track on the outskirts of Athens, providing unshakable grip. Once we use RS3 on a more familiar track in 2022, we will talk more about track dynamics.

In the continuous search to control emissions, automakers have been reducing the scale of power plants. But to prove that there are some good things in our hellish schedule, Audi retains the iconic turbocharged five-cylinder engine of the previous generation RS3. Now packing 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque (increased from 394 horsepower and 354 pound-feet), the engineers also widened the torque curve and changed the peak output from 5,600 to 7,000 rpm. Sprinting to 60 miles per hour takes the 3.8 seconds cited by the manufacturer, but frankly, Audi is full of it-the RS3 is much faster than that. If there is a half-second improvement in the real world, we would not be surprised.

Drilling into the throttle, the speed of the RS3 feels endless. There is almost no turbo lag, and the free-speed engine provides peak twist from 2,250 to 5,600 rpm. The wide torque curve means that the RS3 is willing to play a role at basically any engine speed and any gear. But to take full advantage of this engine, you need to manipulate the gearbox and new drive modes.

Drilling into the throttle, the speed of the RS3 feels endless.

The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is working on the RS3 again, and it is as good as ever. You can drive this car like a normal A3, leaving the gearbox to your own equipment, but switching the stubby gear selector to sport-or better yet, using paddles mounted on the wheels- To get the greatest experience. In fact, although it is close to a cliché, we would say that manual is the only way you should enjoy RS3.

On the roads around Greece, we let computers perform valuable shifts. The gearbox will maintain its gear, but it rarely downshifts fast enough when approaching a corner, and instead waits for the driver to depress the accelerator again at the apex to downshift. If you want engine braking to shift the weight forward so that you can perform traction braking in bends, automatics are not always willing to cooperate. Fortunately, whether it is increasing or decreasing the gear reading, the shift speed in manual mode is impressive.

The new RS Performance and RS Individual drive modes add common doubts (Comfort, Auto and Dynamic) and access them as easy as spinach pie. Just tap the RS button on the steering wheel to activate RS Performance. Tap it again to switch to the programmable RS Individual, and a third time to return to the standard mode you used last time. This method is not as straightforward as the BMW M button or the twist knob on the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, but it saves you from frequent access to the 10.1-inch touch screen.

Unsurprisingly, RS Performance is the fun. It goes beyond the usual adjustments to the throttle, dampers, and shift intensity, increases the idle speed of the 2.5-liter engine, sets the torque divider to the most aggressive of the three modes, and turns on the variable exhaust The flaps allow the loudest sound to escape the oval duct.

Although we will no longer emphasize the greatness of the torque splitter, the influence of RS Performance on exhaust sound cannot be overemphasized. RS3 will make some good noises if you are playing, but full throttle and RS Performance are a match made in heaven, because the opening of the exhaust flap enhances the whistling sound of the 2.5-liter engine. We are particularly excited about testing the RS3 in the US market because Audi stated that our car will be louder than the European models we drive. Goody Goody chewing gum drops.

The RS3 is a high-performance ultra-compact car, but like its predecessor, this is a car you can drive every day. The cabin is as attractive and high-quality as the A3 we tested last week, with excellent fit and finish. Even the plastic board we complained about among our RS3 brothers and sisters is better here because it uses matte carbon fiber. The technical experience is still top-notch. Equipped with a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, you will find heated seats and dual-zone climate control to make you feel comfortable.

Even RS-specific bits will not cost too much comfort. The sports seats provide ample lateral support and impressive thigh support-they also feature gorgeous leather interiors in attractive colors that perfectly match the exterior paint. It is a shame that the flat-bottomed Alcantara steering wheel of our European spec tester cannot enter the United States, but the standard wheel wrapped in perforated leather is an exquisite work and will include active safety for capacitive grip detection of the standard host system.

The 2022 Audi RS3 is a very balanced performance car, not just because it combines sportiness and livability.

But the real star of the show is riding. Despite the standard 19-inch wheels and occasional damage to the road, the MacPherson strut front/multi-link rear suspension and available adaptive dampers provide surprising isolation and impressive stability. In one day, the RS3 can take you to the track a few hours away from home, turn in hot circles, tear up a smoky drift, and then it will still convince you to follow the scenic route home.

The 2022 Audi RS3 is a very balanced performance car, not just because it combines sportiness and livability. Torque Splitter can instill the rear driving force into the all-wheel drive car based on the front-wheel drive platform, not only giving it multiple personalities, but also giving it rich personalities. Although we will have to wait until the summer of 2022 to see RS3 off the coast of the United States, after speeding along the coast of Greece, we believe that the wait is worth it.

When will the 2022 Audi RS3 be launched?

Audi's goal is to launch a sales date for North American consumers in the summer of 2022. It is expected that the first test drive of a US-spec car will be in May 2022.

Is the 2022 Audi RS3 expensive?

Audi has not announced the pricing of the new RS3, but we expect its price to be similar to the previous generation car. This should mean that the price of the basic model is between US$58,000 and US$60,000, while the well-equipped version is more than US$65,000.

Is the 2022 Audi RS3 fast?

According to Audi, the 2022 Audi RS3 will reach 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, but we suspect that its actual performance will be much faster. It seems reasonable to sprint to 60 in 3.3 seconds.

Is the Audi RS3 Sportback available in the US?

Audi has no plans to bring the new RS3 Sportback to the United States. The sedan will go on sale in the summer of 2022, but it will be the only body style available here.

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