After S comes RS, at least in Audi’s high performance department. Following on from the hot S3 hatch and saloon that were launched earlier this year, the Renn Sport 3 returns and reclaims its position at the top of the model range. And it could be the last of its kind.

The hyper hatch has been redesigned and re-engineered to provide greater cornering performance than before. This has been achieved by enhancing the brake torque vectoring, electronic stability control and torque splitting systems, which now send their data through an enhanced vehicle dynamics controller that is more sensitive than in the pre-facelift model. High levels of front end grip are assured with 19” wheels and a staggered tyre setup that places wider rubber at the front than the rear. Tyre sizes are 265/30 R19 for the front and 245/35 R19 for the rear.

Adaptive dampers are standard on top-spec Carbon Vorsprung models, and this will allow for a more focussed setup when making rapid progress along a B-road or track, while also offering a more compliant configuration for cruising and everyday use. Grip and stability are further enhanced by optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick rubber, which should make the new RS 3 categorically one of the quickest ways to cover ground on twisty routes.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the 2.5 litre in-line 5-cylinder engine, which produces the same 394 bhp and 369 lb ft (500 Nm) as before. I was among those expecting a small power and torque boost as part of the facelift, but I suppose almost 400 horses in a compact hatch and saloon is more than enough to begin with. The performance is sent to all four wheels via the quattro all-wheel drive system and a 7-speed S Tronic twin-clutch auto. 0-62 mph takes just 3.8 seconds and the car will reach a limited top speed of 155 or 174 mph, depending on specification. 

The unmistakable sound of the 5-cylinder comes from its 1-2-4-5-3 firing order, and this is amplified in the reworked RS Sport exhaust system. Flaps within the pipework can open to enhance the soundtrack, and Audi has paid particular attention to making the car sing in the lower end of the rev range; between 2,200 and 3,500 rpm the exhaust flaps will begin to open regardless of drive mode. This should go some way to countering criticisms that the five cylinder soundtrack has lost its voice in recent generations due to emission and noise regulations.

So even without an extra horse in the stable, how does the performance compare to its predecessor? The chassis tweaks seem to have had an impact, with Audi once again sending the RS 3 around the Nurburgring Nordschleife ahead of its reveal. The new model completed the lap in 7 minutes and 33.123 seconds with development driver Frank Stippler at the wheel. 

This not only makes it “the fastest compact car” according to Audi, but a whole 7.625 seconds quicker than the pre-facelift model. Stippler said of the changes to the model that contributed to the impressive lap time: “The new RS 3 turns in more willingly at corner entry thanks to the fine tuning which allows the vehicle to be positioned earlier and better for corner exit. The result is a lower steering angle from apex to corner exit, which leads to less friction and earlier acceleration, allowing you to carry more momentum and speed onto each subsequent straight.”

In short: faster in, faster out. The RS 3 is often seen as less sharp than its rivals from BMW and Mercedes-AMG, but by the sounds of it the new model is able to corner faster than anything else in its class, and I like fast cornering. Watch the onboard footage of the trip around the ‘Ring for a masterclass in how to get the most out of the new model.

While the headline changes may be under the skin, the design has been refreshed to make the car look more aggressive and purposeful. Most of the front end of the new RS 3 is an air intake in one way or another, with the amount of painted bodywork between the bonnet and splitter being reduced to a bare minimum; just two horizontal strakes point inwards from the arch panel, and characterise the shape of the enlarged outer inlets. A vertical splitter is found here which sends air into the wheel well, while another vent is found just behind the front arches - although we’ll have to inspect it closely to see if it’s functional or not.

The singleframe grille has been enlarged, with its black frame connecting directly to the headlights that can have three running light signatures on top spec. New 19” wheel designs can be found in the arches, and a redesigned rear bumper completes the look, playing host to a diffuser with a pronounced central strake that is reminiscent of the new e-tron GT, and the RS-specific twin oval exhausts which are better integrated into the design than before.

With matrix adaptive headlights fitted, the tail lights can be customised with a selection of lighting signatures through the car’s enhanced infotainment system. Of more interest is the new flat-bottomed and flat-topped steering “wheel” which takes on the shape of a hexagon. Perforated leather, infotainment controls, gearshift paddles and two preselect buttons for the Performance and Individual driving modes can be found on the steering hexagon. Elsewhere in the cabin, the RS bucket seats are said to be more supportive and feature a honeycomb pattern, nappa leather, suede-style microfibre and stitching in black, red or green.

The Virtual Cockpit infotainment setup sees a 12.3” drivers display that has multiple options for displaying the revs, speed, power, torque, g-forces, acceleration and lap times. A shift indicator can also be displayed when you opt to use the paddles to change gear. The 10.1” central display can show the temperatures for the coolant, oil, brakes and the torque splitter, along with the everyday features such as navigation, media playback and smartphone mirroring. Mercifully - and most likely because this is a facelift rather than a new model - physical buttons remain for the air conditioning and vehicle controls. New air vents, trim elements and enhanced ambient lighting round out the rest of the changes to the interior.

Every hot or hyper hatch (and compact saloon, in this case) must have a good level of usability baked into its package, and the RS 3 offers space for five, and a reasonable boot size in both hatchback and saloon body styles. ISOFIX anchor points make fitting child seats easy for taking the kids on the fastest school runs in the land.

The new facelift 2025 Audi RS3 Sportback and Saloon go on sale in September 2024, but pricing and specifications for the UK market have already been confirmed. Beginning at £59,510 for the hatchback and £60,510 for the saloon, the standard equipment includes 19” Y-spoke wheels in matt black, the RS sport exhaust system, RS sport suspension, head-up display, Virtual Cockpit infotainment with two digital displays, privacy glass, SONOS sound system, and LED headlights and tail lights.

An extra £4,650 is required for the Carbon Black specification that adds cross-spoke matt grey alloys, carbon fibre trim for the singleframe grille and air inlets, lip spoiler, door mirrors and rear diffuser. Matrix LED adaptive headlights also feature. The top of the range Carbon Vosrprung requires an additional £4,490, but in return you gain black cross-spoke wheels, a higher top speed of 174 mph, adaptive suspension, a panoramic glass sunroof and electrically adjustable front seats.

In its standard form, the new RS 3 undercuts its closest rival - the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S by almost £4,000, but when factoring in specification levels the AMG is less expensive. However, the Audi is much better value on a cost-per-cylinder basis, working out at £11,902 per cylinder compared to the £15,861 for the AMG. I’ll let you do the rest of the maths, dear reader. More specification information will come when the model goes on sale in the UK in the coming weeks and we’ll update this as soon as we get it.

In the thirteen years since the first RS 3 reached our roads, almost 80,000 examples of the fast five-pot have been delivered worldwide, with 2023 recording the highest production numbers. While the name is pretty much guaranteed to live on for the coming years and decades, the engine may not as rumours are swirling that the 2.5 litre in-line 5 will bow out when the RS 3 and RS Q3 reach the end of their production runs. Given that the model is already at the halfway point of its life cycle, there will only be a few years to secure a hyper hatch with a unique cylinder count.