Good news Audi fans, the RS3 is back and has evolved into something even more incredible than before. When Audi originally made the RS3 they took some of the best bits of of the sporty S3 and the more mature A3 and mashed them together into a 5-seater that is both comfortable for your commute and a ton of fun when it’s time to play. With wider wheels, a touch more horsepower than before and an included drift mode, this 2022 model is worthy of a closer look. Let’s say that again. It has a drift mode. Our friends over at Car and Driver had the luck of actually taking one of these Audi 2022 RS3s out on the track for some “cackle-inducing hooliganism” and absolutely liked what they saw.
The RS3 has an unusual engine setup, with 5 cylinders instead of 4 or 6. This means that the sound is truly a thing of beauty, especially for a 2.5L engine. And Audi makes every bit of that engine count, with a 0-60 time of just 3.3 seconds. If you are keeping score at home, that means the 2022 model is 0.10 of a second faster than the 2017 model, even though it is almost 100 lbs heavier. The turbocharged engine throws out 401 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.
The Combination of Track Day Thrills With Commuter Comfort
2022’s RS3 has an even more aggressive stance than the previous model, and also has wider tires from the beginning. Its standard tires are 265 mm width in the front, which allows for exceptional grip. And these differences in the 2022 model make it even more fun to take to a track day. The RS3 can give any driver to have a bit of a leg up behind the wheel. The computers running in the background can help with understeer, send the torque when and where you need it, and give you that built in drift mode. All of these pieces together will let you have a ton of fun behind the wheel.
Beyond that, the RS3 is still an Audi, which means that there is a luxurious and comfortable interior lurking behind the sleek facade. It has anything you could want in a modern interior with a 10.1 inch infotainment touchscreen and actual buttons for your climate control. Unlike a number of cars that excel during a track day but aren’t so great in real life, the adjustable suspension is actually comfortable on real roads.
The base model of the 2022 Audi RS3 hovers just around $60,000 with additional add-ons available as usual. If you are interested in learning more about this gorgeously purring beast, head on over to Car and Driver for even more details and some great pics.