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Just 19.29 inches in length, the five-cylinder unit is ultra-compact, tipping
the scales at a mere 403 pounds. The crankcase is made of vermicular-graphite
cast iron, a high-strength yet lightweight material. Audi is the first car maker
to use this material in a gasoline engine. Perfectly placed reinforcements
further enhance the block's loadability. The lightweight-design concept keeps
the Audi RS 3 Sportback's weight in check and pays off big in terms of axle-load
distribution and, ultimately, handling.
The large turbocharger generates
up to 1.2 bar of boost pressure. The intercooler downstream achieves an
efficiency rate of over 80 percent. Like all Audi gasoline turbos, the 2.5 TFSI
combines turbocharging technology with FSI direct injection. The marriage of
these two technologies facilitates a high compression ratio (10.0:1) along with
a correspondingly high efficiency ratio. Flaps in the intake tract mix the air
as it flows in. The two camshafts, each adjustable by 42 degrees of crankshaft
rotation, also enhance the efficiency of the mixture formation.
Transmission and Quattro AWD
The compact seven-speed S tronic
transmits power from the five-cylinder engine via three shafts: one drive shaft
and two output shafts. Like all dual-clutch transmissions, it comprises two
transmission structures. The shifting process is extremely smooth, taking place
in hundredths of a second as the clutches switch, with no perceptible
interruption of pulling power. Seventh gear is very tall - a measure that
reduces fuel consumption.
The driver can operate the seven-gear S tronic
in two automatic modes and one manual mode. Gears are shifted using the paddles
on the steering wheel or the selector lever. The launch control system manages
the sprint from a dead stop, furnishing explosive turbo power with minimal tire
slip.
Delivering power to the road with effortless ease, the quattro
permanent all-wheel drive grants the RS 3 Sportback traction, dynamics, and
stability. Its central component is an electronically controlled multi-plate
clutch, mounted at the end of the propeller shaft to achieve a favorable axle
load distribution. Located in its interior is a plate package bathed in oil.
Thanks to quattro, the propulsive power can be distributed to each axle as
needed. Whenever slip occurs at one of the axles, an electric pump intervenes at
lightning speed to increase the oil pressure. The pump presses the clutch plates
together in a continuous fashion, thereby permitting the torque to be redirected
accordingly. Thanks to a powerful accumulator, this process takes just a few
milliseconds.
The RS 3 Sportback's Chassis
The stiff body
lays the cornerstone for the RS 3 Sportback's precise handling; the chassis is
what makes it happen. The four-link rear suspension - with a track measuring
60.16 inches - is anchored to a subframe and features high-strength-steel
control arms that allow it to handle longitudinal and lateral forces separately.
Widened to a 61.57-inch track, the front suspension is a McPherson strut
construction, also with a separate subframe. Key components of the construction
are made of aluminum. Thanks to its electromechanical drive, the rack-and-pinion
steering is highly efficient, with a sporty-direct gear ratio of 16.2:1.
Coil springs and redesigned shock absorbers provide the vertical support. The
sports suspension lowers the body of the RS 3 Sportback by 1 inch compared with
the A3. The new range-topping model in the A3 series boasts 19-inch cast
aluminum wheels fitted with 235/35 series tires at the front and 255/30 at the
rear. The wheels come standard with machine-polished titanium-look styling, but
are optionally available in black with a red rim flange.
The internally
ventilated disks measure 370 millimeters (14.57 inches) in diameter at the front
and 310 millimeters (12.20 inches) at the rear. The front friction rings are
perforated for maximum heat dissipation. They are connected by hollow pins to
the aluminum brake disk covers, which are encircled by four-piston fixed
calipers painted a high-gloss black and bearing RS logos. The electronic
stabilization program (ESP) features a Sport mode and can be switched off
entirely.
Precisely guided by its responsive steering, the RS 3 Sportback
eagerly takes to curves and exits them with agility, stability, and serenity.
The stability limit is extremely high, an effortless mastery that rounds off the
character of this powerful compact car.
Premium Equipment
The RS 3 Sportback comes with an array of standard equipment including the Sport
button, rear parking system, climate control, chorus radio system, and xenon
plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. Audi offers customers a range
of optional features: front bucket seats, roof rails in matt aluminum look, and
styling packages in black or matt aluminum. Five exterior colors are available,
plus an unlimited selection of custom paint finishes.
The new
top-of-the-line model in the A3 series is already the fourth Audi model to be
built at Audi Hungaria in Gyor, where it is rolling off the assembly line
alongside the TT Coupé, the TT Roadster and the A3 Cabriolet.
Deliveries
of the RS 3 Sportback will begin in early 2011 across Europe. The base price in
Germany will be 49,900 EUR.
Audi RS 3 Sportback: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications