Audi Sport’s new RS 3 Sedan that is powered by a turbocharged 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder gasoline engine—voted as the International Engine of the Year in its class for 10 consecutive years—is now offered by Audi Philippines.
Along with the RS Q8 SUV and RS 6 Avant, the new RS 3 Sedan spearheads the arrival of the Audi Sport brand in the Philippines. Audi Sport is the high-performance division of Audi AG and develops all the RS models. More of these RS models, including the new R8 supercar, will be introduced to the local market throughout 2021.
Winners in the International Engine of the Year award are evaluated by a global panel of automotive journalists who base their votes on subjective driving impressions and technical knowledge. The judges consider the engines’ fuel economy, smoothness, power delivery, sound emitted and overall performance in determining the winner in each category. The 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder engine has won the 2.0-to-2.5-liter category from 2010 to 2018, and the 150ps to 250ps class in 2019 when the awards program adopted a new power rating-based format.
The 2.5 TFSI is the most powerful series-produced five-cylinder engine in the world and is exclusively used in high-performance models. In present form it makes 400hp and 480Nm, available from as low as 1,700 rpm and remains constant up to 5,850 rpm. This power output is capable of catapulting the new RS 3 Sedan from a standstill to 100 km/h in only 4.1 seconds. Despite this performance, the new RS 3 Sedan is fuel-efficient and clean, rated to deliver a combined city/highway consumption of 11.76 kilometers per liter while also complying to Euro 6 emissions standards.
Unique to the RS 3 Sedan’s 2.5 TFSI is the sound created by its inline-five-cylinder layout. A 1-2-4-5-3 firing order means ignition alternates between directly adjacent cylinders and those further apart from one another, creating a distinct rhythm. At high revs, flaps in the exhaust system open to make notes even fuller. The opening and closing of the flaps individually can also be controlled via the Audi drive select. The RS sport exhaust system with black tailpipe trim on the new RS 3 Sedan makes the five-cylinder engine sound crisper.
Another feature that distinguishes the new RS 3 Sedan from its competitors is its magnetic ride suspension technology. This system continuously adapts the car’s shock absorbers—filled with electronically controlled magnetic particles—to the road condition and driver’s preference, ensuring both comfort and control.
Audi Sport’s seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission is standard on the new RS 3 Sedan. The S tronic can be left in automatic mode or can be made to change gears via steering wheel paddles. Two driving programs are available in automatic mode; “D” is suited for normal traffic while “S” lets the 2.5 TFSI rev higher. In any mode, gear shifts are imperceptible and happen within hundredths of a second.
The S tronic sends the 2.5 TFSI’s power to all four wheels through Audi Sport’s legendary quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. A key component of the quattro is its electronically controlled, hydraulically activated multi-plate clutch mounted at the rear axle. This multi-plate clutch, using software tailored to the new RS 3 Sedan, distributes the drive torque to the front and rear axles as required.
As an RS model, the RS 3 Sedan shows off its sporty side through its design. It flaunts the Singleframe grille marked by the quattro logo, and its flared wheel arches accommodate wider front and rear tracks. A fixed rear spoiler lip, a distinctive diffuser insert with vertical struts, and large oval RS exhaust tailpipes further identify the RS 3 Sedan as a high-performance model developed by Audi Sport.
To know more about the new RS 3 Sedan, visit Audi Philippines showrooms on EDSA, Mandaluyong; Bonifacio Global City; Westgate Alabang; and SM Seaside Cebu.