[mrAudi]

It could do with a few red bits

[Chiefbadger]

Hi everyone, been keeping a close watch on this thread as very tempted by the new RS3! The only thing I feel it's missing is a slightly dished rotor wheel like the rs4. That would really set it off imo. Reckon the Nardo and black pack looks a load better than all the other red/alu press shots too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Uncle Fester]

It could do with a few red bits

They should have consulted with you on the use of lipstick💄😄

[Uncle Fester]

We'll done John for the photos👍 ,I noticed not everyone was wearing a suit so I thought I'd do a scientific experiment, I first looked at the photos wearing my usual style of clothing then I looked at them wearing a borrowed suit and guess what they look and make me feel the same about the car,I've even tried looking at them in my birthday suit and still no difference 👀

[sawda]

I can't help but feel underwhelmed. Its looks way too similar to current model and on face value not worth the unpgrade. Would definately like to test drive it but based on all the images and reports that are out there I'm not expecting too much.

[Tailpipe]

I also attended this event in Audi City, Piccadilly and asked the question about wheel choices. Stefan (the designer) said there would be a variety of wheel options, certainly in Germany, with the RS4's double arm wheels made available. 

 

Interestingly, the standard car comes with the same wheel dimensions fitted all-round, but if you want you can specify wider front wheels to improve grip, application of power and reduce understeer. The new Haldex system can send all of the power to the back wheels, so on slippery surfaces you really can flick out the rear end.   

 

The RS3 looks even better in the metal. It was a very pale grey - not sure if that is apparent in pictures posted above. it had the black package so all aluminium bits were painted gloss black. My preference is for a darker colour, such as black, grey or dark blue, but the red is superb. 

 

There will be a lot of customisation options, including red inserts for the air con nodules. The sports seats were cool. However, my over-riding impression was of a car that looks like it had been chiselled from a solid block of steel. 

 

Nice one Audi!

[Roy]

What a shat colour to chose to unveil the car !

[ColinC2]

Actually like the colour - it suits the car. Love the seats and stitching. Like the idea of OEM sports exhaust..... 

 

Hate the SatNav screen - like the one that was in my C63 and that would be 5 years old this year. It loooks like an add-on and that alone would prevent me from ordering right now (as well as the fact that promised myself no more new cars ... )

[Kiteral]

Where any brochures handed out at the launch ? Still waiting for the options prices and the configurator !

[Moschops]

Great pictures. However those seats look gash!!!

 

The pop screen is nice, you don't have to have it up all the time and it's certainly well put together.

[Jmcnamee98]

It was a good event and they certainly did not skimp on the champagne! I realise Nardo Grey is one of the exclusive colours but it is not for me and the spec of the car was a little disappointing as was the lack of information in terms of brochure and options price list. I had been hoping to see an RS3 with as many options from the list as possible. I think they have missed a trick not having brochures available and people on hand to discuss the options in detail that could answer questions about the mag ride, ride height for instance. I can understand the grey and wanting to use the RS3 exclusive colours but for me would have been good to see a Catalunya Red one with the aluminium pack alongside it is as a contrast. This way you could have got an idea of how the different packs would have looked. They are plugging ceramics as a first in the luxury compact class so again for me they should have been on the car. The super sport seats are lovely but they were in an Audi exclusive colour which again I don’t think will be representative of many orders. It would have been better to see the black and red stitching with the red interior RS design pack. I fear there is going to be a couple of annoyances and omissions with the options such as not being able to have electric super sport seats which you can on a standard TT or automatic book opening and closing.

 

I think the arches are good it’s nice to see the rears flared to allow the 235 rears I think the fronts are flared enough. The lines of car and new RS specific skirts actually take away from the front arches which I think makes them look a little less pronounced in the pictures. If you listen to the video the designer talks about them being wider than the RS5 arches. Any more flared and even the optional 255 fronts would have been lost in them. For those concerned with highlighting a cars ‘stance’ I overheard a couple of people saying it requires spacers not for me just makes it easier to kerb the alloys. As already mentioned multiple alloy options are promised. I personally think there is not much dish on the RS3 rotors compared to some of the other RS rotors due to the RS3’s relative high offset in comparison and reduced width.

 

I have no issue with the nav screen other than its not full touch screen just the track pad is. If you don’t like the look of it have it fold away when not in use for a clean dash board rather than those terrible stuck on Merc things which are enough to completely put be off the 45 AMG’s.

 

Looking around the car it comes across as though it’s had some proper development put in. They seem to be trying to ensure there are none of the originals issues carried over. I personally think a lot of the extra power is coming from the revised intakes. It may have been the champagne but I think the pipe from the turbo to the airbox was larger in diameter and possibly even the airbox itself. There’s a forced induction cold air intake running the length of the grill feeding the new airbox, and new cooling for brakes intercooler and aerodynamics. Hopefully this would help with the high inlet IAT’s these suffer from.

 

Think Audi have realised the brakes were not up to scratch on the original RS3 and have taken further measures to cool the brakes with new ducts both sides and wavy discs and have beefed them up with 8 pot calipers and optional ceramics.

 

[Jmcnamee98]

Couple more pics
 image.jpg   93.9K   13 downloads

Attached Files

•  image.jpg   74.8K   9 downloads

[Pat]

Bloody hell they even copying my carbon dipped or skimmed parts as well as my colour schemes.......we are being watched !!

Must admit I'm liking the S1, bit dear but a lovely funky hot little car....and tuneable (I've checked already )

[Kiteral]

Spoke to my dealer, who I have a deposit with and they said order books should be open on Monday...

Here's hoping Daytona is available, I ain't a fan of Nardo/primer

[Roy]

Well said mate !

[MCP_RS3]

Primer lolol lucky you guys Monday is awesome news . Any indication as from order to delivery date? If not please update us on that time period also the specs you went with !

[Garby81]

Unfortunately it seems like carboceramic brakes and bucket seats aren't already available.

[PT3]

Was a great event and I had the pleasure of chatting to the Chief Designer, Stefan for about 30 mins.  I asked him about why they didn't flare the rear arches...

 

He wanted to, but just the mould alone would have cost EUR 10 million. Yep, because it's the whole rear quarter panel that would require re-designing. In the flesh, the car looks great.  The rear bumper design adds a nice muscular stance to the back end, and is a clever way of compensating for the lack of flared arches.  The rear track is also wider.  The exhausts are massive!  Much bigger than pictures make them appear.

 

He is also a Clio V6 owner and former Williams owner - the same as myself , so we had lots to chat about wide body kits. 

 

My parting shot was I begged him to convince Audi just to go a bit crazy sometimes.  He couldn't agree more and said he is always pushing them.  Fantastic experience.

[MCP_RS3]

Awesome !

[PT3]

I can just imagine the Chief Designer wanting to spend 30 mins talking to me if I was wearing bermuda shorts instead of a suit. Even though I could afford one cash too.