The 2018 Audi RS3 condensed Audi Sport hardware into an A3-size four-door. Its defining feature was a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five, an engine layout selected partly for performance and partly because sounding ordinary was apparently not on the development checklist.
This was the first RS3 sedan offered for the North American market. It combined 400 horsepower, quattro all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with a cabin and trunk suitable for ordinary daily use.
2018 Audi RS3 Specifications
| Specification | 2018 Audi RS3 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five |
| Output | 400 hp at 5,850–7,000 rpm |
| Torque | 354 lb-ft at 1,700–5,850 rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic |
| Drivetrain | quattro all-wheel drive |
| Claimed 0–60 mph | 3.9 seconds |
| Top track speed | 155 mph; 174 mph with Dynamic Plus |
| Curb weight | Approximately 3,593 lb |
| Fuel economy | 19 mpg city / 28 mpg highway |
What Made the 2018 RS3 Special?
The aluminum-block five-cylinder was 57 pounds lighter than its predecessor and used both port and direct fuel injection. Its 1-2-4-5-3 firing order produced the uneven exhaust note closely associated with Audi’s historic performance cars. Launch control and the all-wheel-drive system converted the output into repeatable acceleration rather than an elaborate front-tire disposal program.
Standard equipment included 19-inch wheels, Nappa leather sport seats, smartphone integration and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive dampers, a sport exhaust and carbon-ceramic front brakes were available. Despite the RS bodywork, this remained a compact sedan with five seats and a roughly 10-cubic-foot trunk.
Used buyers should inspect service history, tire condition and brake wear, then determine whether the car has been modified. The DAZA five-cylinder responds readily to tuning, which is enjoyable right up to the moment incomplete paperwork becomes part of the powertrain.
