On paper, the current Audi RS3 may not really seem like an upgrade over the old model that it replaces.
After all, it continues to be powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces the same 394 hp in European specification as the old model while torque jumps by just 14 lb-ft (20 Nm) to 368 lb-ft (500 Nm). Don’t let these figures fool you, however, as the new RS3 is an absolute weapon, as CarWow recently discovered.
Eager to see just how quick the car is in hatchback form, CarWow pitted it against a BMW M3 Competition. The two are not rivals with the M3 competing in a class above the RS3 but off the line, they are quite close.
Read More: 2022 Audi RS 3 Sportback And Sedan Are The New Compact Performance Kings
The first thing worth mentioning is that while the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder of the M3 Competition delivers 503 hp and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm), the example tested here is the rear-wheel-drive version, rather than the all-wheel-drive xDrive one.
In the first race, the AWD grip of the Audi helps it get off the line much quicker than the BMW. The BMW begins to close in as the race progresses but is unable to do so quickly enough before the end of the quarter-mile. The second race is slightly closer and with a better launch, the driver of the M3 Competition closes the gap towards the end of the quarter-mile, resulting in a photo finish.
The last race is the most compelling of the three. With some heat in the tires, the M3 Competition gets a much better launch, almost as good as that of the RS3. Before long, the M3 Competition quickly overtakes the Audi and takes a comfortable win.
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