MEET: THE NEW AUDI RS Q3 SPORTBACK

AUDI’S NEW CREATION HOUSES THE OUTSTANDING FIVE CYLINDER 2.5 TFSI, AN ENGINE THAT HAS WON THE SOUGHT-AFTER ‘INTERNATIONAL ENGINE OF THE YEAR AWARD’ NINE TIMES IN A ROW.

The Audi Group is one of the most successful premium motorcar manufacturers on the planet with a presence in over 100 markets worldwide. In 2019 alone, it delivered around 1.846 million vehicles to customers and is continuously receiving awards for automobile excellence. We at Fact Magazine have always loved all things Audi and were recently given the opportunity to test drive the Audi Q7, a mid-sized luxury SUV that was hugely impressive, to say the least.

This month, thanks to the great team at Audi Centre Qatar, we were fortunate enough to be handed the keys to the new Audi RS Q3, designed as a sportback for the very first time and, needless to say, we could not have been more excited. As the 2021 RS Q3 came into view, we felt like we were staring at a vehicle out of The Fast and The Furious franchise. With a bright Kyalami Green paint job, gloss-black detailing and sharp, sporty lines running from front to rear, this car looks like it means business long before it ever touches tyre to tarmac. At the front end of this high-performance, compact SUV coupé, a gloss black Singleframe grille, complete with three-dimensional honeycomb structure, sits above an RS-specific bumper with large lateral air inlets.

At the flanks, it is easy to see the RS’s lowered position as compared to the Q3 Sportback. 20-inch wheels are fitted as standard and the vehicle’s low-slung roofline culminates in strong, sloping D-pillars at the rear. The backend features a low rear window and roof edge spoiler in gloss black with an RSspecific spoiler lip. A dual-branch RS exhaust system with large oval tailpipes on both sides are positioned perfectly in an RSspecific bumper sporting a rear diffuser and horizontal blades. As we slipped inside the spacious interior, we were greeted by the comfortable RS embossed sport seats upholstered with black leather.

This performance-orientated car boasts an RS sport steering wheel that is flattened at the bottom, along with newly designed shift paddles. A new ‘RS Mode’ steering wheel button is present on the wheel and allows the driver to control two optional RS modes in the Audi drive select dynamic handling system. The entire cockpit has been designed with the driver in mind with the centre console, MMI touch display and air-conditioning control unit having been tilted toward the driver by 10 degrees. The top-of-the-line MMI navigation plus infotainment system offers the same variety of functions as in the large Audi models. This fully-fledged five-seater offers a surprising amount of space throughout with sufficient head, knee and shoulder room for all occupants.

The luggage compartment can hold 530 litres, a total that can be increased to 1400 litres when the rear seats are folded down, making this vehicle practical for everyday use. Thoroughly impressed by the exterior and interior of the new RS Q3, we could not wait to get this model out onto the road. Fitted with the even more powerful, multi-award-winning, five cylinder 2.5 TFSI, we felt our bodies being pressed back into our seats as we applied pressure to the pedal. This beast of an engine produces 2.480cc of displacement with 294kW of power.

It produces a maximum torque of 480Nm and can surge from zero to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds. The RS Q3 Sportback has a regulated top speed of 250km/h but if that’s not enough, you can decide on the 280km/h option instead. The dual-branch RS exhaust system emphasises the sound of the potent engine and we saw many heads turn as we made our way along the roads. The power of this engine is transmitted via a sevenspeed S tronic to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive and the control on offer is spectacular.

With a dynamic handling system, progressive steering, a responsive braking system and sport suspension, we could not have had more fun driving this vehicle if we had tried. The master designers at Audi have also included an array of safety features throughout the vehicle to ensure that you and you loved ones always get from A to B as safely as possible. ✤

“ With a bright Kyalami Green paint job, gloss-black detailing and sharp, sporty lines running from front to rear, this car looks like it means business long before it ever touches tyre to tarmac.”