First Look: The 2024 Audi RS3 Facelift Shatters Nürburgring Records
The excitement surrounding the newly unveiled 2024 Audi RS3 is palpable. Audi has lifted the veil on the upcoming RS3 facelift, and it's already making waves, boasting an enhanced chassis and superior handling.
A New Level of Agility
The upgraded RS3 introduces brake torque vectoring, a key feature aimed at boosting the car's agility and minimizing steering effort during sharp turns. Additionally, Audi has made substantial updates to the software managing torque vectoring and stability control systems, along with the adaptive dampers. These tweaks ensure the car can handle lateral forces with even greater efficiency.
Powertrain and Performance
While Audi hasn't officially detailed all the powertrain changes, the 2024 RS3 continues to pack a punch with its turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that churns out 394bhp and 369lb ft - numbers that match its predecessor. But don't let this fool you; the RS3's performance has been finetuned to offer superior driving dynamics.
Striking Visual Updates
From a visual standpoint, the refreshed RS3 is unmistakably more aggressive. The front end has been sharpened with streamlined intake inlets and a redesigned grille featuring Audi's updated four-ring logo. The rear end is equally revamped, ditching the oversized false grille in favor of sleeker, new lights inspired by the Q6 E-tron. An added aerodynamic prong on the lower bumper section underscores its performance focus.
Interior Enhancements
Step inside the RS3, and you'll notice a brand-new square-shaped steering wheel. This small but significant change aligns with the car’s modernized, sporty aesthetics and improves the tactile driving experience.
Record-Breaking Lap at Nürburgring
The 2024 RS3 doesn't just look and perform better; it has proof to back it up. This revised model has claimed a new Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for compact cars, completing the 12.9-mile track in an astonishing 7 minutes and 33.123 seconds. To put this into perspective, it’s 11 seconds quicker than the previous record holder, the Honda Civic Type R, and 2 seconds faster than the outgoing RS3 model.
Availability and Pricing
Interested in getting your hands on this powerhouse? The order books for the updated RS3 open at the end of August. Though pricing details have yet to be confirmed, expectations are that the facelifted model will cost a bit more than the current version, which starts at £56,675.