2022 Audi RS 3 Is Depraved Fast, However …

From a useless cease, the RS 3 shot to 60 mph in simply 3.9 seconds in Edmunds’ testing. Ought to you end up with 93 octane within the tank, the RS 3 is faster nonetheless, knocking 0.3 second off that point. We do not love that it wants the richest gasoline to eke out these final three-tenths of a second, however energy remains to be considerable on 91, and since 91 octane is way extra widespread at California fuel stations, that is what we caught with for almost all of our testing. Out on the street, it did not appear to matter what was within the tank. The RS 3 nonetheless pulls all the best way to its 7,000 rpm redline, and the whipcrack shifts of the double-clutch automated imply it is supremely simple to expertise the engine’s battle cry over and over.

On any again street the RS 3 is fantastically quick, even when the situations are difficult. Throughout a fast blast up one in every of my favourite again roads, a freak middle-of-summer rainstorm took maintain of Southern California. On the best way up Angeles Crest Freeway the roadways have been good and dry, however on the best way down they glistened with freshly laid rain. This usually calls for a much more even handed strategy to driving, as heavy rains after lengthy intervals of scorching, dry climate often depart roads soaked in a mixture of water, oil and different fluids that usually simply bake their method into the asphalt.

For the primary few miles it appeared like taking part in it cool and casually cruising down was the smarter transfer, however after slightly whereas it grew to become clear the RS 3 wasn’t lacking a beat. The summer-only Pirelli P Zero tires have been hanging on simply high-quality, and the little Audi actually discovered its stride. It was apparent the RS 3’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system was working additional time, and you possibly can really feel the little Audi shuffling energy from entrance to again and facet to facet as you swing it by way of tight rights and lengthy lefts. Grip, tempo, energy, it was all there, however one thing else was lacking.