Test Drive Audi RS3 5 Doors since 2011 Hatchback

Audi RS 3 Sportback. On a good note

Spring on the azure coast What can be more beautiful after Moscow slush and dirt? Especially when the test drive of the novelties arrange in the vicinity of Monaco. And we are slowly rolling along the famous English embankment in Nice, making your way along the coast from the airport to the fashionable principality. Solzna at the end of March is already accuming, oily seagulls fly over the sea, a pleasant breeze rustles with leaves of palm trees. Perhaps, in the case of the Rolls-Royce convertible, we would be quite satisfied with such a route, without forgetting to pop up in Grand Casino. But this time we were interested in completely different.


Audi RS 3 Sportback is able to score a hundred in 4.6 seconds and reach 250 km / h (speed is limited by electronics). But to call it the fastest hatchback planet interfere with the related Audi TT RS (4.3 s to 100 km / h, 280 km / h), which, although it looks like a coupe, but in fact it has three doors and ... Porsche Panamera Turbo (4.2 s to 100 km / h, 303 km / h)

No, this is not the Formula 1 highway, for which there is still no rush to overlap the city streets of Monaco at all, the Grand Prix will pass here only in two months. The whole thing in the oldest rally in the history of the Monte Carlo Rally, which this year celebrated the centenary anniversary. One of the bright pages of the legendary race was a commemorative victory in the 1984th, when the Audi Sport Trio led by Walter Rurral literally defeated all rivals. And here is Audi? All just at our disposal turned out to be the newest charged hatchback RS 3 Sportback!


Audi RS 3 Sportback is offered exclusively in five-door performance. Representatives of the company say that such a body better reflects the universal nature of RS-ok. But, most likely, they just fear internal competition with a coupe TT RS, for RS 3 Sportback is significantly cheaper

How not to spend parallels here? An inline five-cylinder turbo engine, a four-wheel drive and the modesty itself outside everything, as well as the famous relative. In addition to 19-inch wheels and huge air intakes in the front bumper, the eye and clinging for nothing. Especially in the Gossip of SUZUKA GRAY, which, with a certain light, is very similar to the white. No wonder that in Monaco, our car was rapidly taken for the products of the tuning studio. And only a few, almost passing by, looked around and carefully peered into a signboard on the rear door.


Audi RS 3 Sportback is made side by side with TT RS coupe at the plant in the Hungarian Did. And there are also engines, and gearboxes! Germans trust Higgrams already and RS models? By the way, the front wings are made of plastic reinforced with carbon fibers (CFRP).

Programmed in navigation Test routes included not only the coastal zone, but also the autobahn and even some local mountain paths. But, after reviewing options, we upset the road we needed. Well, we will cope with, without tips, just by electronic map. Away from the sea we go to the Alps! Namely, on a 32-kilometer segment from the town of Sospel to the town of La Bonyn Vesubyby. This is the most famous section of the Monte Carlo Rally, passing through the counter of the Cole de Tourini at an altitude of 1607 meters.


In addition to swirling serpentines, Monte Carlo Rally can offer pilots very capricious weather. At the bottom of the sun and dry asphalt, and it is worth climbing a kilometer up voila, snow! Not only that, you never know, popping out from the blind turn whether the sun drove to dry the puddle from the dropped snow or there still raw. No wonder that navigations, reading the transcript of pilots, often repeat: moisture is possible

The place is not just a famous path rightly refers to the number of the most interesting in the world. Before his eyes, the loop of the gray tape of the scratched asphalt, on which two cars are barely fit. There are almost no straight. Blind left, blind right, access to a cool stud, short acceleration and again work with the wheel. And so kilometers per kilometer. Landscapes spirit captures! From the abyss, the narrow canvas separates only a modest and already fairly pierced stone bump.


The five-cylinder engine has already managed to deserve the recognition of experts by winning the prestigious Award of the International Engine of The Year 2010 in the category from 2.0 to 2.5 liters. It develops 340 hp, and the torque of 450 nm is available in a wide range of 1600-5300 rpm. Hood is held by gas emphasis

And what kind of sound! Each time you spore a 2.5-liter five, all 340 horses are pulled out to freedom through the dual pipe and, reflecting from the sheer cliff, fall into the abyss, filling it all the gorge. But the maximum concentration of the bulk-like roar in narrow tunnels. It is better to stop, open the windows and, without forgetting to press the S button on the central console (it opens the flap in the exhaust and exacerbates the reactions to the actions by the accelerator), drown the right pedal until it stops. Oh Gods! How great that in Audi decided to remember about the row five-cylinder engines, their guttural rocks do not confuse anything.


Pass Cole De Turini Cult Place for Fans Rally. It is here that the maximum number of fans is going, and the races are equally interesting and in the afternoon, and at night (then it is called the night of the long knives due to the darkness of the headlights), and in one direction and in the other, and in the snow, and in sunny weather

Let's see, we finally lost our heads. At least traffic, limit 90 (they were crazy!), Fantastic sound and incredible dynamics pushed us closer to the limiting feature. At the same time, no adrenaline intoxication, just on the face of a wide smile from the fact that the machine with maximum readiness responds to any action. Holder, RS 3 Sportback stability and its ability to quickly change the direction in the alternate ligaments are delighted. And this is with a mass of 1650 kg and weighing 60:40 in favor of the front axle.


Anyone who at least somehow is interested in the world rally, saw these landscapes repeatedly in television broadcasts or videos on online resources. But one thing to watch pictures or onboard and completely another with wheels to the asphalt, which remembers the victory of Walter Rurler, Tommy Mykinen, Carlos Saints, Sebastien Loeb, Ari Vathanna, Yuhi Kankcoonen, Colin Macraja, Richard Burns, Marcus Gronholm and other world champions. You will be in those edges necessarily catch up 32-kilometer plot!

Of course, it is necessary to thank not only the chassis setting, but also tires: RS 3 shoes in one of the best road tires at the current moment Continental ContisportContact 5P (the same as the Mercedes SLS-AMG supercar or the charged Renault Megane RS. And the engineers went to the trick. To reduce the degree of insufficient turning inherent in almost all RS-Kam from Audi, they set the bus of different widths! Front 255th (option, in the database 235/35 R19), behind the 225th. With the same purpose, the front track (+9 mm) was expanded in comparison with TT RS, and the rear became 18 mm. And it worked even in RS 3 studs minimally slid outward forever.


Felipe Albuquerque to last autumn was few well-known 25-year-old guy. But luck smiled at the Portuguese on the champions race, where he left not from Mikhael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Loeba! Albuquerque immediately honred into the Audi sports department in the 2011 season, it will be one of the pilots in the DTM championship. The presentation went jokes and about 24 hours le man. So, if Felipe manifests itself from the best side, then what the hell is not joking, can get into one of the Audi crews in the legendary marathon. Speech, of course, goes about Le Mana 2012

There were other problems in the ride places. How much can you put this terrible cut steering wheel? Yes, at the presentation of Audi, they lit up its new DTM pilot, the Portuguese Felipe Albuquerque, they have similar steers. But we are not on the ring, but on the rally dop! The steering mechanism remained from the model S3, so it accounts for a lot to twist the ram, and when interception, it is still bumping into an angle.


The interior is generally similar to the Audi A3 salon. But despite his eight-year-old age, he still does not lose relevance. Materials are good, attention to detail is present. It is unusual that the control of the temperature of the climate of the handle does not turn, but they swing left and right. And in large and tall people knees are constantly fighting about rigid ribs from below the central console

The second moment the stabilization system. Being inclited, she often takes the braza of the board in their hands, mixing at the outlet of the stacked turns. But it is worth pressing the button, and it goes into the ESP Sport mode. Then the electronics stops entering the engine, interfering with only brakes, and the trigger threshold is moved. This changes the case, and if you want to remove any framework in general, you can completely disable it.


Traditionally, for the RS series models, the interior of the charged version differs only by the details. This steering wheel, seats and gear handle, which, by the way, can be completely taken from afar by a mechanical box knob

There is a nuance and in the gearbox. The seven-sequeous S Tronic works fine, instantly turning up on acceleration, and juicy crops steadposses, quickly reacting to the actions with stealing petals when switching down. The exception is only one when picking up the checkpoint for a long time does not allow the first stage and obviously protects odd grip. In principle, you quickly get used to it and over time you understand when the robot is ready for a dialogue. Although in Launch Control S Tronic mode, I don't have no power. Press the ESP button, we translate the lever in S, and at the same time click on both pedals. The crankshaft turns hang at 3200 and it remains only to let the brake. RS 3 bullets breaks away and after 4.6 seconds, the Red Arrow of the Speedometer flies hundreds. Very simple and fantastic quickly!


Among the options, suede trim and handle gearbox, stealing gearboxes (they are very comfortable!), Navigation system, BOSE Music with 10 speakers and finishing with polished aluminum inserts. On the display of the instrument panel can be removed the temperature of the oil, pressure of the boost or stopwatch. Left from the emergency button of the sports mode of the exhaust system and disconnect ESP

Four-wheel drive unpleasant surprises did not present. Yes, in RS 3 Sportback, the eggs and tomatoes are flying, the wrong transmission, the proportion of Haldex (on AUDI machines with the transverse location of the motor uses an electronically controlled coupling). Most likely, on slippery coatings or when driving, hard differentials will work better. However, on dry asphalt, in combination with good tires, we did not have the slightest complaints to the operation of the system. Neither slip on the outlet of the studs, nor some ambiguous behavior in fast ligaments is extremely clear.


Even the basic chairs (at the top in the center) are quite good. But they do not go to any comparison with magnificent optional buckets. Their cost is not yet declared, but, judging by the example of the Audi RS 5, more than 2 thousand euros will be asked for them. Crazy seat backs in body color work branch Audi Exclusive

Our adventures on rally serpentine did not remain unnoticed. Yes, we did not violate any prohibited overtaking or wild speed (on this track, it is possible to keep 90 km / h on an average of 90 km / h. And settlements there are actually no. However, local residents who crawl on their Peugeot and fiats, oddly enough, are by no means delighted with the Röva of Motors and Svge Shin.

As a result, during one of the stops, two cars with gendarmes were rolled up with flashers. Well, we think everyone has come. But after the questions about who we are and what we do here, the conversation quickly moved to the right direction: what power, how much does it cost?. Filling with languages \u200b\u200band mixed up that, they say, it's not a shame on such both girls with the French riviera, the guardians wished us good luck, asking to go calmer and not embarrassing the local population.


19-inch wheels and an enlarged rear spoiler Here are the few details by which you can identify RS 3 Sportback. The tire on the photo the result of someone from foreign colleagues. Apparently, drifted for a spectacular frame. Wheel discs can be painted either under titanium, or choose a cooler combination of red and black. It is possible to choose one of the two options for designing the diffuser, rear spoiler and mirrors (in body color or with corporate silver), radiator grilles and exhaust pipes

It is clear why the organizers did not make this road to the number of routes. If our two RS-ki got under suspicion, then what would be there all the granted park? And, in order not to spit in the inhabitants, after lunch we went to the proposed road. No comparison with the number of tourism! The track is wider, speed more. There, it turned out an unpleasant nuance after the passage was started to overheat the brakes, although there were no such problems on a plugged serpentine. For the sake of justice, we went to another RS \u200b\u200b3 and perhaps the whole thing in a particular copy.

Returning to the autobahn, we again joined the stream of ordinary cars. And they caught themselves to think that RS 3 Sportback is not annoying. Inside very quiet, noise isolation! Not heard neither tires nor wind. The gearbox quickly jumps into the seventh step, allowing you to save fuel. And the dissatisfied bovic rumble of the exhaust system on low revs is easy to interrupt, by pressing the S button and returning the damper into the closed state.


RS 3 Sportback is quite convenient. The nature of the motor is very smooth, and the thrust is that you can safely move on top gears and save fuel. By the way, about the flow rate. The declared 9.1 l / 100 km in a mixed cycle is, of course, an unattainable indicator. It is quite realistic to fit in 13-14 liters with a more or less intense ride. But on Serpantine Cole de Turini, of course, the flow rate was rapid for 20 l / 100 km

And in the urban time everything is fine. Is that healthy wheels with the 35th tire profile transmit in detail all the nuances of rigid irregularities. But at the same time, no inconvenience associated with a powerful thrust engine on the bottoms is enough, and S Tronic removes all questions in traffic jams. Comfortable! Although for our roads it is better to change the discs on 18-inch.


Audi RS 3 Sportback will get to Russia in the third quarter of 2011. The price starts from a mark of 2,350,000 rubles. The base bundle includes 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, xenon headlamps, two-zone climates control and audio system. Sales Plans Modest Quotas for Russia will not exceed a dozen cars

But still does not leave the thought why Audi did the most unspecified RS-ku? Family man with gasoline residues in the blood will prefer more affordable S3, or not too superior to RS 3 Sportback for the price, but larger S4. And the useful youth will rather choose the TT RS coupe. Moreover, a long and happy life on the conveyor of the current Trejci, at the end of the year will interrupt a new generation of model. What is the point of producing a car such a short time? And suddenly I realized much more pleasant to go on a good note. Just as the same Audi Quattro A2 gone, winning the 1984 World Cup.


Vadim Gagarin
Photo by author and company Audi


TECHNIQUE
RS 3 Sportback Suspension Scheme is similar to conventional trees. These are McPherson Racks in front and four-dimensional design from behind. But, of course, the springs and shock absorbers became hard, the front levers are made of aluminum, and the clearance has become below 25 mm. The river is significantly expanded even in comparison with S3 (+42 mm in front and +22 mm rear). The steering control is used electric power. Gearbox Seven-step robot with double clutch. But do not confuse this checkpoint with another seven-step box, which is installed, for example, on the model with a 1.4 TFSI engine. On the RS 3 Sportback gearbox is the same as RS 5 or diesel Audi with two wet clutches.

In the all-wheel drive transmission, a hydraulic coupling with electrical control is used to transmit torque to the rear wheels. In conventional motion modes, most traction is transmitted to the front axle, but as soon as the brain defines the need, a powerful pump for several milliseconds closes the discs in the coupling, cycling the rear axle. For the maximum efficient implementation of traction with front wheels, electronic imitation of interlocking intercoles differential (EDL) is monitored.

The brakes are borrowed at TT RS with no changes. 370 mm composite discs and 4-piston mechanisms in front and 310 mm rotors on the rear axle with conventional calipers. But at the same time, the mass of RS 3 Sportback is 175 kg superior to TT RS with a robot.

The five-cylinder engine is relatives with the American version of VW Jetta only the volume of 2480 cubes. The block itself is cast from a special particularly durable cast iron, which allows you to make the walls of the block thinner and, thereby, to reduce the mass of the motor (up to 183 kg). Of course, the engine is equipped with turbocharging (maximum pressure of the superior - 1.2 bar) and the branded fuel injection system (TFSI). Compression ratio - 10.0: 1, permissible octane number of gasoline 95-98

HISTORY
Of course, hardly Audi RS 3 Sportback can be called a full-fledged heiress of the famous Quattro from the 80s. But, since the test drive of the novelties passed with such an entourage, it is impossible not to mention its legendary ancestors.

The history of the full Drive Quattro began with the Audi model of the same name 31 years ago at the German Motor Show, the Germans first presented their car with four leading wheels. Already then, Audi Quattro was equipped with a 200-strong row five-cylinder turbo volume of 2.1 liters. And under the curtain of Quattro's career, the famous engine of 2226 cubes (220 hp), which subsequently became the driving force of other charged Audi models, including the famous RS 2 AVANT

At the same time, in the 1980s, the combat version of the Audi Quattro is the first rally machine, which fully enjoyed the benefits of the full drive. The star hour for the second evolution of Quattro A2 (in the photo) was 1984, when the team took the entire podium on the Monte Carlo rally, and Steig Blomkovist was the world champion in the world. Next year, the winner has already changed the Audi Sport Quattro

And on the Motor Show in Paris last year, the Germans celebrated the 30th anniversary of their all-wheel drive transmission by the release of Quattro Concept coupe, which used the features of the very original Quattro 80s. Under the hood, of course, a five-cylinder turbo engine, familiar with TT RS, but forced to 408 forces. And, of course, it is impossible not to mention the name of the color, in which the shade machine is painted. Named COL de Turini White


Vadim Gagarin

Competitors (Dmitry Gaidukevich)
Of course, someone will say that from a formal point of view Audi RS 3 Sportback for 2 million 350 thousand rubles. Does not have competitors in the market. But actually it is not. Rivals, of course, is. And the most important thing is BMW 1 Series M Coupe. Someone will now say that the latter model is a coupe, and not practical five-door hatchback. But who, when buying such powerful cars, thinks about how a neighbor will be made to the second series of seats in the country? They are acquired in order to enjoy driving at the exhaust speeds. And more for anything.

BMW 1 Series M Coupe is equipped with a 3-liter motor with double turbocharging, which gives 340 hp. and 450 nm exactly as much as the 2.5-liter Audi motor (however, in Overboost BMW mode, an additional 50 Nm of torque) is obtained. Price 1 Series M Coupe is 2 million 226 thousand rubles, which is 124 thousand less than the Audi RS 3 Sportback. But do not forget about several nuances. The first Bavarian unit works with a manual transmission, and the Audi RS 3 Sportback with a seven-step robot s Tronic. The second RS 3 Sportback is equipped with a full drive system, and the BMW 1 Series M Coupe is a rear-wheel drive model. In addition, the BMW package, despite the presence of the letter M in the title, it is difficult to name fantastically rich: air conditioning, not a climate (like Audi), and for fog lights or heated chairs will also have to pay extra (last option, by the way, worth more than 18 thousand).

Although in the Audi range there is a model that is ideologically closer to 1 Series M Coupe than RS 3 Sportback. This is Audi TT RS: a two-door coupe with the same stuffing, like RS 3 Sportback 340 hp Under the hood and four-wheel drive. Moreover, TT RS, unlike the related five-year, you can buy with mechanics. The price starts from 2 684 900 rubles.

Another rival Audi RS 3 Sportback can be called Subaru WRX STI (last year, this model got rid of Impreza in the title). WRX STI is sold in the Sedan and Hatchback bodies, and under its hood there is a cherrych cylinder turbo turbisk with a volume of 2.5 liters (300 hp). Plus, of course, the branded system of full Symmetrical AWD drive system. But WRX STI, despite the smaller power and simpler interior trim, also costs more than two million! The price of hatchback is 2 088 600 rubles. (sedan by 25.1 thousand rubles. more expensive). Moreover, for this money, a model with a machine gun is proposed as an option, and it is necessary to pay 37 thousand rubles for it. And WRX STI hatchback with mechanics, leather seats Recaro and forged BBS discs will cost 2 269 600 rubles. That is, such Subaru is just 80.4 thousand rubles. Cheaper more powerful Audi RS 3 Sportback!

Since we remembered Subaru, we will not pass by and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. This car is sold in Russia with a 295-strong turbo vehicle with a volume of 2.0 l and the eminite all-wheel drive transmission of S-AWC. Price from 1 699 000 rub. As you have already taken place, Lancer Evolution is almost 650 thousand rubles. Cheaper Audi RS 3 Sportback. But it will not be possible to buy evolution until the dealers have no cars! Everyone is waiting for the arrival in May of the New Party of the 2011 model year (these cars will be somewhat different from the old). And it is possible that price tags will adjust to that time.
 

Specifications
Body
Type Hatchback
Engine
Working volume, cm 2480
Power, hp at rpm 340 at 5400
Torque, nm at rpm 450 at 1600
Sizes, weight, volumes
Length, mm 4302
Width, mm 1794
Height, mm 1402
Wheel base, mm 2578
Clearance, mm 143
Curb weight, kg 1650
Dynamic characteristics
Acceleration from space up to 100 km / h, with 4.6
Maximum speed, km / h 250
Fuel consumption
Middle fuel consumption, l / 100 km 9.1
City, l / 100 km 13.1
Highway, l / 100 km 6.8
 

Source: AUTO.Mail.Ru.