The RS 3’s more obvious visual changes focus on a new and more aggressive design and some tech changes inside the cabin. As with the standard A3 and S3, the new RS 3 picks up fresh lighting front and rear, plus an even more aggressive front end treatment. The wide arches of the previous generation are retained, and out back there’s a new lower bumper with a vertical reflector.
Audi’s also introducing a new 19-inch wheel design borrowed from the short-lived RS 3 Performance that didn’t make it to the UK, plus retains two unique colour choices – Kemora Grey and Kyalami Green – on top of the standard range that including a matt grey for the first time.
Inside, the big change is an inclusion of a new flat-top and bottom steering wheel, with new controls on the steering wheel that give driver’s quick access to the RS and RS Individual modes. Audi UK will not offer the carbon fibre-backed bucket seats available in other markets.
The rest of the cabin has seen some subtle updates including a new upholstered element across the dash, more customisable interior lighting and an uptick in material quality throughout most of the touchpoints. These include everything from the steering wheel and door pulls, to the air-vent internals – such is Audi’s desire to re-introduce the sense of quality that some argued was missing from the current generation.
UK specs will still be split into three different models, Base, Carbon Black and Vorsprung, with the latter two models costing £4,650 and £9,140 more, respectively. They are expensive, but do include notable uplifts of standard equipment, including carbon fibre elements and darkened headlights for the Carbon Black, and luxurious inclusions like a panoramic sunroof, adaptive dampers and electrically adjustable front seats with a memory function for the Vorsprung.
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