RS 3 Sportback lands in New Zealand

In anticipation for the arrival of the all-new Audi RS 3 Sportback, a left-hand drive pre-production model has landed on our shores as an exclusive preview.

Jan 28, 2022

The newest edition to the RS family is equipped with a 294kW five-cylinder engine, delivering 500Nm of torque and an all-new RS torque splitter for greater agility.

With 398 RS 3’s sold since its first release in 2011, the RS 3 Sportback is set to excel with strong pre-sales already recorded. The highly anticipated quattro model will be available in Audi authorised dealerships across the country from March 2022.

Available now at Giltrap Audi.

“The RS 3 Sportback is an entry point to the RS range for driving enthusiasts. We are already seeing strong interest with 52 cars pre-sold to date, and the car hasn’t even arrived yet. “ said Dean Sheed, General Manager of Audi New Zealand. “Supply permitting, we plan on selling 100 units this year.“

“We know there is a large appetite for RS product in New Zealand. 2021 was a record year with 405 RS vehicles sold. This means once again we are the top market globally in terms of RS model share, with 23.1% of our total volume. We expect the RS 3 Sportback to be a key driver in ensuring we maintain this position in 2022.”

From 0 to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds, RS Torque Splitter, and specific RS driving modes – the new Audi RS 3 Sportback offers driving dynamics of the highest caliber in its segment. Equipped with 294kW and five-cylinders, the power unit now delivers 500 Nm of torque and responds even faster.

With its five-cylinder, high-performance engine, the Audi RS 3 Sportback is one-of-a-kind in this segment. The 2.5 TFSI has won the “International Engine of the Year” award nine times in a row.

Visually, the RS 3 Sportback demonstrates its athletic prowess with a widened body, RS sports exhaust, racing-style interior and cockpit displays similar to those found in race cars. The design of the new Audi RS 3 Sportback is even more dynamic and powerful than that of its predecessor.

The new Audi RS 3 Sportback is the first Audi model that comes standard with a torque splitter. It replaces the rear axle differential and the previous multiple disc clutch package on the rear axle. Instead, an electronically controlled multiple disc clutch is used on each of the drive shafts. This ensures that the right amount of torque is optimally distributed along the rear axle. During more dynamic driving, the torque splitter increases the drive torque to the outer rear wheel with the higher wheel load, which significantly reduces the tendency to understeer.

The Audi RS 3 Sportback will be available at New Zealand Audi authorised dealerships nationwide from March 2022 with a MRP of $112,500*.

Find out more about the Audi RS 3 Sportback at Giltrap Audi