Performance Review: Audi A3 RS3 Saloon 2.5 Turbo - [2016]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A3 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A3 RS3 Saloon 2.5 Turbo is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2016. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 6.2 V8 and the 2016 Bugatti Chiron 8.0 W16 Quad Turbo.This particular Audi A3 has a 2480cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 5 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St5's includes the 2022 KTM X-Bow GT-XR 2.5 Turbo

The A3 shares its Petrol St5 engine configuration with the likes of the 2022 KTM X-Bow GT-XR 2.5 Turbo and the 2018 Audi TT RS 2.5 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the A3's All Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1590 kgs (3505 lbs) this makes the Audi A3 RS3 Saloon 2.5 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 or the give or take 50kg.

The Audi A3 shares the same bhp with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp)

In terms of power the 2480cc 20V St5 engine produces 394 bhp (293 kW) @ 5850 rpm similar to the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp) or the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (395 bhp).

The Turbo St5 throws out 354 lb-ft (479.9 Nm) @ 1700 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (369 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (369 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Audi A3 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk 6.2 V8 (272.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A3.

The Audi A3 has a Power to weight ratio of 247.7 bhp per ton and 222.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2016 A3 competing with the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk 6.2 V8 (272.6 bhp per ton) or the 2014 Audi A6 RS6 Avant 4.0 Turbo (272.5 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Audi A3 generating around 222.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1985 Lamborghini Countach LP5000S QV (247.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 1968 Ford XL XL Fastback 427 (247.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 3.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.0 secs, this made the Audi A3 RS3 Saloon 2.5 Turbo as fast as the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (3.90 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 Steptronic (3.90 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 3.7 Turbo 992 (3.90 secs) the or the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (3.90 secs). This Audi A3 RS3 Saloon 2.5 Turbo is also faster than the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (4.00 secs) the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (4.00 secs) the 2021 Audi e-tron GT Quattro (4.00 secs) the and the 2020 Lotus Evora GT410 Sport 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A3 and the 1991 Porsche 928 GTS 5.4L V8

When talking about the performance of the Audi A3 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.66 secs @ 108.1 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1991 Porsche 928 GTS 5.4L V8 (12.60 secs), the 2006 BMW Alpina B3 3.0 Bi Turbo (12.60 secs), and the 2002 Jaguar S Type 4.2 V8 R Auto (12.60 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2016 version of the Audi A3 RS3 Saloon 2.5 Turbo has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2016 A3 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2016 Audi A3 RS3 Saloon 2.5 Turbo then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2016 A3 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison