Performance Review: Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo - [2017]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A3 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2017. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport 8.0L W16 Quad Turbo and the 2018 Bugatti Divo 8.0L W16 64 Valve 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, Hatchback combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1585 kgs (3494 lbs) this makes the Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 3.7 Turbo 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 2015 Mercedes C Class 63 AMG (273.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A3.

The Audi A3 has a Power to weight ratio of 248.5 bhp per ton and 223.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2017 A3 competing with the 2015 Mercedes C Class 63 AMG (273.4 bhp per ton) or the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S 991 (273.3 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 223.3 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 1965 Iso Grifo GL 365 5.4L V8 (248.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 400 (248.2 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 Sportback 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 Sportback 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 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A3 and the 1969 AMC AMX 6.4L V8 7030

When talking about the performance of the Audi A3 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.65 secs @ 108.2 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1969 AMC AMX 6.4L V8 7030 (12.59 secs), the 1991 Porsche 928 GTS 5.4L V8 (12.60 secs), and the 2006 BMW Alpina B3 3.0 Bi Turbo (12.60 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2017 version of the Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2017 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 2017 Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 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:

2017 A3 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison