It’s Official - 2020 Audi RS Q3
Audi Sport has been having a great run lately. The next-generation Audi RS6 Avant and Audi RS7 Sportback models have just been released, but Audi Sport isn’t done just yet. Meet the new Audi RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback, the second-generation of their kind and the newest members of the RS family. Both models are powered by Audi’s nine-time ‘International Engine of the Year’ – the turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder, producing 294kW of power and 480Nm of torque. Both models also feature quattro permanent all-wheel drive and a snappy 7-speed automatic transmission that allow them to complete an impressive 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5-seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.
In addition to the fiery engine, the Audi RS Q3 also receives a lower and firmer suspension, high-performance brakes and a more responsive steering to ensure that it drives and handles like a true Audi Sport model. One of the new features that makes its way into the RS Q3 is the new Audi Drive Select modes. The existing Comfort, Auto, Efficiency and Dynamic modes may sound familiar to existing Audi owners, but the new ‘RS1’ and ‘RS2’ modes allow the driver to fully configure each driving element to suit their demands, such as steering feel, throttle response, exhaust sound and so on.
The design of the Audi RS Q3 is based on the new 2019 Audi Q3, but there are a lot more design elements that differentiate it from its mild mannered sibling. The most notable design feature is the massive blacked-out front grille that sits just below a wide vent below the bonnet. This styling is also seen on the new Audi RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback. Below the grille you will find two large air intakes that feed cool air into the engine. Purists will be pleased to learn that Audi Sport has included a pair of signature RS oval exhausts at the back, which is much sportier than the single oval exhaust of the previous Audi RS Q3. There is also an interesting new launch colour called ‘Kyalami Green’ that made its debut on the Audi RS Q3 Sportback. The interior of the hot-crossovers are filled with premium and sporty materials such as alcantara, leather and carbon fibre, and you can expect to find features like a sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel and the Virtual Cockpit in the cabin.
