X

2018 Audi RS3 is why compact sport sedans are where it's at

Audi's smallest RS is bringing 400 horse power and dynamic handling to North America.

Chris Paukert
Following stints in TV news production and as a record company publicist, Chris spent most of his career in automotive publishing. Mentored by Automobile Magazine founder David E. Davis Jr., Paukert succeeded Davis as editor-in-chief of Winding Road, a pioneering e-mag, before serving as Autoblog's executive editor from 2008 to 2015. Chris is a Webby and Telly award-winning video producer and has served on the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. He joined the CNET team in 2015, bringing a small cache of odd, underappreciated cars with him.
Chris Paukert
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
1 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Strip away this special-order Viper Green paint and you're left with an athletic, somewhat reserved design.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
2 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

This car features optional "black optics," including gloss-black lower fascia details, mirror caps and a subtle lip spoiler.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
3 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Dual oval exhaust outlets add a degree of menace to the RS3's otherwise clean rear end.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
4 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Like its less-costly A3 and S3 siblings, the RS3 is available with a full cache of advanced safety assistants, including adaptive cruise with stop and go, auto-brake, blind-spot and active-lane assist, and so on.

13-2018 Audi RS3 Oman CP
13-2018 Audi RS3 Oman CP
1:15
5 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

This new sedan bodystyle is expected to help the RS3 make big inroads into countries like the United States and China, which historically don't go for hatchbacks.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
6 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Lights are LED all the way 'round.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
7 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Chief competitors to the RS3 figure to be the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 and BMW's M2.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
8 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Note how the hood shut seam aligns nicely with the headlamps' inward cut.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
9 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Audi will also offer a full-blown, non-street-legal RS3 LMS race car for privateer racers.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
10 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

RS3 badges help distinguish this from lesser S3 and A3 models.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
11 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

The thin lip spoiler is also available in body color if you don't opt for the blacked-out trim pack.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
12 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

While the 2.5-liter I5 does a vocal throat-clearing exercise when firing up, there are not a lot of theatrical pops and bangs on overrun.

2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
13 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
14 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
15 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
16 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
17 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
18 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
19 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
20 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
21 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
22 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
23 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
24 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
25 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
26 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
27 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
28 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi RS3 in Viper Green
53 of 53 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos