DESIGN Audi RS3 Sportback 2016 vs Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG 2015

(from Audi Press Release) Hot, throaty sound, exhilaratingly free-revving and brawny power - the five cylinder engines from Audi are legendary. 270 kW (367 hp) output and 465 Nm (343.0 lb ft) of torque - Audi presents the new RS3 Sportback, the most powerful compact car in the premium segment. With its powerful five cylinder, turbocharged engine, the five door model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 4.3 seconds, and its top speed can be increased to 280 km/h (174.0 mph) upon request.
"There is a long tradition of five-cylinder engines at Audi," says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG. "In the 80s, they turned Audi into a sporty brand, both in motor sports and in production. The new Audi RS3 Sportback features the latest generation of our 2.5 liter, five‑cylinder engine - the most powerful production engine in the modular transverse matrix."
The multiple award-winning 2.5 TFSI produces 270 kW (367 hp) and 465 Nm (343.0 lb‑ft) of torque in the new RS3 Sportback. The turbocharged engine accelerates the compact five‑door from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, and top speed can be increased to 280 km/h (174.0 mph) upon request. In the NEDC, it consumes just 8.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (29.0 US mpg), with CO2 emissions of 189 grams per kilometer (304.2 g/mi).
A seven-speed S tronic, which shifts even faster than in the previous model, directs the power of the 2.5 TFSI to the quattro permanent all‑wheel drive system. The quattro system features torque vectoring based on intelligent software and is designed through‑and‑through for maximum driving enjoyment. The new Audi RS3 Sportback steers directly into corners. On low-friction road surfaces, drivers can even perform controlled drifts, if desired.
The chassis of the five‑door model also sets standards. Compared with the Audi A3 Sportback, the body is 25 millimeters (1.0 in) lower. The pivot bearings of the front axle, the progressive steering, the RS‑specific sport suspension and optional Audi magnetic ride adaptive damper control are designed specifically for the RS. Audi mounts carbon fiber-ceramic brake discs behind the 19‑inch wheels on the front axle upon request - a first in the premium compact segment.
The Audi RS3 Sportback complete package is rounded out with sharp interior and exterior details and a generous list of equipment. The new top model of the A3 family is rolling into dealerships in summer 2015.
Engine
The 2.5 TFSI in the new Audi RS3 Sportback guarantees to thrill with immense pulling power, eager revving and its own unique acoustic experience. The throaty roar and snarl backed by the rhythm of the 1 - 2 - 4 - 5 - 3 five-cylinder ignition sequence is the classic Audi soundtrack. Two flaps in the exhaust pipes downstream of the muffler control the exhaust flow to provide for an even more intensive sound experience that varies with engine load and speed. The driver can control these flaps via the Audi drive select system. The RS exhaust system is designed for high flow. For the first time in this segment, Audi offers a sport exhaust system as an option.
Powerful five-cylinder engines have a long tradition at Audi. During the 1980s, they powered the Audi rally cars, touring cars and production models to the front of the pack. The first RS model, the RS 2 from 1994, also had such an engine. The five‑cylinder made its comeback in 2009 in the Audi TT RS; it made its way into the RS3 Sportback in 2011 and two years later into the RS Q3. The 2.5 liter engine has been voted "International Engine of the Year" in its class five years in a row since 2010.
The five-cylinder unit produces 270 kW (367 hp) from a displacement of 2,480 cc: a remarkable specific output of 108.9 kW (148.0 hp) per liter. Driveability is impressive. The peak torque of 465 Nm (343.0 lb-ft) is already available at 1,625 rpm and remains constant through 5,550 rpm. The sprint from 60 to 100 km/h (37.3 to 62.1 mph) in fourth gear takes just 4.1 seconds; it takes just 5.8 seconds to go from 80 to 120 km/h (49.7 to 74.6 mph) in fifth gear.
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