By: Dave Abrahams
Ingolstadt - It was a soundtrack that practically defined Audi in the 1980s; whether on track or rally stage.
The trumpet-like blare under acceleration and the whistling, crackling, flame-spitting overrun of the Audi quattro's five-cylinder turbo became the stuff of legends.
And that legend is echoed, if you'll forgive the pun, by the latest version of the RS3 Sportback, due out in Europe in mid-2015 and in South Africa in the fourth quarter of the year, with what Audi says is the most powerful production five-cylinder engine in its history.
We're talking about a 2.5-litre TFSI that's good for a claimed 270kW at full chat, backed by 465Nm, on tap from just off idle (1650rpm) to 5550rpm.
It drives through a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch gearbox that's been tweaked to reduce the typical Audi reluctance to downshift under pressure, and a torque vectoring guattro permanent all-wheel drive that sends more power to the rear axle, earlier than ever before in a road-going Audi.
LURID POWERSLIDES
So much so, say the Ingolstadt whitecoats, that the RS3 will quite happily give you lurid powerslides if you want them, thanks to an electronically controlled 'centre clutch' that's actually on the rear axle to improve weight distribution, and that will send between 50 and 100 percent of the power to the rear axle, depending on ambient conditions and your driving style.
Keep it all in a straight line, however, and Audi's superhatch will blast off from standstill to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds, and top out at a governed 250km/h - or 280, if you ask for it.
What helps is that the new RS3 is 55kg lighter than its predecessor at 1520kg thanks to clever use of high-strength materials and an aluminium bonnet - and a standard-issue sports exhaust with two flaps, controlled by the drive select system, that control the back pressure for optimum gas-flow, as well as that evocative soundtrack.
POLITICALLY CORRECT
And for the first time on an RS3, you can order an even more authoritative sports exhaust system.
But this is also 2014, and Audi, along with other EU automakers, has to be seen to be making an effort to clean up its act, so the RS3 also comes with a demand-controlled oil pump, an energy recovery system and a clever idle-stop function that turns the engine off even before the cars stops moving.
As a result it's not only EU6-compliant but also earns an NEDC fuel-consumption rating of 8.1 litres per 100km, with CO2 emissions pegged at 189g/km.
The new RS3 sits 25mm closer to the road than its A3 Sportback sibling, on special beefed-up suspension components at also widen the track to 1559mm in front and 1514mm at the rear, with RS-specific electric power steering that varies its ratio from 15.3:1 to 10.9:1 as a function of input.
Magnetically adaptive suspension dampers are an option, as are carbon-ceramic brake discs on the front axle; even the standard cross-drilled cast-iron discs are mounted on aluminium carriers and gripped by eight-piston fixed callipers.
SHE'S GOT THE LOOK
The RS3's wider track dictates wider wheel-arch panels and a wider, deeper front bumper, along with hard-edged side skirts and a special rear diffuser, set off by a distinctive roof spoiler and RS-only matt aluminium side-mirror housings.
Inside, RS3 crew members get sports seats trimmed in soft black nappa leather with grey contrast stitching, alcantara synthetic suede door inserts and trim elements in either gloss black, aluminium, or carbon fibre.
The flight deck features a flat-bottomed multifunction RS steering wheel in leather and alcantara, black-faced dials with white lettering and red needles - including a boost gauge, an oil temperature gauge and a lap timer - and stainless-steel pedals.
Notable among the special RS options on offer are lightweight carbon-fibre bucket seats (7kg each lighter than the standard pews) with built-in side airbags and a bespoke trim package with red accents on the seats, knee pads, seat belts, air vents and floor mats.