AUDI RS 3 Sedan Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Audi refreshed the third generation of the RS3 lineup for the 2025 model year, and since it didn’t want to make its customers wait, it unveiled the Sportback and the Sedan versions at the same time.

Volkswagen was considered the inventor of the hot-hatch segment due to the 1975 Golf GTi. Even though, technically, it wasn’t the first sporty hatchback in history, that credit goes to the French brand Simca and the 1967 1100 TI. However, the first super-hatch was the 2011 Audi RS3, which could give sports cars a run for their money with its 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) time of under five seconds. That model was highly successful. Audi noticed that besides the hatchback, which was more prone to be suspected as a potent vehicle, the sedan-shaped RS3 was very appreciated. Unlike its five-door sibling, the compact-sized vehicle with four doors was even more understated, and its owners liked that. As a result, when it prepared the facelift for the entire A3 lineup in 2024, the four-ring brand also updated the RS3 Sedan.

There was nothing subtle about the front look of the 2025 Audi RS3 Sedan. Its massive, broad, hexagonal-shaped grille was black. There were just a few body-colored elements on it, such as the lower lip under the apron and the outer sides of the scoops for the air curtain. Furthermore, Audi used black rings on the grille instead of its classic silver ones, which made the vehicle look even more menacing.

From its profile, the 2025 Audi RS3 Sedan had a mostly understated shape, almost identical to its lower-powered siblings. There were no massive wings on the trunk or deep side sills to lower ground effect. However, the 19-inch wheels with a unique design, or the available 20-inch set, revealed the big brakes with red calipers behind them. In addition, the carbon fiber door mirror caps, or shiny black, depending on the options, further revealed the car’s sports-oriented character. In addition, at the back, the bumper featured a black diffuser underneath it that integrated the big oval exhausts. Last but not least, a lip spoiler adorned the trunk’s lid.

Inside, the car manufacturer installed a 12.3-inch wide display in front of the driver. It ran the latest Audi Virtual Cockpit plus system that allowed customers to select the information they wanted. The steering wheel had an almost hexagonal shape due to the flat bottom and top. Furthermore, unlike the rest of the Audi A3 range, this also featured two red buttons that activated the Performance and the RS individual modes, respectively. At the front, the standard high-bolstered seats could be replaced by the optional sports bucket ones with carbon fiber frames and integrated headrests. At the back, the 40/20/40 split-folding bench seat could accommodate three passengers, although legroom for the middle-seated one was limited due to the transmission tunnel.

Under the hood, the automaker used the same 2.5-liter inline-five engine as on the non-facelifted version. It was turbocharged and had a direct-fuel injection system that allowed it to develop 400 PS (395 hp) and was paired with a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch gearbox). As usual for any Audi RS model in history, power went in all corners. In addition, thanks to the enhanced driving modes, drivers could perform better and faster drifts since the car took into account the steering angle as well, not just the accelerator position and the lateral g-forces.

Audi dropped the cover for the RS3 Sedan in July 2021 and it was fast enough to put some supercars to shame and threaten other performance vehicles of its days.

The German carmaker already had vast experience in producing powerful, agile vehicles. It was the first carmaker to provide a powerful version for a sporty, compact-segment, premium car in the form of the S3 back in 1999. But, while its ancestor provided just 210 horses, the 2021 version came with almost twice as that.

With a look that resembled those from renderings and mad tuners around the world, the S3 Sedan was a clear sign of revolution for Audi's compact sedan. At the front, its broad and black singleframe grille abandoned the small hexagonal design of former models and sported wider oval-shaped adornments. Its Matrix-LED headlights wore a new pattern for the daytime running lights. From its sides, the wheel arches were wider than on the regular A3 Sedan, and its sculptured door panels completed the side image. Unlike any other S-line package, the RS3 featured body-colored A-pillars and black door mirrors. At the back, a discrete lip spoiler adorned the trunk lid, while on the lower side of the bumper, the design team installed a diffuser flanked by a pair of oval exhausts.

Inside, the sport bucket seats provided high bolstered areas needed to keep their occupants in place while hard-cornering. In front of the driver, Audi installed a fully digital display in the instrument cluster and a second display for the MMI (multi-media information) infotainment system. The rear bench was profiled for two but featured three headrests.

Under the skin, Audi installed a 2.5-liter inline-five engine that provided 400 hp sent in all corners via a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox via a Haldex all-wheel-drive system.

Based on the already popular A3, the RS3 was the sportier version of it, offering double the power.

Having all of the attractive design and cutting-edge technology borrowed from the A3, the ultra-high-performance RS3 was in direct competition with the BMW’s M2.

The fast RS3 was available in a single trim level, with many options available.

If wondering where the great power came from, the RS3 was fitted with a turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine that cranked out 400 hp and 354 pound-feet of torque. The powerplant was mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and the power was delivered to all four wheels using the already famous Audi’s Quattro system.

The standard RS3 featured 19-inch alloys, automatic LED headlights, heated and power-folding mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, automatic wipers, parking sensors, adaptive suspension dampers, keyless entry and go, driving selectable modes, a dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, leather upholstery. Connectivity wise, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration was included, as well as the Audi’s MMI infotainment system.

Most of the additional features were available in packages, with the Technology package, the Dynamic Package and the Dynamic Plus package.

Stand-alone options included carbon-fiber interior trim and rear-seat side aribags.

The interior of the RS3 was similar to the A3's, with beautifully finished high quality materials.