AUDI RS 3 Sportback competition limited – UK 🇬🇧 (8Y, 2026)

What: Audi RS 3 Sportback competition limited
Era: Audi modern era
Manufacturer: Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm, Germany)
Model Family: RS 3
Chassis / Matrix: Type 8Y PA / MQB Evo
Generation: RS 3 (8Y PA)
Market / Zone: UK
Model Years: 2026
Production Span: 2026
Number Produced: 750 units total across both body styles worldwide
Body Style: 4-door compact Sportback hatchback
Assembly: Neckarsulm, Germany

SPECIAL EDITION DETAILS

Edition Name: RS 3 competition limited
Purpose: Celebration of 50 Years of Audi Five-Cylinder Engines (1976–2026)
Body Style: Sportback (hatchback)
Exterior Colors:
Daytona Gray
Glacier White Matte
Malachite Green (exclusive heritage color referencing Audi Sport quattro)

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Body Construction: steel unibody with aluminum structural components
Layout: front-engine, all-wheel drive
Drivetrain Configuration: quattro all-wheel drive with torque splitter
Transmission: 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic

ENGINE

Engine Type: Audi EA855 evo
Configuration: inline five-cylinder turbocharged
Displacement: 2,480 cc
Valvetrain: DOHC, 20 valves
Fuel System: direct injection (TFSI)
Induction: turbocharged

Power Output: 294 kW (400 PS / 394 hp)
Torque: 500 Nm (369 lb-ft)
Firing Order: 1-2-4-5-3

PERFORMANCE

0–100 km/h: 3.8 seconds
Top Speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)
Drive Modes: Audi drive select with RS Performance and RS Torque Rear modes
Exhaust: RS sport exhaust with variable flap control

CHASSIS

Front Suspension: adjustable coilover suspension with stainless steel dampers and external reservoirs
Rear Suspension: adjustable coilover suspension with aluminum dampers

Adjustability

Low-speed compression – 12 settings
High-speed compression – 15 settings
Rebound damping – 16 settings

Rear Stabilizer: reinforced tubular anti-roll bar
Rear Spring Rate: increased vs standard RS 3
Torque Management: active rear torque splitter with brake torque vectoring

BRAKES

Front: carbon-ceramic brake discs with red calipers
Rear: steel brake discs

WHEELS

Size: 19-inch
Design: ten-spoke cross design
Finish: matte Neodymium Gold

SIGNIFICANCE

The RS 3 competition limited Sportback was unveiled in March 2026 as Audi Sport’s official tribute to the company’s five-cylinder engine heritage, one of the most distinctive engineering signatures in the brand’s history. By combining a heritage-inspired design, adjustable motorsport-style suspension and Audi’s iconic turbocharged inline-five, the model highlights the enduring legacy of the engine architecture that powered Audi’s rally dominance and modern RS performance cars.

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