Performance Review: Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo - [2015]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A3 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2015. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2016 Bugatti Chiron 8.0 W16 Quad Turbo and the 2015 Koenigsegg Regera 5.0 V8 Turbo.This particular Audi A3 has a 2480cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 5 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St5's includes the 2022 KTM X-Bow GT-XR 2.5 Turbo

The A3 shares its Petrol St5 engine configuration with the likes of the 2022 KTM X-Bow GT-XR 2.5 Turbo and the 2018 Audi TT RS 2.5 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the A3's All Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1595 kgs (3516 lbs) this makes the Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 or the give or take 50kg.

The Audi A3 shares the same bhp with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp)

In terms of power the 2480cc 20V St5 engine produces 362 bhp (269 kW) @ 5550 rpm similar to the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp) or the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp).

The Turbo St5 throws out 343 lb-ft (465.0 Nm) @ 1625 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 (332 lb-ft) or the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 (332 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Audi A3 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 (251.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A3.

The Audi A3 has a Power to weight ratio of 226.9 bhp per ton and 215.0 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2015 A3 competing with the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 (251.6 bhp per ton) or the 2004 Audi A6 RS6 Avant Plus 4.2L V8 Twin Turbo (251.5 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Audi A3 generating around 215.0 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2008 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6.2 V8 (239.8 lb-ft per ton) or the 2014 Audi A7 3.0 TDI Sportback Competition Quattro (239.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.20 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.3 secs, this made the Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo as fast as the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (4.20 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo G42 (4.20 secs) the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 5.2 V8 (4.20 secs) the or the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged (4.20 secs). This Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo is also faster than the 2023 Lotus Eletre 603 bhp (4.30 secs) the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo (4.30 secs) the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo (4.30 secs) the and the 2022 Lotus Eletre S 603 bhp (4.30 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A3 and the 1966 Oldsmobile Starfire 7.0 V8

When talking about the performance of the Audi A3 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.03 secs @ 105.0 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1966 Oldsmobile Starfire 7.0 V8 (12.97 secs), the 2007 BMW 5 Series 550i M-Sport (12.97 secs), and the 2011 Porsche Panamera GTS 4.8 V8 (12.97 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2015 version of the Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2015 A3 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2015 Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2015 A3 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison