Refreshed Audi RS3 priced along with red-hot RS3

Partially detailed for South Africa at the end of last year, Audi has officially released pricing details of not only the heavily revised A3 Sportback and Sedan, but also the fire-breathing RS3 in the same bodystyle options.

A3

The final pricing announcement for the now five-year-old fourth generation A3, which the four rings will replace with an all-new generation in 2027, is that the entire range will be offered in S line and Black Edition trim grades, but not with the mild-hybrid 1.5 TSI Evo engine, as previously indicated.

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Instead, the A3 will soldier on with the venerable 1.4 TSI that produces 110kW/250Nm. The sole transmission option is the equally familiar seven-speed S tronic, with drive going to the front wheels only.

The same powertrain parent company Volkswagen will use in the incoming Golf 8.5, the A3 will seemingly also be the last model to wear the confusing engine denominator of 35 TFSI announced earlier this year as being dropped entirely.

In terms of specification, both variants are equipped as standard with the 10.1-inch MMI Plus infotainment system, 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, S-line sport seats, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, a Sonos sound system, Lane Departure Warning, and Park Assist.

Compared to the S line, the Black Edition, as per its name, gets black exterior trim finishes and darkened inserts inside.

RS3

Representing the final encore for the five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI engine, the updated RS3 will also be available in two trim grades: standard and Carbon, the latter with a series of carbon trim pieces outside and in.

Debuting a new torque vectoring system supposed to encourage oversteer, as well as a new exhaust system, adaptive dampers and retuned Electronic Stability Control, the farewell to the five-cylinder develops an unchanged 294kW/500Nm directed to all four wheels via a seven-speed S tronic ‘box.

Limited to 250 km/h or 290 km/h when selected with the optional RS Driver’s Package, both the Sportback and Sedan will get from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds.

Building on the interior changes applied to its sibling, the RS3’s unique accommodations include RS graphics and readouts within the two displays, an RS rev-counter, the steering wheel from the RS e-tron GT, and the RS sport or RS bucket seats trimmed in fine or Pearl Nappa leather.

Price

Now available, the sticker prices of the A3 and RS3 include a five-year/100,000 km maintenance plan as standard.

• A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI S line S tronic – R808 200
• A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI Black Edition S tronic – R834 500
• A3 Sedan 1.4 TFSI S line S tronic – R823 200
• A3 Sedan 1.4 TFSI Black Edition S tronic – R849 500
• RS3 Sportback – R1 498 200
• RS3 Sportback Carbon – R1 591 900
• RS3 Sedan – R1 528 200
• RS3 Sedan Carbon – R1 610 700

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