The RS badge signals the most powerful and fastest derivative in Audi’s line up. One model in particular moved the goalposts forward in a big way almost 10 years ago: the Audi RS 3. A 2012 performance beast at the time, it used a 2,5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produced 250 kW and 450 N.m. And as is a prerequisite in fast Audis, power was distributed via the brand’s famed Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
One rung below on the Audi Sport ladder are the S models. The team at Carwow has pitted a 2012 RS 3 against the new S3 in a drag race to see which is fastest. The latest S3 uses the same EA888 turbocharged 2,0-litre, four-cylinder engine as its predecessor, churning out 228 kW and 450 Nm. It serves as the performance deputy of the range, sitting well below the most recent (and outgoing) RS 3, which produced 294 kW and 480 N.m.
Today’s Audi S3 has a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox and, of course, all-wheel-drive. Something that’s quite interesting is how closely both cars are matched in terms of weight: they both tip the scales at 1575 kilograms.
But is the current deputy of the range as fast as the old head-honcho? Watch the video below to see which is quickest off the mark:
