Which one sounds good to you?
Each time, the gods of auto journalism would throw me a unique opportunity for an unplanned test. This is exactly what happened this week, thanks to the kind people at Audi for sending me the new 2022 RS 3 while already running their R8 V10 Spyder RWD. Adding a small sedan to a convertible supercar may seem strange on paper, but not once heard. Powering the R8 is a 5.2-liter V10 from Lamborghini Huracan.
The RS 3, on the other hand, relies on a 2.5-liter inline-five-cylinder engine. It displaces as its supercar siblings and about half of the cylinder. However, since a V10 is basically two I5s connected to a common crankshaft, they provide similar power and, more importantly, a very similar engine note. This is why Audi’s five-cylinder cars are often referred to as the “Mini V10s”. The new RS3 is no different. Check out the video embedded above to see a real-world comparison of the two
As I write this, I finished my first Canyon race on Audi’s latest hot sedan, and the initial impressions are great. Coming out of R8 and expecting RS 3 doesn’t seem like the slightest downside. This RS 3 punches above its weight class. I’ll keep a few hundred more miles and follow a full written review and video for our YouTube channel so don’t forget to subscribe!