After S comes RS, at least in Audi’s high performance department. Following on from the hot S3 hatch and saloon that were launched earlier this year, the Renn Sport 3 returns and reclaims its position at the top of the model range. And it could be the last of its kind.

The hyper hatch has been redesigned and re-engineered to provide greater cornering performance than before. This has been achieved by enhancing the brake torque vectoring, electronic stability control and torque splitting systems, which now send their data through an enhanced vehicle dynamics controller that is more sensitive than in the pre-facelift model. High levels of front end grip are assured with 19” wheels and a staggered tyre setup that places wider rubber at the front than the rear. Tyre sizes are 265/30 R19 for the front and 245/35 R19 for the rear.

Adaptive dampers are standard on top-spec Carbon Vorsprung models, and this will allow for a more focussed setup when making rapid progress along a B-road or track, while also offering a more compliant configuration for cruising and everyday use. Grip and stability are further enhanced by optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick rubber, which should make the new RS 3 categorically one of the quickest ways to cover ground on twisty routes.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the 2.5 litre in-line 5-cylinder engine, which produces the same 394 bhp and 369 lb ft (500 Nm) as before. I was among those expecting a small power and torque boost as part of the facelift, but I suppose almost 400 horses in a compact hatch and saloon is more than enough to begin with. The performance is sent to all four wheels via the quattro all-wheel drive system and a 7-speed S Tronic twin-clutch auto. 0-62 mph takes just 3.8 seconds and the car will reach a limited top speed of 155 or 174 mph, depending on specification. 

The unmistakable sound of the 5-cylinder comes from its 1-2-4-5-3 firing order, and this is amplified in the reworked RS Sport exhaust system. Flaps within the pipework can open to enhance the soundtrack, and Audi has paid particular attention to making the car sing in the lower end of the rev range; between 2,200 and 3,500 rpm the exhaust flaps will begin to open regardless of drive mode. This should go some way to countering criticisms that the five cylinder soundtrack has lost its voice in recent generations due to emission and noise regulations.

So even without an extra horse in the stable, how does the performance compare to its predecessor? The chassis tweaks seem to have had an impact, with Audi once again sending the RS 3 around the Nurburgring Nordschleife ahead of its reveal. The new model completed the lap in 7 minutes and 33.123 seconds with development driver Frank Stippler at the wheel. 

This not only makes it “the fastest compact car” according to Audi, but a whole 7.625 seconds quicker than the pre-facelift model. Stippler said of the changes to the model that contributed to the impressive lap time: “The new RS 3 turns in more willingly at corner entry thanks to the fine tuning which allows the vehicle to be positioned earlier and better for corner exit. The result is a lower steering angle from apex to corner exit, which leads to less friction and earlier acceleration, allowing you to carry more momentum and speed onto each subsequent straight.”

In short: faster in, faster out. The RS 3 is often seen as less sharp than its rivals from BMW and Mercedes-AMG, but by the sounds of it the