Barcelona. A city bursting with excitement, oozing history, and overflowing with vintage car vibes! It's not just the picturesque streets and the lively tapas bars—it's also home to the oldest cava shop in the world, where you can sip on bubbly while feeling like royalty. And let's not forget the Catalonian marvel of "castells," a captivating tradition where teams stack humans like Tetris blocks to build towering masterpieces. Who needs a gym when you can train to ascend a human tower?
Now, picture this: we're zooming around this thrilling city in not one but two of Audi's adrenaline-pumping performance beasts—the 2025 RS 3 and the RS Q8. The RS Q8, the sophisticated giant we all know and love, but the true star of the show? The RS 3—the pocket rocket that's revving up the competition against the Mercedes A 45s. Rumour has it that this little speedster has never set foot in India, but whispers are swirling that it's finally looking to make its grand debut in the Indian market!
So, hold onto your hats and seatbelts because this isn't just a test drive; it's a full-throttle adventure through Barcelona. Who knew history, human pyramids, and high-speed cars could coexist beautifully?
2025 AUDI RS 3
Meet the Audi RS 3—the ultimate powerhouse of the compact sports car universe and your ticket to Audi Sport heaven. It's the Audi answer for the Mercedes-AMG A 45S and is a driving delight. It's every enthusiast car driver on a medium budget's dream car. With its latest upgrade, this beauty is like a sprightly gymnast primed for the Olympic stage, thanks to an optimised chassis that's ready to dance on those winding roads whether you're tearing up the racetrack, which I did at the Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí northwest of Barcelona, or just cruising through daily life.
The torque splitter introduced in 2021 took the RS 3 from "yay" to "whoa!" It's like giving a go-kart an espresso shot! This compact dynamo packs a punch with its fierce five-cylinder turbocharged engine, giving you an impressive 400 hp and a whopping 500 Nm of torque. It also boasts a torque splitter, which is sort of a "game changer." Imagine a lavish dinner party where each guest gets the right amount of dessert: that's what the torque splitter does for your driving experience! It hones in on every twist and turn like an eager puppy chasing its tail, making our friend the RS 3 even nimbler in the corners. It treats all its four tyres with equal respect.
With a racetrack layout like a rollercoaster for your car, you'll feel the g-forces as you scream down the straights and hug those hairpin turns. Fire up that throaty five-cylinder engine, flip the switch to your track performance mode, and let the autocross magic unfold! It zigzags into bends with the finesse of a ballroom dancer—thanks to the nifty brake torque vectoring. Imagine being in a conga line where the outside rear wheel gets a little extra enthusiasm while the inside wheel takes a holiday with some gentle braking. This dynamic duo keeps the RS 3 glued to the curve like your most loyal friend at a buffet, always ready for the next helping!
Behind the scenes, it's a symphony of technology—a finely tuned algorithm that lets various systems chat more effectively than a group of gossiping grandmas. The torque splitter, electronic stabilisation control, brake torque vectoring, and adaptive dampers work together like a well-rehearsed band, adjusting to road conditions—rain, snow, or even the occasional spilt coffee.
The Audi RS 3 isn't just a car; it's a rollercoaster ride you can drive! The electronics are so small that even the seat adjustment has a manual lever with no extra motor weight to adjust your seating. The only drawback, though, is when you wear a helmet, your headrest protrudes weirdly, making you sit like an underconfident owl on a steering wheel. Hopefully, it should come to India, but since it ought to be a CBU, it might just outprice itself. However, the real enthusiast will see value in it and live a daily enthusiastic life with four seats and fewer electronics.
Audi RS Q8
The one coming to India in the first quarter of 2025, and before we move forward, it's important to note that the Audi RSQ8 is a Lamborghini URUS at a 60% discount. They share the same MLB Evo platform, are built in the same VW Group plant in Slovakia, and come with a similar twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine. Its engine tuning, performance software, weight and aerodynamics, and exhaust system give the aura 10-15 % more torque and bhp. Audi has added a Performance model to the RS Q8 range, further blurring the performance comparison with the Urus. Let's dive into what's new with this beast on wheels that's packing more punch than a heavyweight boxer after a training montage for the years ahead of 2025.
Eye-Catching Bumpers: First, all-new front and rear bumpers not only enhance the aggressive look of the RS Q8 but could probably scare off any pesky parking lot pigeons, too; it's more aggressive now.
Carbon Package Extravaganza: The new Carbon package gives that extra flair and makes the ride lighter.
Turbocharged V8 Powerhouse: Under the hood lies a mighty V8 Turbocharged engine mated to an 8-speed mild hybrid system that channels the power of 631 BHP and a jaw-dropping 850 Nm of torque!
Top Speed Bragging Rights: Rev it up to a top speed of 305 kmph, and just like that, you're not just driving; you're flying (at least, that's how it feels)! You just have to remind yourself to keep it legal on public roads.
Wheels That Steal the Show: The new wheel design is gorgeous and stylish and comes in three stunning colours up to 22-inch rims. When parked from the side, you will admire them, which screams deserved attention.
Ceramic Braking Power: With Audi Ceramic brakes, you can stop on a dime. Those brakes can handle the speed without breaking a sweat, and with great power comes excellent speeds. When you have incredible speeds, great brakes are most important.
Exclusive RS Q8 Performance: The RS Q8 is not just another SUV; it's a performance carnival on wheels! The thing jumps from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.6 seconds. It now has a 48V mild-hybrid system (MHEV) that improves fuel efficiency and gives quicker initial acceleration. It also comes with a height-adjustable air suspension. The RS Q8 Performance also has a lighter exhaust system, increasing the engine's output and creating a sportier sound. You can optionally replace the exhaust system with the RS sport exhaust system, which has glossy black tailpipes.
Power-Boosting Catalytic Converter Wizardry: Here's the kicker—Audi's most powerful combustion engine! How? Audi changed the position of the catalytic converter and cranked up the turbo boost pressure. This little upgrade doesn't just give you 40 extra horses and 50 Nm of torque; it also keeps the air cleaner! The catalytic converter works its magic by turning 80-90% of harmful emissions into less nasty gasses—saving the planet while you're at it!
Silence is Golden: The insulation material has been reduced, which means you can hear the sweet symphony of the powerful engine all around you. No more excessive padding to muffle that glorious roar. Which has resulted in less weight, adding to a better power-to-weight ratio. Overall, a 5kg weight reduction has been achieved from its previous generation. Anyone who's ever tried to shed a few pounds knows that losing 5 kg is like trying to find a unicorn—it's elusive, often frustrating, and you might question your life choices.
Wider Drive Select: Finally, the more comprehensive drive select settings are available for every personality. Are you feeling lazy? Choose comfort mode. Are you feeling spicy? Dynamic mode's got your back. Do you feel like you want to mess with physics? That's where RS mode steps in… and gravity steps out. And if you are not careful, the ambulance sets in.
Verdict
The 2025 Audi RS Q8 is a genuine personality, and if it could speak, it would gleefully exclaim, "Hop in, let's hit the road!" Whether you're gliding through city streets or pushing the limits on the track, this luxurious powerhouse is always primed for action. With a boost in power and a few sleek cosmetic enhancements, it has sharpened its focus, ready to tackle the roads with precision and presence. It boasts Audi's most powerful combustion engine, effortlessly propelling its 2400 kg body from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.6 seconds. Now that's worthy of a celebration!
I was driving on a race circuit, the Audi RS Q8, and despite being a behemoth SUV, it felt as nimble as a sports car, especially with its on-point braking. With its state-of-the-art Electromechanical Active Roll Stabilization (AWS), this beast takes handling to a new level of thrill and constantly checks body roll.
Picture this: electric motors are snuggled right into the front and rear stabiliser bars like little superheroes, ready to save the day as you zip through those tight corners. When it's time to corner, eAWS leaps into action, battling body lean like a pro wrestler, enhancing roll stiffness, and ensuring you stay glued to the road—no more "whoa, was that a tilt?" moments here!
The result? A ride so confident and nimble that conquering curves feels like a dance party on wheels! Every turn is not just about getting from point A to B; it's a joyous romp that'll have you grinning from ear to ear. Whether tackling those twisty mountain roads or channelling your inner racecar driver on the track, the RS Q8 Performance delivers stability and control, making driving feel like pure magic! It's not just ordinary; it's extraordinary. What I did not like, though, is the exhaust note; it needs to be louder and more urus type; despite less insulation inside, the sound is not as hard as you would like, especially when you want it to behave like a sports car with RS mode on. Thats is also because Audi wants it to be your everyday car and double up as your weekend race track toy, and even if that race track is in a different city, you can load up the trunk. Thats a fantastic combination. Only one car beats it in its business, and that's the BWM X5M competition, but sadly, it's discontinued in India. It's the same price as the RS Q8, but with a 4.4-litre engine, more power and the biggest boot space of 650 litres. Having said that, the Audi RS Q8 is unique and the only one with an SUV body style at the Rs 2.5 crore mark, which is almost half the price of its German cousin, the mighty Lamborghini Urus
