To celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the legendary five-cylinder engine, Audi Sport is unveiling an exclusive special-edition model: the RS 3 competition limited. With 750 examples to be built, and only 11 earmarked for the UK, it stands for a five-decade-long success story from the brand with four rings. Its inline five makes the compact performance car unique in its segment, combining extraordinary ability with an unmistakable sound. When driven, the RS 3 competition limited lives up to its sporting pedigree thanks to coilover suspension and a stiffer rear stabilizer. Visually, extra carbon elements leave no doubt about its credentials.

A legacy that began in 1976 with the second-generation Audi 100 is now reaching new heights with the Audi RS 3 competition limited. To mark “50 years of five cylinders,” Audi Sport is enhancing the RS 3 with numerous upgrades that will make the special edition highly sought after by collectors. Limited to 750 examples, the RS 3 competition limited exudes exclusivity from every detail.

Exterior: sharpened front, added carbon, and subtle details
Sportiness informs all visual features of the Audi RS 3 – starting with the assertive Singleframe that appears to form a unit with the air intakes at either side, and the striking front lip. This area has been sharpened even further on the RS 3 competition limited. Together with badges boasting heritage colours at front and rear, it stands for maximal individuality.

The special edition combines expressive design with matte carbon elements. These include two new canards on either front corner, which are arranged on top of each other and are made of carbon to match the vertical blades of the air curtains. Combined with the now split front lip, which is fitted below the intakes, this makes the special edition appear even wider.

Imposing 19-inch wheels with 10 cross spokes finished in Neodymium gold matte fill the arches. Mirror caps, side skirts, and a rear spoiler, all in matte carbon, as well as the matte carbon trim above the large functional diffuser complete the model’s cooly technical appearance. Partial matting on the rear side window to show the model’s name underlines it even further.

The darkened matrix LED headlights are also unique to the special edition. When locking or unlocking the car, their segments illuminate in a 1-2-4-5-3 pattern – a nod to the five-cylinder engine’s firing order.

In the UK, all 11 examples will be finished in Malachite green. This iconic colour is reminiscent of the Audi Sport quattro that provided the basis for a golden age of rallying with five-cylinder power.

Five-cylinder engine: strong performance and distinctive sound
Back in 1983, the Audi Sport quattro developed 225 kW (306 PS) and 350 Nm from 2.1 litres of displacement. Today, the inline five-cylinder engine of the Audi RS comes with 2.5 litres of displacement and boasts 294 kW (400 PS) and 500 Nm. Coming curtesy of an engine that is the only one of its kind in this segment, these figures lend the RS 3 competition limited extraordinary performance. The model accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180mph. Along the way, the unmistakable sound of the five- cylinder turbo engine provides extra emotion. It stems from the firing order 1-2-4-5-3. This means that the engine’s cylinders ignite in an alternating pattern — some that are next to each other and some that are further apart.

With its fully variable flap control, the RS sports exhaust system broaden the spectrum of the exhaust note while reduced insulation around the firewall means the engine sound reaches the occupants even more directly. The valves open earlier in the Audi drive select modes dynamic, RS Performance, and RS Torque Rear, meaning that the car’s throaty sound is even more pronounced than in other modes.

Driving dynamics: coilover suspension and stiffer rear stabilizer
For the first time, the Audi RS 3 features a coilover suspension including a new rear stabilizer. In combination with the torque splitter and the standard ceramic brakes, the limited edition offers distinctly sporty handling. The coilover suspension was specially developed and tuned for the RS 3 competition limited. The materials used in the twin-tube shock absorbers’ construction – stainless steel at the front and aluminium at the rear – were chosen for stiffness, and their increased volumes help cool the hydraulic fluid. The front shock absorbers have external reservoirs. Better cooling means the dampers perform consistently, even under high loads. At the rear, larger diameter damper tubes with thicker piston rods compared to the standard model provide more stable mounting and rigidity.

Adjusting compression means changing how quickly the shock absorber shortens. It works by altering the oil flow inside the cylinder and thus changing the damping force that works against the suspension as it loads up. Low-speed compression changes how the suspension reacts to forces like those occurring during cornering and significantly influences tire grip. It can be adjusted in 12 steps using a dial. The further it is turned towards the “+” sign, the stiffer the damping and thus the setup. This maximizes lateral grip, leading to higher cornering speeds, more eager turn in, and thus more direct handling. The further the dial is turned towards the “-” sign, the lower the damping force. This makes for a more comfortable ride.

High-speed compression determines how the body reacts when suddenly high forces impact the chassis. This includes driving over bumps as well as rapid steering movements. It can be adjusted in 15 steps. Stiffer high-speed compression (turning the dial towards “+”) means high- frequency vertical excitations are damped more, resulting in sharper feedback to the driver. As damping force is reduced (turning the dial towards “-”), the ride becomes more comfortable and the RS 3 competition limited* encounters imperfections in the road surface more smoothly.

The adjustable rebound offers even more variety for the driver to change the vehicle’s reactions and handling. It controls how directly the body is linked to the road, which can be altered in 16 steps. High damping on rebound means the suspension decompresses more slowly; handling therefore becomes very precise and direct. Lower damping on rebound means the springs can expand more quickly, thus increasing ride comfort.

Stability at the rear is further increased by a new tubular stabilizer with increased wall thickness. With a stiffness of 85 Newtons/millimetre (N/mm), it is stiffer than on the standard model.

The spring rates at the back have been increased to 80 N/mm to match. As a result, the RS 3 competition limited provides the perfect combination of directional stability, safety, and agility when accelerating out of a fast corner.

Complementing the additional aerodynamic elements at the front, the specific roof spoiler of the RS 3 Sportback competition limited also positively influences driving dynamics. Those new elements reduce lift at both axles and were developed specially for the limited edition in the wind tunnel. As the performance compact agilely rounds corners, it is helped by the torque splitter with fully variable torque distribution at the rear as well as by brake torque vectoring. When turning in, torque is delivered to the outside wheel. At the same time, the inside wheel is braked slightly, positioning the RS 3 competition limited to exit the bend perfectly. Ceramic brakes with red calipers are always on hand to reign in the speed. They are both especially light and resistant to thermal fade.

Interior: exclusive design and iconic displays
The special model’s exclusivity also becomes apparent when opening the doors, thanks to a colour combination of black, Neodymium gold, and Ginger white. The door lighting projects the lettering “RS 3 competition limited” with the same adorning the black floor mats, the cover below the headrests, and the trunk carpet. In the centre console, a matte serial number in front of the shifter reflects the model’s limited run and illustrates how special this vehicle truly is.

No matter how dynamic the cornering, driver and front passenger are perfectly held in place by highly contoured RS bucket seats. Their bolsters are covered in black leather, their centres fashioned in Dinamica microfiber coloured Neodymium gold. The arm rests in the doors and centre are also golden. Contrast stitching in Ginger white accentuates the cabin and underlines the diamond pattern on the seats.

Rear passengers also get a sense of the vehicle’s exclusivity. The centres of their seats as well as their arm rests are covered in soft Dinamica in Neodymium gold with Ginger white contrast stitching. The front seats’ matte carbon backs are large visual reminders of the model’s sportiness.

At any event, the driver’s seat is the best place to be and have everything under control.

The 10.1-inch touch display in the instrument panel provides information about RS-specific performance parameters: the temperature ranges of the coolant, torque splitter, brakes, as well as engine and transmission oil are illustrated in colour; tyre pressure and temperature are also shown.

To make finding the centre position easier and help visualize the most minute steering inputs, the wheel – flattened at both the top and bottom – has a Ginger white mark at the top. Contrast stitching in the same colour goes around its rim made of black Dinamica. The Audi virtual cockpit plus also features an exclusive design. When the Audi RS2 Avant debuted with the first RS five-cylinder engine in 1994, it had white instrument dials. Harking back to those, the digital instruments of the Audi RS 3 competition limited also have a white background. They are joined by displays of the engine’s current power and torque outputs, G forces, acceleration, and a lap timer. When launch control is used to fully exploit the turbocharged inline five’s potential for acceleration, starting lights indicate the ideal moment to launch.

Pricing: one limited edition, 11 UK cars
In the UK, the RS 3 Sportback competition limited is priced from £92,855 (OTR). Matte carbon elements on the exterior, Neodymium gold wheels, and the exclusive interior with colour-matched RS bucket seats, special digital dials, and its consecutive numbering set it apart. Carbon is also found under the bonnet: the engine cover atop the five-cylinder impresses with its technical look. Dynamically, the RS 3 competition limited is characterized by an adjustable coilover suspension, a stiffer rear stabilizer, the RS sports exhaust system, a top speed of 180mph, and ceramic brakes with red calipers. Three-zone climate control, seat heating, and rear privacy glass are also standard. UK deliveries of the RS 3 competition limited expected in Q4 2026.

Key facts – Audi RS 3 competition limited

• Model: Audi RS 3 Sportback competition limited
• Production: 750 units worldwide
• UK allocation: 11 vehicles
• Engine: 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI
• Power: 294 kW (400 PS)
• Torque: 500 Nm
• 0–62 mph: 3.8 seconds
• Top speed: 180 mph
• Price (UK): £92,855 OTR
• Deliveries: Q4 2026