Audi is set to release a limited-edition, high-performance vehicle that pushes the boundaries of its compact sports car line, with a starting price exceeding €100,000. The recent Audi RS 3 Competition Limited celebrates 50 years of the automaker’s five-cylinder engine technology with a series of notable upgrades.
The RS 3 Competition Limited represents the pinnacle of the current 8Y RS 3 series. With production capped at 750 units globally – 585 Sportback and 165 Limousine models – the vehicle’s release signals a farewell to the current iteration of the engine. The distinctive 1-2-4-5-3 firing order of the five-cylinder engine has become a defining characteristic of the Audi brand.
However, increasingly stringent emissions standards and the industry’s shift towards electrification mean the days of the 2.5 TFSI engine are numbered. To commemorate the engine’s legacy, Audi Sport is launching the RS 3 Competition Limited. Germany will receive 187 of the vehicles, with 158 being Sportback models.
Audi RS 3 competition limited Limousine (2026)
Bilder von: Audi
Audi RS 3 competition limited (2026)
The five-cylinder engine’s history dates back to 1976, when it debuted in the Audi 100. The engine gained prominence in the 1980s with the Urquattro and Sport Quattro. In 1994, the Porsche-developed Avant RS2 brought the five-cylinder into the high-performance station wagon segment.
Audi introduced the 2.5 TFSI engine to the compact class with the first RS 3 (8P generation) in 2011. Now in the late stages of its third generation, the five-cylinder continues to be lauded for its robust power delivery and unique sound.
Mechanically, the Competition Limited maintains the standard specifications: a 2.5-liter displacement, 400 horsepower (294 kW), and 500 Nm of torque. Acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 3.8 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 290 km/h.
Audi has enhanced the emotional appeal of the Competition Limited by reducing sound deadening material in the firewall – the partition between the engine and the cabin – to allow a more unfiltered engine sound to reach the occupants. A total of 4 kilograms of insulation have been removed.
the exhaust valve control of the RS sports exhaust system has been modified: the valves open earlier in dynamic modes (dynamic, RS Performance, RS Torque Rear) for a more voluminous sound.
A key feature for driving enthusiasts is the factory-installed, specifically tuned coilover suspension. The dampers are triple-adjustable, offering dual compression settings (high and low speed) and a single rebound setting. The vehicle sits 10 mm lower than a standard RS 3 and is delivered in a fixed road setup. A toolkit and instructions are included for those wishing to utilize the full adjustability of the suspension.
To further enhance agility, Audi has installed a thicker, stiffer stabilizer bar on the rear axle and increased the rear spring rate. Ceramic brakes with red calipers are standard on the front axle, with optional Pirelli PZero Trofeo R semi-slick tires available. Testing will be conducted in late April to assess the impact of these modifications on the vehicle’s handling performance.
Visually, the Competition Limited is the most striking variant of the RS 3 to date. Extensive use of matte carbon fiber is featured on the front spoiler lip, side skirts, diffuser, and roof spoiler. Exclusive 19-inch forged wheels in a matte “Neodymgold” finish complete the exterior look.
Available colors include Daytona Gray, Glacier White matte, and an exclusive Malachite Green – a tribute to the original Audi Sport quattro from 1983. True to Audi form, the vehicle features unique lighting details: the daytime running lights of the Matrix LED headlights illuminate in the 1-2-4-5-3 firing order when the vehicle is opened or closed.
The interior of the special edition is notably colorful. The deep RS bucket seats with carbon fiber backrests feature center sections in neodymgold Dinamica microfiber. Stitching, seatbelts, and the 12 o’clock marker on the microfiber steering wheel are in ginger white. The virtual cockpit displays white-backed digital dials, reminiscent of the analog cockpit of the 1994 Audi RS2. A plaque on the center console indicates the vehicle’s number in the limited series.
Bilder von: Audi
The Competition Limited starts at €100,680 for the Sportback and €102,680 for the Limousine in Germany. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in June 2026.
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