Audi's New RS3 Honors The Legendary Five-Cylinder Engine

With a coilover suspension and lots of carbon fiber, the RS3 Competition Limited might be Audi's five-cylinder sendoff.

Audi RS 3 competition limited Limousine (2026)

Photo by: Audi

By: Stefan Wagner

Translated by: Jeff Perez

Mar 10, at 8:13am ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

the breakdown

Audi debuts the new RS3 Competition Limited.
The new RS3 comes in sedan and Sportback body styles, and is limited to just 750 units worldwide.
It features unique bodywork with special design elements and minor performance tweaks.
Pricing starts at €100,680 in Europe; no word on pricing for the US yet.

Audi is celebrating 50 years of its iconic five-cylinder engine the only way it knows how—with a rare special-edition car. Meet the new Audi RS3 Competition Limited, created to mark five decades of Audi’s legendary five-cylinder powerplant and packed with upgrades.

This is the ultimate version of the current RS3 generation—and unfortunately, it may also mark the end of an era. Once this car is gone, Audi’s iconic five-cylinder in its current form could disappear with it; stricter emissions regulations and the rapid shift toward electrification mean the days of the 2.5-liter TFSI are likely numbered.

Before the curtain falls, though, Audi is giving the engine one final send-off. Audi will build just 750 units of the RS3 Competition Limited worldwide: 585 Sportbacks and 165 sedans. Germany will receive 187 of those cars, including 158 Sportbacks. Sadly, the Sportback almost certainly won't make it to the US.

A Sharper RS3

Audi RS 3 competition limited Limousine (2026)

Photo by: Audi

Mechanically, the formula remains unchanged. The turbocharged 2.5-liter engine still produces 400 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The sprint to 62 miles per hour takes 3.8 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 180 miles per hour.

Where the Competition Limited really stands out is in what you don’t see. Audi reduced insulation in the firewall between the engine bay and cabin, removing about 8.8 pounds of sound-deadening material so the distinctive five-cylinder soundtrack reaches occupants more directly.

The RS sport exhaust has also been recalibrated. In Dynamic, RS Performance, and RS Torque Rear driving modes, the exhaust valves now open earlier, producing a louder and more dramatic sound. Chassis upgrades should especially interest driving enthusiasts. For the first time, the RS3 is equipped with a factory-developed, model-specific coilover suspension.

Audi RS 3 competition limited Limousine (2026)

Photos by: Audi

The dampers offer three-way adjustment—high- and low-speed compression, plus rebound. Ride height sits 10.0 millimeters (0.4 inches) lower than a standard RS3, and the car comes with a predefined road setup from the factory. Owners who want to fine-tune the suspension themselves will find a dedicated tool kit and instructions included.

Audi also sharpened the handling with a thicker, stiffer tubular rear anti-roll bar and increased rear spring rates. Carbon-ceramic brakes with red calipers come standard on the front axle, while optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tires promise serious grip.

Subtle Styling Updates

Audi RS 3 competition limited Limousine (2026)

Photo by: Audi

Visually, the Competition Limited might be the most striking RS3 yet—and arguably one of the best-looking. Matte carbon fiber is used throughout, including the split front spoiler, new bumper flics, side skirts, diffuser, and a prominent roof spoiler. Filling the wheel arches are exclusive 19-inch forged wheels finished in matte "Neodymium Gold."

The paint options are equally distinctive. Alongside Daytona Gray and a new matte Glacier White, Audi offers an exclusive Malachite Green—a clear nod to the original Audi Sport Quattro from 1983. And in true Audi fashion, there’s also a nerdy lighting detail: when locking or unlocking the car, the Matrix LED daytime running lights illuminate in the five-cylinder’s firing order—1-2-4-5-3.

Audi RS 3 competition limited (2026)

Photos by: Audi

Audi RS 3 competition limited (2026)

Photos by: Audi

Inside, the limited edition adds a splash of color. Deep RS bucket seats with carbon backs feature center sections trimmed in neodymium-gold Dinamica microfiber. The stitching, seat belts, and the 12-o’clock steering-wheel marker are finished in ginger white. The digital instrument cluster also adopts white-background gauges, echoing the analog dials of the Audi RS2 Avant from 1994. A numbered plaque in the center console confirms each car’s place in the 750-unit production run.

All of this exclusivity doesn’t come cheap. In Germany, the RS3 Competition Limited Sportback starts at €100,680 ($117,136 at today's exchange rate), while the sedan begins at €102,680 ($119,472). Pricing for the United States has not yet been announced. That’s more than €44,000 ($51,195)above the base price of a standard RS3—though every Competition Limited arrives fully equipped.

What do you think?

View

Comments

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in June 2026.

Motor1's Take: We really hope this isn't the last we see of the RS3—or Audi's iconic five-cylinder engine, for that matter. The subtle visual upgrades and minor performance tweaks make for an interesting RS3, but this engine deserves even more of a sendoff.

The Latest From Audi

Audi Quietly Ends A8 Orders In Germany, Signaling The Sedan's Demise

Audi: New Supercar Could Happen 'Someday'