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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stand out Stats
- 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
GR Snippets
- Limited-edition performance model celebrates 50 years of Audi’s iconic five-cylinder engine, with only 750 units globally and 11 allocated to the UK
- Legendary 2.5 TFSI engine and its evocative throaty sound
- Bespoke adjustable coilover suspension with new rear stabilizer
- Exterior with carbon elements and special Malachite green paint and special interior in Neodymium gold and consecutive numbering
- The cost for exclusivity in the UK? £92,855 OTR
