The third generation of the Audi A3 was unveiled in 2013 and details for the RS3 were revealed in December 2014 and the sales started in 2015.
It was available as a Sportback or sedan.

The RS version of any Audi had to be strong and powerful. On the other hand, Audi had a long tradition with the 5-cylinder engine. It was the base unit for the mighty Audi Quattro that won the World Rally Championship. It was present on many other cars built by Audi. And it was needed for the RS3.

The compact, 5-door was faster than an Audi R8 supercar and need to show it. The front bumper was redesigned for the RS3 version. The Singleframe grille featured a high-gloss black, honeycomb-look grille and a frame in mat aluminum look. The blade integrated into the front apron extended upward into the air inlets to form a vertical dividing bar. The 19” light-alloy wheels were fitted as standard. In the rear, a roof spoiler was installed on top of the liftgate.

The interior of the RS3 Sportback was black with RS badges. The bucket seats were upholstered in Nappa leather and contrasting stitching. An option for carbon seat shell cut the weight with 7 kg (15.4 lbs) each. The driver information system included a boost pressure indicator, an oil temperature gauge and a lap timer. The instrument cluster was black with red needles and white scale.

The most important part of the car was the 5-cylinder turbocharged engine. Its 2.5-liter displacement offered 367 hp. It was voted the “engine of the year” for five years in a row. It was mated to a standard 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox.