Audi RS3 Competition Limited: 750 Units for 50 Years

Audi celebrates 50 years of its legendary five-cylinder engine with an ultra-limited series. The RS3 Competition Limited will be produced in just 750 units worldwide, of which only 13 are destined for France. This anniversary edition carries a price tag of £92,885 in the UK and may well mark the final chapter of the celebrated 2.5 TFSI engine as Euro 7 regulations loom.

"I'm not certain we can refinance the investment required to meet Euro 7 regulations" — Gernot Döllner, CEO of Audi

A tribute to Audi's most charismatic engine

Audi's turbocharged five-cylinder in-line engine is celebrating half a century this year. Appearing in 1976 on the Audi 100, this unconventional powerplant has carved its place in the annals of the rings marque. From the legendary Quattro of the eighties to the recent Cupra Formentor VZ5, this unique architecture has established itself as an incomparable sonic signature.

The RS3 Competition Limited retains the 2.5 TFSI engine with its 400 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, with no power modifications. Audi opted instead to indulge in raw emotion. The firewall separating the engine from the cabin has been refined to allow more intake noise through. The active exhaust opens its flaps earlier in the rev range.

This characteristic sound could well be taking its final bow. Gernot Döllner, Audi's chief, confided to Autocar that the five-cylinder's future remains "under discussion at board level". Forthcoming Euro 7 regulations would require considerable investment for an engine now confined to just two models.

A chassis rethought for the track

Audi Sport didn't tamper with the mechanics, but did revise the driving dynamics. The Competition Limited introduces race-style separate-reservoir dampers, adjustable on three levels. The rear springs gain stiffness, as does the rear anti-roll bar.

This fully adjustable suspension allows drivers to tailor the behavior according to their needs. A toolset accompanies the car for making adjustments. Enough to satisfy weekend warriors and track day regulars alike.

Carbon-ceramic brakes come as standard on the series, along with the sports exhaust. The torque splitter system distributes power between the rear wheels to optimize traction when exiting corners.

What availability for France?

France receives merely 13 units of this limited series. According to sources, these cars had already found buyers before the official announcement. A situation that speaks volumes about collector appetite for what could be the final iteration of its kind.

A more radical look than ever

Visually, the Competition Limited pushes the aggression of the standard RS3 further still. New matte carbon canards frame the redesigned front bumper. The Singleframe grille adopts an unprecedented diamond pattern, with additional openings in the lower section.

Matte carbon dominates the bodywork: mirror shells, bespoke lower body panels, enlarged rear wing, and an insert above the widened diffuser. The 19-inch ten-spoke wheels sport matte neodymium gold finish that signs off this exclusive version.

For paint, three hues are offered: traditional Daytona Grey, Glacier White matte, and notably Malachite Green, drawn directly from the iconic Sport Quattro of the eighties.

An interior worthy of exclusivity

The cabin receives its own distinctive badges. The inscription "RS3 competition limited" appears on floor mats, beneath headrests, and in the boot. The threshold lighting projects this signature on the ground as doors open.

A serial number is engraved before the gear selector—a detail that underscores the collector's appeal of these 750 units destined to become tomorrow's modern classics.