AUDI dealerships across the UK are now taking orders for the all-new RS 3 Sportback and RS 3 Saloon, with prices starting from £50,900 on-the-road.

In the UK, both the RS 3 Sportback and Saloon are available in four different specifications: RS 3, Carbon Black, Launch Edition and Vorsprung and, as standard, every model comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front sport seats with ‘RS’ embossed logo in Fine Nappa leather, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual cockpit with RS-specific display, a 10.1-inch MMI Navigation plus infotainment system, and the all-new RS Torque splitter.

Audi’s RS Dynamic pack (£5,500 on RS 3 and £5,000 on Carbon Black & Vorsprung) is the highlight of the range of optional extras.

It comprises Adaptive suspension with Audi Drive Select, RS ceramic brakes with brake callipers in gloss anthracite grey, a top speed increase to a possible 180mph and Audi’s RS sport exhaust system.

With its five-cylinder, high-performance engine, the Audi RS 3 is one-of-a-kind in the segment. The 2.5 TFSI has won the International Engine of the Year award nine times in a row and in the latest generation of the compact sports car, the engine is now more powerful than ever before, developing 400PS and 500Nm of torque – allowing a 0-62mph sprint of just 3.8 seconds. Top speed for the standard RS 3 is limited to 155mph, but Launch Edition and Vorsprung models see that increase to 174mph. With the RS Dynamic package and ceramic brakes, customers can even reach a top speed of 180mph where permitted. This makes the Audi RS 3 the best in its class in terms of acceleration and top speed.

A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission puts the power of the five-cylinder engine to the road – with short shifting times and a sportier gear ratio spread. The engine’s unique 1 2 4 5-3 ignition sequence and the incomparable sound that comes with it make the driving experience that much more exhilarating.

The latest versions of the high-performance duo, powered by the award-winning 400PS 2.5-litre TFSI engine, are due to be delivered to the first customers from November with pricing starting at £50,900 on-the-road for the Audi RS 3 Sportback, the RS 3 Sportback Carbon Black, £55,550; RS 3 Sportback Launch Edition, £56,900; and the RS 3 Sportback Vorsprung at £58,650.

Audi RS 3 Saloon pricing starts at £51,900; the RS 3 Saloon Carbon Black, £56,550; RS 3 Saloon Launch Edition, £57,900 and the range topping RS 3 Saloon Vorsprung costing £59,650.