Audi RS 3 sedan debuts from $84,900

Audi's first RS sedan since 2010 and the performance sub-brand's first compact sedan ever has arrived Down Under.

And with almost 300kW and a competitive $84,900 price-tag, the new RS 3 four-door is firmly staking its claim for a top placing at the bang-for-bucks end of the local new car marketplace.

Launched locally this week, the new RS 3 sedan shares many of its underpinnings with the recently released, alloy-bodied TT RS Coupe and Roadster.

The less exotic four-door is only marginally heavier (1515kg v 1440kg) but is more than $50,000 cheaper and therefore has the potential to be one of the best value performance cars on sale today.

Set to take on the likes of Mercedes-AMG's CLA 45 AMG (from $92,215) and perhaps even BMW's M2 (from $90,500 for manual), the RS 3 Sedan will also be joined by a revised version of the current RS 3 Sportback later in 2017.

Although the Audi sedan already enjoys a price advantage over its competitors, that five-door is expected to be even cheaper. Currently A3/S3 hatches are priced from $1600 less than their sedan equivalents.

Audi Australia says the new RS 3 will accelerate 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds, just 0.4sec slower than its all-aluminium two-door TT stablemate and faster than the current RS 3 hatch. Top speed is an academic 280km/h.

A large part of the performance equation is thanks to the latest aluminium-blocked 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine the RS 3 Sedan borrows from the top TT. Rated at 294kW and 480Nm, the new engine adds 24kW and 15Nm and drops 26kg.

One of only a handful of five-cylinder engines ever sold Down Under, the new engine sounds as good in the RS 3 Sedan as it does in the TT RS we recently tested at Phillip Island. The nature of the five's power delivery is such that peak torque is delivered from 1700rpm to 5850rpm.

The RS 3 also gets Audi's sports exhaust as standard – also a la TT RS.

The new car features the same seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox and updated quattro sports AWD system as the coupe too. This faster reacting and adaptive AWD system can apportion up to 100% of available torque to the rear wheels. Control is integrated into Audi's "drive select" drive mode system which also changes engine and gearbox modes as well as steering weight and even the reaction of the adaptive cruise control.

The TT RS' eight-piston brake calipers clamp 370mm ventilated rotors at the front of the new RS 3 Sedan, with 310mm discs at the rear. Ceramic discs are an option. A choice of 19-inch alloy wheel designs is offered, wrapped in 235/35 tyres.

Sport suspension is standard on the sedan but Audi's adaptive magnetic ride system is offered as part of a $7300 optional RS Performance package which also includes alternative design 19-inch wheels, upgraded audio and carbon-fibre dress-up bits.

No doubt there'll be myriad other option boxes you can tick when you sit down with your Audi dealer – not the least of which paint colours.

Perhaps the most interesting addition in the RS pack is the up-sizing of the front (yes, you read it right) tyres. So equipped, the RS 3 Sedan is fitted with 255/30 section 19-inch fronts and 235/35 rears. The only other production car with larger front tyres than rear we are aware of is the current RS 3 Sportback.

The RS 3 Sedan is officially on sale now and arrives Down Under with a substantial compliment of equipment. Adaptive cruise control is standard along with Audi Sense autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, rear cross traffic alert and other driver aids.

ANCAP rates the A3 Sedan range (including the RS3) as a five-star car.

New to this generation of RS 3, Audi Virtual Cockpit delivers one of the most engaging instrument interfaces in the new car marketplace and in this price range is a clear differentiator for the brand.

Audi Connect with in-car WiFi hotspot is standard and maximizes the car's natural language VOX interface by adding online search and other functionality.

Outside the RS 3 is clearly differentiated from A3 and S3 counterparts with more aggressive front and rear styling and two of the biggest oval shaped exhaust outlets in the business.

Inside, the RS features quilted sports seats and a wonderfully tactile part-Alcantara covered sports wheel.

Bespoke Virtual Cockpit screens with performance data including lap timing, g-meter and other info sets are the icing on the cake – and just what every boy (and girl) racer will love.