Audi Sport is celebrating a decade of the RSQ3 performance crossover, revealing a new special-edition package with exclusive appointments and equipment – but whether it’ll come to Australia is unclear at this stage.
The Audi RSQ3 edition 10 years, as it’s called by the four-ringed marque, will be limited to just 555 units globally and will be available to order in its home market this month.
Audi’s local division says it’s “under evaluation” for our market, but “there is currently no specific launch timing or pricing for this model”.
Highlights include an exclusive exterior paint option, new 21-inch alloy wheels, and swish RS bucket seats upholstered in sustainable microfibre.
RSQ3 Sportback edition 10 years
The edition 10 years package is a €5990 ($9187) option in Germany. In Australia, the RSQ3 starts at $96,100, with the RSQ3 Sportback kicking off from $99,100 – prices exclude on-road costs.
Externally, the anniversary edition is distinguished by the option of Chronos Gray metallic paint (exclusive to the edition 10 years) or Dew Silver matte, the latter only recently becoming available on the RSQ3 in select markets.
There’s black 21-inch light alloy wheels, behind-which sit 19-inch high-performance brakes with Anthracite Gray polished brake calipers (red and blue also available). Audi continues to offer ceramic brakes as an option, featuring carbon-fibre-reinforced discs.
Audi has decked out the RSQ3 edition 10 years with plenty of black-themed add-ons too, including darkened Matrix LED headlight units, gloss black badging, and black accents for the front spoiler blades and rear diffuser insert.
Inside, the special edition gets exclusive RS bucket seats with matte carbon backing – used for the first time in an RSQ3.
The pews are upholstered in a leather/Dinamica microfibre combination with black/jet black colour scheme. The Dinamica trim, as noted earlier, is made from around 45 per cent recycled PET fibres, and also features on surfaces like the instrument panel.
Copper stitching features throughout – much like VW Group subsidiary Cupra – including on the seat inserts, centre armrest and the steering wheel. Interestingly, the RSQ3 edition 10 years offers round and flat-bottom steering wheel options.
Decorative inlays in carbon-fibre match the carbon-look display theme of the 10.1-inch MMI infotainment system, which also gets ‘1 of 555’ lettering. Rounding out the visual changes are edition-specific illuminated door sill trims that also project a red three-dimensional diamond onto the ground when opened.
Power comes from the familiar 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, boasting the same 294kW and 480Nm (2250-5850rpm) as the ‘standard’ RSQ3.
That grunt is channelled to a quattro permanent all-wheel drive system via a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Both the RSQ3 and RSQ3 Sportback quote 0-100 times of 4.5 seconds, and a top speed limited to 250km/h. However, the limiter can be raised to 280km/h “on request”.
The original RSQ3 developed 228kW when it was released 10 years ago, and was bumped to 250kW later in life.
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