Our editor, Scott Hayes, spent a morning at the Killarney race track in Cape Town, swapping seats between Audi’s current range of RS models. His focus, however, was squarely on the latest addition to the RS family, namely the new Audi RS 3 Sportback.

Audi’s range of models and derivatives continues to grow as a result of their mission to become “the number one premium brand” by 2020. As of June 2011, Audi’s global sales was up 17.7 percent over the same period in 2010. Locally, the A4 is showing strong demand, together with the new A1 premium compact hatch, which has exceeded Audi’s sales expectations since its introduction in March. All is well at Audi it seems, but there’s a question that’s beginning to be asked more often, and that is: is Audi at risk of diluting their brand?

It’s a question that can be asked on two levels, firstly from a styling point of view, as the gap between parent company Volkswagen and Audi’s cars becomes narrower, and secondly, from a prestige point of view, as the increasing number of models could impact perceptions of exclusivity.

I don’t have the answer to that question and right now it’s not important, because I’ve just spent a morning at the Killarney race track in Cape Town, swapping seats between Audi’s current range of RS models (see our reviews of the Audi RS 5 and Audi TT RS). My focus, however, is squarely on the latest addition to the RS family, namely the new Audi RS3 Sportback.

Low, wide and aggressive, the Audi RS3 could not be mistaken for any other model, even the similarly shaped RS 6 Avant. Deeper bumpers and xenon headlights with integrated LEDs, mark out the front end, while trademark matt aluminium-look wing mirrors, flared wheel arches – housing 19-inch alloys – and deep side sills, distinguish the profile. At the rear, there is a gloss black diffuser, twin tailpipes and a neat spoiler hanging above the rear hatch.

The interior gets the ‘RS package’, meaning the flat bottomed RS steering wheel, a set of Recaro-based bucket seats, Quattro/RS 3 badging, Nappa leather, aluminium trimming and the usual Audi MMI entertainment setup, together with black dials, white numbers and red needles for the driver’s instrumentation. It’s all very comfortable, sporty and well put together.

So lets get to the numbers. The Audi RS 3 Sportback has five doors. It weighs a relatively hefty 1 575 kg, even with the flared front fenders being molded from weight-saving Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP). Its engine has five cylinders, one turbocharger, displaces 2.5-litres and generates 450 Nm of twist between 1 600 and 5 300 r/min. It also produces peak power of 250 kW between 5 400 and 6 500 r/min and it will hit 100 km/h from a standing start in a decidedly nippy 4.6 seconds. As with all RS models, for a ‘small fee’, the speed limiter can be removed, which will see the top speed raised to 280 km/h – an option which 90 percent of Audi RS 5 owners specify according to Audi South Africa.

Audi claim fuel consumption of 9.1 L/100km and emissions of 212 g/km, but you’ll see nothing near that when stretching the 5-pot’s legs. Quattro permanent all-wheel drive, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, substantial 370 mm front brake discs, suspension that’s 25 mm lower than a normal A3 and 25 percent stiffer than even the S3, serve to equip the RS 3 with all it needs to be blisteringly quick.

Pulling onto Cape Town’s race circuit in one of only 54 RS 3s that will land in South Africa this year, the RS3′s mid-range surge is immediately apparent. With the car set in ‘S’ mode, the throttle response is sharper and an exhaust valve opens to let out the 5-cylinder’s growl. As the revs climb rapidly, the standard-fit ‘S tronic’ transmission executes rapid-fire shifts that momentarily break the engine’s fantastic sound track with its hint of old-school Audi Quattro in upper echelons of the rev range.

With such feverish acceleration it’s not long before you need to call on those dinner-plate sized brake discs and their RS-badged calipers to slow you down. The Audi RS 3 Sportback is fitted with the latest Continental ContiSportContact™ 5P high-performance tyres, (235/35 R19 in front and 225/35 R19 at the rear), and together with drive through all four wheels, the RS3 corners with more than just tenacity. As with most Audis, it has that characteristic push at the nose, so yes, you need to exercise some patience on turn-in to avoid unwanted understeer, but from the apex to the exit, the RS3 positively claws its way onto the straights.

Having driven the car exclusively on the race track, one can’t help feel that on the road, when the speed and excitement of the track is but a pleasant memory, that the RS 3 may suffer from a noticable shortage of dynamic character. In other words, it’s a hard car to derive satisfaction from, with its somewhat impassive steering and a chassis, that while very capable, may lack the level of communication that excites on a twisty back road. Hit a corner carrying too much speed, lift off the throttle and the RS 3 simply grips – no hint of drama, no danger and, ultimately, little in the way of excitement.

Still, at R525 000, the RS 3 has few, if any, competitors that can haul a family of five and all the paraphernalia for a day out at the beach, with such irreverent speed. And, as a final hurrah for the A3 with a new model just around the corner, the Audi RS 3 adds some renewed interest to the aging A3 line up and shows that there is still some life in the chassis. Audi have taught their old A3 some impressive new tricks and for that I like it.

Pricing includes a 1-year/Unlimited Km warranty and 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan.