This is one to get performance enthusiasts’ hearts racing. A strictly limited new RS 3 variant that celebrates five decades of the award-winning five-cylinder engine in the best way possible. A pure driver’s machine, just 750 examples of the RS 3 competition limited will be available worldwide, making it a hot ticket item for collectors and those drawn to the brand’s RS models.

This special edition is based on the current Audi RS 3 models, but features special elements throughout that set it apart – visually, specialist interior, equipment and driving dynamics. Extensive use of matte carbon elements enhance the race-bred image, with wing mirror covers, side skirts and the rear spoiler all finished in matte carbon. Likewise, the two new canards, or aerodynamic winglets attached to the front assembly and the split front lip also get the carbon treatment and make the car look even lower and wider, only adding to the aggressive stance of the current models.

Darkened Matrix LED headlights are unique to the competition limited, and when locking or unlocking the car, the segments within the light illuminate in a special 1-2-4-5-3 pattern – paying homage to the special firing sequence of the five-cylinder engine, which underpins the performance and has been such a mainstay of many of the brand’s motorsport endeavours over the past 50 years.

The RS 3 competition limited will be available as both a Sedan and a Sportback, both riding on 19-inch wheels with ten cross spokes pattern finished in a distinctive Neodymium gold matte.

Also subtle but significant for Audi sport aficionados, the RS badging on the front mesh grille and the rear panel are finished in traditional race colours rather than the usual red rhombus design. The limited models are also offered in three colours, with Daytona grey and a new colour called Glacier white as well as the exclusive Malachite green finish which harks back to the Audi Sport quattro and the halcyon days of rallying with the five-cylinder powerplant.

A special interior has also been developed for the competition limited, with a unique colour palette of black, Neodymium gold (as per the wheels), and Ginger white setting it apart. The door lights project the RS 3 competition limited logo onto the road and that same logo appears on floor mats, the headrest on the RS bucket front seats and even on the boot carpet. Those front seats are a work of art in themselves, with their large matte carbon backs and bolsters covered in black leather, while the centres are finished in Dinamica microfibre in Neodymium gold. The icing here is the contrasting stitching in Ginger white, with the same colour scheme and finish carried on in the rear seats.

The cockpit is clean and functional as you would expect from a performance-oriented model of this calibre, but boasts a number of special touches specifically for the competition limited models.

Up front, the driver is served by a 10.1-inch touch display to stay abreast of vehicle systems and outputs, including the RS-specific information including engine and transmission oil temperatures, brakes, tyre pressure and temperatures, coolant temperature and the torque splitter.

The racing steering wheel which is flattened at the top and bottom is finish in black Dinamica with the contrasting Ginger white stitching around the outside and a white marker at the top to indicate the central position.

Even the dials in the virtual cockpit have been customised for the competition limited, finished in white as a nod to the dial colour of the original Audi RS2 Avant from 1994 – the first RS to feature the five-cylinder engine.

In addition to the speed and nacho there are also displays indicating power and torque outputs, as well as G forces, acceleration and lap times for those wanting to put their RS 3 competition limited to the track test, and to that end, the launch control sequence features starting lights to indicate the optimum time to launch.

The same laser cut treatment on the door panels has also been used here and adapted to the special colour treatment and the overall impression is sharper and clean. A simple quattro badge adorns the passenger side of the dash and because of the strictly limited production of this model, each vehicle also carries an exclusive build number out of 750 on the centre console.

As spectacular as the exterior and interior packages are, there fundamental appeal of the RS 3 competition limited lies in its iconic five-cylinder powerplant and the revised driving dynamics of the car. Featuring the multi-award winning 2.5-litre inline five-cylinder engine, it delivers 294kW of power and a cool 500Nm of torque – hitting 100km/h in 3.8 seconds on its way to its top speed of 290km/h.

The distinctive snarl of the five-cylinder due to the aforementioned firing pattern is further accentuated by the standard RS sports exhaust system which features fully variable flap control which enhances the glorious sound. Added to that, reduced insulation around the firewall brings more of the engine noise into the cabin making the most of the distinctive engine note. Naturally power goes down to the road through Audi quattro all-wheel drive and for the first time, the Audi RS 3 features coilover suspension specially developed and tuned for the RS 3 competition. It also features a new rear stabiliser, and, working with the torque splitter and the standard ceramic brakes, makes for a handling package truly worthy of the venerable five-cylinder drivetrain.

The three-way adjustable dampers are made of stainless steel up front and aluminium on the rear for maximum stiffness, while increased volume allows for better fluid cooling. 

The front units also feature external reservoirs and this superior cooling makes for more consistent performance even under high loads for extended periods. The rear also feature larger diameter damper tubes with thicker piston rods than the ‘standard’ RS 3 models, providing greater rigidity.

As was the case with the Audi RS 4 Avant and RS 5 Sportback competition special editions, owners will be able to adjust high and low-speed compression as well as rebound using specially provided tools, allowing them to tailor the car’s characteristics to perfectly suit the conditions and their driving style – whether that be dedicated track work or greater comfort for long trips.

In addition to the minute adjustments available on the dampers, a new, thicker diameter stabiliser bar also delivers greater stability to the rear. With a stiffness of 85 Newtons/millimetre (N/mm), it is stiffer than on the standard RS 3 models and in addition, the spring rates at the back have been increased to 80 N/mm to match. 

This means that the RS 3 competition limited serves up the perfect combination of directional stability and agility – not to mention safety – when accelerating out of a high-speed corner.

It’s a true performance package where every aspect has been designed to maximise the RS 3’s ability – from the design and aero elements, to the exquisite engine, suspension, torque splitter and brake torque vectoring. This strictly limited edition model will prove irresistible to performance enthusiasts and serves as a fitting tribute to Audi Sport’s awe-inspiring five-cylinder engine that was the driving force and the soundtrack to so many of the team’s successes.

Australian pricing and estimated launch timings were yet to be confirmed at time of writing. Likewise the exact number and makeup of the RS 3 competition limited models heading for Australia were not yet confirmed, but with just 750 available globally, this will be a rare beats indeed when it arrives.