Audi's five door flagbearer

Turbocharged RS3 uses the same 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that powers the TT RS. Photo / Supplied

Audi has given the A3 a lift late in its life cycle with the RS3 Sportback, a five-door flyer aimed at the family who lives life in the fast lane.

The hatchback-ish model overtakes the three-door S3 as the flagship of the A3 fleet - at least until the MarkIII line-up appears in 2013.

In terms of performance, Audi's first RS3 also leaves the S3 in the dust thanks to the use of the same 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that powers the TT RS.

The turbocharged unit delivers 250kW at 6800rpm and 450Nm from 1600rpm, compared with 188kW/330Nm from the S3's 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Power goes to all four wheels via Audi's seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission, which offers two automatic modes and one manual mode. Rowing the RS3 along in manual is done with either steering wheel paddles or the gear lever.

The quattro all-wheel-drive uses a viscous-coupled Haldex system to distribute power between the front and rear axles exactly as required.

The RS3 weighs in at 1575kg, about 60kg heavier than the S3. For the Sportback, Audi claims a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 4.6sec, using the brisk launch control mode. It's the same time as the TT RS, although the TT RS uses a six-speed dual clutch.

Top speed for the RS3 is a governed 250km/h. The car's official fuel consumption is 9.1 litres/100km (31mpg), with a CO2 exhaust emissions rating of 212gr/km. Efficiency is further improved by energy recovery under deceleration and an on-demand oil pump, says Audi.

The engine's soundtrack is a "guttural roaring and growling", courtesy of the off-beat five-cylinder rhythm and a sound flap in the exhaust, operated along with the engine response via a "Sport" button and designed to intensify the sound.

The RS3 rides on 19-inch alloys shod with wider 235/35-series tyres at the front than the 225/35 rears. Ride height is 25mm lower thanks to shorter, stiffer coil springs and dampers.

Audi also says it has fitted high-strength steel control arms in the front suspension, presumably to better cope with the more ferocious engine output.

A new switchable sport mode in the stability control programme apparently replaces the variable damping system.

The RS3 uses flared carbon fibre-reinforced plastic front quarter panels to wrap around its wider wheel tracks. Its front bumper is deeper than that of the S3 and, at the rear, a chromed strip tops a lower bumper diffuser.

The RS3 will be available in New Zealand about the middle of next year. No prices yet but expect a choice of five exterior colours.