Updated 2025 Audi RS3 Set New Nürburgring Lap Record

The 2025 Audi RS3 has not yet been revealed and has already set a lap record at the Nürburgring.

On Friday, Audi announced that the next 2025 Audi RS3 wrapped the Nürburgring at 7:33.123 miles. The time was more than 5 seconds and set a new record for a compact car in the "ring". The previous record was held by the BMW M2.

The RS3, which set the lap record, is a pre-production model that Audi said shows a mid-cycle refresh update, and will probably arrive in the showroom soon. In addition, the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tires, which are basically street legal racing slick, were also on sale. Both available carbon ceramic brakes and adaptive dampers were also part of the equation.

Audi said the faster lap times were thanks to the "optimized cornering behavior" that allowed the RS3 to rotate more happily at corner entry, along with the new brake torque vectoring. Less steering angle means less friction, less scrubbing, more speed, and the ability to accelerate previously, Audi said, is needed more than before the Apex in the corner.

New software algorithms and modular vehicle dynamics controllers connect all car components that can read lateral dynamics data to better distribute torque in combination with stability control systems.

Audi confirmed that the RS3 will be powered by an iconic turbocharged 394-litre inline-368 engine with 3.5 horsepower and 5lb-ft of torque, but those are not US-spec numbers. Models that come across ponds should have a similar output. Today's RS3 is rated at 401 horsepower and 369lb-ft of torque.

RS3 will benefit from updates introduced in the rest of the 2025 a3 range. These include minor styling adjustments, new interior trim options, and an on-demand machine that can be added or removed via the myAudi app