Audi RS3 Saloon review: Racecar fun for the road

Some people say Audi design has become boring; formulaic even. We think it’s simply that the German brand has got its design language so on the money that there’s nothing left for the moaners to whinge about any more.

Besides, if anyone were to say the new Audi RS3 Saloon looks boring – especially in its brand new Viper Green coat of paint – then, well, they’d deserve a polite slap around the chops. Because, well, just look at it: this RS3 is one feisty motor, full of attitude, which joins the current (second-gen) Sportback in the company’s Racing Sport line-up. To hear its twin exhausts roar and burble is a whole other pleasure.

We adored the RS3 Sportback, having spent a week with one in 2015. It was like a cocktail of kid racer desire and company executive salary muddled together into a shot glass. The Saloon version takes things in a marginally different direction: it adds yet more power to the mix, plus that more exec-style body style, so think of it as the shaken martini: sophisticated yet powerful enough to make your legs go all wobbly. And then some.

Audi RS3 Saloon review: Design

Dressed in green it’s impossible to ignore, too. Every time we stopped at off-road destinations to take pictures people would stop to take a look and ask questions. That doesn’t happen with just any ol’ car. No doubt part of that is down to the paint job.

It might not be an everyday colour, but finished in a more day-to-day blue, white or red the RS3 Saloon looks great. Catch it from the wrong angle, however, and its bulging front wheel arches do resemble a hamster that’s tucked away a couple of spare carrots, but it’s not an angle you’ll often see outside of photography.

Based on the A3 Saloon, the RS3 model cranks everything up to 11 compared to that car’s more conventional design, mirroring the facelift design of the second-gen facelift RS3 Sportback. That means it’s got sharp, P-shaped headlights that squint alongside its hexagonal honeycomb grille. It’s a bold and brilliant look.

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While sharp lines dominate – such as the folds that lead down the side of the body – there are also softer lines to bring everything together, such as the bonnet lines which curl in towards the windscreen.

Being a Saloon, this RS3 looks a little less like it’s poised on its hind legs than the Sportback model. It’s more naturally proportioned to our eyes, despite not being the best-selling form that you’ll find on the UK’s hatchback-dominated roads.

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Sure, people can say Audi is being boring with design, but line this up next to a BMW M2, Mercedes AMG A45 and Ford Focus RS and we know which one we’d snap up. Yup, the Audi. And not solely because it’s the most expensive (and fastest) of the lot.

Audi RS3 Saloon review: Powerhaus

Which takes us to the unavoidable part of this review: paring down the spec and getting to grips with just how much power this RS beast offers.

Under that bright green bonnet is a 5-cylinder, 2.5-litre engine, capable of delivering a maximum 400bhp. It can fire from stationary to 62mph/100kmph in just 4.1-seconds – making it faster than the first-generation Audi R8 (but not quite as mad-fast as the latest R8 V10). Yep, it’s fast – a full two tenths of a second more so than the Sportback, showing progression in the series.

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It’s not the kind of power that’s just there to sound big, either. The RS3 Saloon really and truly delivers. Switch off traction control, plonk one foot firmly on the brake, then floor the accelerator and the car will hold 4,000rpm in its Launch Mode. Release the brake pedal and the rocket-launching power of this car will propel you down the road in a manner so fun that you’ll struggle not to laugh out loud in the sheer spectacle of it. It’s a racing car for the road.

As you can tell from our two-foot tale, the RS3 Saloon comes with an auto box. This 7-speed S-Tronic setup is gloriously smooth, making the connection between driver, car and road feel completely at one. There are also manual paddles mounted on the steering wheel, if you have the need to be extra quick on the changes.

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Joining the power output are (optional) ceramic brakes that are so capable of bringing the RS3 to a standstill it’s a million miles from your normal day-to-day drive. If you’re anything but the most gentle on that brake pedal then you’ll feel it right in your neck. When cornering at speed, however, a firm press ahead of riding the corner and then back onto the gas produces lines (and G-force) that you’d struggle to eke out of any other Saloon.

Driving around the smooth, mountainous roads of Oman for this two day test was an ideal setting to explore the open road at speed. And when there were other slow-moving trucks on the road, the foot-to-the-floor power form the RS3 made our overtaking endeavours easy.

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And for when things got too much, there’s cruise control and a Comfort engine setting to dull the otherwise considerable thrum that this sporty motor gives out.

Despite the RS3’s apparent day-to-day sensibility features, however, it’s impossible to start it up on the quiet: your neighbours are always going to know, no matter how far away you live from them. But if you want a car like this then, well, that’s only going to be something to be proud of.

Audi RS3 Saloon review: Interior and tech

Slinking down into the RS3 Saloon’s leather race-style seats makes for a comfortable place to be. It’s similar to the original Sportback, with some extra modernisation: there’s no turnkey here, for starters, with a keyless start/stop button bringing the Saloon more up to date, just like the Sportback facelift.

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There’s heaps of tech on show, from the pop-up multimedia screen to the centre (it’s hidden when the engine is off), through to the Virtual Cockpit screen beyond the driver’s wheel to keep track of everything that matters.

Avoiding the distracting nature of a touchscreen, Audi’s MMI system (which we explore more in detail in this separate feature) sees everything handled from a centre rotational dial, which doubles-up as a press button to confirm selections and jogwheel to jump back/forward in various screens. It means your eyes can be kept firmly on the road ahead.

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The Virtual Cockpit can present various features, whether the sat nav, G-force meter (oh how fun it is seeing how far that can be pushed – we hit 1.2G), engine data (power and torque percentages), media and phone. Jostling between these screens is handled via the steering wheel controls, using the up/down roller controls on both left and right sides. It keeps everything within easy reach, without complicating things.

There is a deeper menu which uses the main pop-up screen to navigate through, but once you’ve paired a phone, setup WiFi (if you have Audi Connect and a SIM on board the car), and so forth you won’t have loads of reason to go back into these deeper settings, leaving you free to turn up the tunes and hit the road. In this model we had the Audi sound system, but we suspect there will be higher-end options available at cost too.

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The interior trim is of Audi’s typical high quality – we particularly like the accent trim on the circular air vents. The carbon door inserts, however, seem superfluous to us – an unnecessary addition to a car already dripping in attitude without such extras.

In short, there’s abundant tech on offer here, without going overboard, all of which controllable at your fingertips or within a low-down arm’s reach. The one and only thing we’d like is cooled seats in addition to the heated options, oh and a subwoofer to pair with the otherwise serious soundsystem (exact details may change when the RS3 Saloon goes on sale in late 2017 – until then it’s only possible to register your interest, rather than fully spec-up your dream car).

Verdict

There’s no doubting that the RS3 Saloon has all the hallmarks of a petrolhead’s dreams. It’s ultra-powerful, with features like the 0-62mph in 4.1-seconds Launch Mode adding to the giddy-with-excitement feature.

Despite its racing credentials, however, it is almost oddly practical: there’s cruise control, it’s responsive under braking, you can pootle along casually, too, smug in the knowledge that no BMW or Merc on the road will be able to outsmart you for on-tap speed or agility.

Ok, so the roar of that 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder engine can’t be truly dumbed down, but why would you want to? Such sound is one of the sheer joys in owning a car such as this.

The Saloon model might not sell by the bucket load in the UK, especially with a price tag that’s likely to be upwards of £45k at base level (think £55k after throwing in the abundant tech package and more besides), but as lottery win cars go this joy machine is further up the desirability list than a BMW M2 or Merc AMG A45.

If you’ve got the money and want racecar fun for the roads then this Audi has to go on your shortlist. Certainly not one for everyone, but a head-turner that’ll attract way beyond just the kid racers of this world.

The Morning After: Thursday, March 23rd 2017

Hey, good morning!

Welcome to your Thursday morning. Now relax: we tap technology for ways to relax and decompress, get excited by Netflix’s next big budget project, and learn how Google is trying to make location sharing happen. Again.

Because unplugging isn’t always realistic.Adult Week: Finding inner peace (with help from your smartphone)

Technology is draining. Social media networks are programmed to make you come back for more, always swiping to refresh, like and post. You are constantly on your PC, your smartphone, your TV. You fall asleep to Netflix or reading Twitter as it spits up funny gifs or more bad news. It can wear you down. So what did Mat Smith do? What should you do? Those are probably different answers. There’s no shortage of introductory guides to meditation, relaxation podcasts and devices that promise to help or offer relief, but here are some things to start with.

The new iPad cuts corners, but it’s hard to complain at that price.Apple hopes cheap, not powerful, will turn around iPad sales

Apple has been trying to reverse declining iPad sales for several years now, without much success. For the past year and a half, that strategy could be summed up in one word: more. More power, more screen real estate, more accessories. And more money. Its new iPad, however, is cheaper. It might be what the company needs to get the many people who bought iPads three or four years ago to upgrade.

Update ASAP.Critical LastPass bugs identified that could leak passwords or worse

Using a password manager is a convenient way to not only keep track of logins but make sure they’re all unique. That’s key to keeping accounts safe in a world where billion-account databases are available on the dark web, but it does rely on the app remaining secure. Google Project Zero researcher Tavis Ormandy identified a few bugs in extensions for LastPass that could allow someone to steal a target’s passwords, or in some cases run code on their computer.

The company quickly responded to deal with the issues, so any users should make sure they’re patched up (and using two-factor authentication in addition to unique passwords, or perhaps another manager that works separately from the browser like KeePass.)

Let your friends know exactly where you are when you’re running late.Google Maps’ location-sharing feature is one you might actually use

Google has been busy beefing up Maps recently. Beyond just using it for turn-by-turn directions, you can now use Maps to remember where you parked, find reviews for nearby restaurants and avoid heavily congested areas. This week, it added location-sharing. With just a few taps in the app, you can now share your real-time location with friends and family. It’s a feature that can be handy for when you’re running late to an appointment or if you simply want your buddies to keep tabs on your whereabouts.

You’re paying a premium for the S Pen and an HDR display.Review: The Galaxy Tab S3 is good, but not $600 good

The Galaxy Tab S3 has a promising list of features, including its HDR-friendly screen, quad-speaker array, included S Pen and powerful processor. And they mostly work as touted. Its colorful and sharp display, coupled with loud audio, makes for satisfying multimedia consumption. It’s also a responsive machine and lasts more than 11 hours on a charge. But the Tab S3 and its companion keyboard, which costs an extra $130, aren’t good enough for intensive typing and multitasking.

It can fix your finicky left Joy-Con with a bit of conductive foam.Nintendo cites ‘manufacturing variation’ for Joy-Con issues

Since the Switch started to show up in gamer’s homes, some have been complaining about issues with its wireless Joy-Cons. Problems with losing connection, particularly on the left one, have plagued some enough to attempt DIY fixes, but Nintendo says a “manufacturing variation” is to blame for the issue. The company added that it’s figured out a “simple fix” for anyone with affected Joy-Cons to improve patchy connectivity. It seems to involve a spot of conductive foam.

Finally‘Super Mario Run’ for Android is here

If you were expecting to see Nintendo’s new mobile game on Android today, then surprise — it’s already out. No matter what platform you play on, Super Mario Run is updated to version 2.0 with new character choices and more. It’s free to try, so grab it on Google Play and find out why iOS players spent $53 million bucks on the game in January.

BelieveGoogle plans faster updates for all Android phones in 2017

Once again, Google says it’s prioritizing updates for Android devices. The platform has historically struggled with slow rollouts of updates to many devices, limiting features and current security patches to a small group. To turn that around, Google says it’s giving manufacturers more data on how each one is doing with rollouts and it’s reducing the size of patches. Already, it claims 78 percent of flagship devices were current with security updates at the end of 2016 — hopefully, that trend continues to spread this year.

But wait, there’s more…

• Here’s our first look at Netflix’s big budget ‘Death Note’ remake
• Apple has acquired Workflow, an app that runs multi-step, multi-app tasks from iOS devices
• ‘Castlevania’ successor ‘Bloodstained’ is coming to the Switch (but not the Wii U)
• Adult Week: I love my child too much to put her on the internet

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t subscribe.

Strap this wearable to your head for better rest, less stress, and fast relaxation

Why it matters to you

Who doesn’t want to sleep better and quickly get rid of stress? The new Thync Relax Pro wearable will help you achieve those goals.

Thync, the company behind the fascinating neurostimulation wearable of the same name, is back, and this time it’s only concerned with helping us relax. The original Thync, which was worn on the forehead, can be used to stimulate the brain to either help us calm down or increase focus at a time when it’s needed. The new Thync Relax Pro uses enhanced technology based on the original version, but only for the purposes of promoting relaxation and good sleep.

The new Thync module attaches to the back of your neck, using disposable electrode pads, and is controlled by a smartphone app. There are two modes, Thync Deep Relax and Thync Deep Sleep. It uses low-level electrical stimulation patterns to manipulate your body into lowering stress, improving your mood, and boosting the quality of sleep.

More: Our review of the original Thync

We met with Thync CEO Isy Goldwasser last year for a sneak preview of a device called the Thync Relax. The Thync Relax Pro takes essentially the same neurostimulation app modes we tried at the time, and links them to a more compact wearable module that’s closer to the original design. Goldwasser told us at the time that most people using Thync chose the programs that relaxed them over those that boosted energy and focus. Making a Thync product dedicated to that makes sense.

If you’re concerned about strapping an electrical device to your head and letting it send some stimulating waves through your brain, don’t worry — the technology is safe and has been used for many years, with almost no side effects at all. In our experience with Thync and the prototype Thync Relax, we found that it really works.

Thync has revised its pricing strategy with the Relax Pro. You pay $150 up front for the device, and then $30 each month to access the app and receive the Thync Pad packs. These contain the electrodes that make the Thync work, and are really only good for one or two uses before they need replacing.

We’re confirming the release date, and where it’ll be available. We’ll provide an update here when we have all the details.

Galaxy S8 leak reveals gold model + U.S. branding

It says ‘Galaxy S8’ on the back.

Prominent leaker Evan Blass continues to lay bare the Samsung Galaxy S8 ahead of next week’s announcement. This morning we’re getting a look at the GS8 in gold, in addition to a fresh perspective on the grey and black models. Behold!

Blass also reveals the branding for the U.S. versions of the phone which — surprise! — has additional Galaxy branding in addition to the Samsung logo up top.

The most interesting thing about these late-breaking leaks is what they show us about the front face of the phone. Earlier GS8 images have revealed colored front panels, whereas these suggest Samsung is sticking with a black border top and bottom. It’s an understandable move given the large number of cutouts required for cameras and sensors. But this does leave us wondering if other colors — like the blue we keep seeing — may be different.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

• Latest Galaxy S8 rumors!
• Galaxy S8 announcement coming March 29 in NYC
• Galaxy S8 release date set for April 28
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

Fossil bets the house on smartwatches and hybrids, adds Instagram watch faces for 2017

With the Baselworld watch trade show in Switzerland now in full swing, we fully expect plenty of Android Wear 2.0 and other connected smartwatches to be announced. Most of them will come from the Fossil Group, it seems.

Fossil has its own-branded smartwatches, but also manufacturers watches for other fashion labels, including Michael Kors, Armani, DKNY and Kate Spade). That’s why its Baselworld press events tend to be longer than most.

It announced in this year’s conference that it will not only releasing two new Fossil Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches, but devices in collaboration with Diesel, Emporio Armani, Misfit and Michael Kors. They will all appear from around late-summer to Christmas 2017.

• When is Android Wear 2.0 coming to my smartwatch?
• Best smartwatches 2017: The best smart wristwear available to buy today

The latter brand is interesting as part of its make-up includes the ability to use Instagram as the background to the watch face. That means you can have your face reflect your Instagram feed and therefore change automatically. This will be popular, no doubt, among heavy social media users.

Smart move by Fossil to add dedicated @instagram app for its Kors smartwatches. Can load Instagram photos as watch face. #Baselworld2017 pic.twitter.com/8zuNbXu8ye

— Ben Wood (@benwood) March 23, 2017

Fossil’s own watches, the Q Venture and Q Explorist, will be available from “Fall 2017” and be the company’s “slimmest smartwatches yet”.

All the Android Wear devices will have round AMOLED displays and run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor. They will all be compatible with iOS as well and Android smartphones.

As well as Android Wear devices, Fossil will also make all of its analogue watches hybrid going forward. That means they will have some smart functionality, including notifications.

It boasts that it will make more than 300 connected watch styles across 14 brands throughout the year.

Wells Fargo activates cardless withdrawals for all its ATMs

Wells Fargo’s pilot trial for cardless withdrawals must have gone well, because the bank is rolling out the feature to all of its 13,000 ATMs across the country. The company debuted the feature in select ATMs earlier this year. Starting on March 27th, though, you can withdraw cash from any of the bank’s machines using only your smartphone. You’ll have to request an eight-digit code from the Wells Fargo app to punch into the machine along with your PIN code every time you want to withdraw money. Take note, however, that the code can only be used once and won’t be enough to open some branches’ secure doors during non-business hours — you’ll still need your card for that.

“Security certainly was a big aspect of the cardless feature and the two-step identification helps reduce the risk of fraud,” Jonathan Velline, Wells Fargo’s head of ATM, said. He added that the mobile transactions will prevent scammers from skimming customers’ cards, as well. The company said it plans to roll out an update later this year that will make the process even easier. When that feature arrives, you won’t even have to request a code: you’ll only have to hold up your phone to a reader on the machine to get your money.

Source: Reuters, CBS SF Bay Area

Fossil will give you 300 new smartwatch options in 2017

Fossil swore that it would introduce smartwatches across all its brands, and it’s definitely making good on that promise… although the result is a tad overwhelming. The company has announced that it’s launching 300 (!) hybrid and touchscreen styles in 2017, and that includes brands that are both introducing their very first wearables as well as veterans jumping into the Android Wear arena. When all is said and done, most of Fossil’s labels will have at least some kind of smartwatch on store shelves. We won’t go into every single model (do you have a few hours?), but there are some definite highlights.

Among the Android watches, you’ll see first-time entries from Diesel (shown at left) and Emporio Armani. Fossil itself is introducing two slimmer and “feature-packed” models (the Q Venture and Q Explorist), while Michael Kors is introducing the Access Grayson (men) and Access Sofie (women) with a “microapp” that uses Instagram photos for your watch face. All of these entries (including the previously unveiled Misfit Vapor) will use Android Wear 2.0, AMOLED displays and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, so your purchasing decision really comes down to the look you prefer. Both Misfit and Emporio will be first out of the gate with late summer launches, while the other brands will ship their offerings in the fall or holiday season.

Things get much more crowded when it comes to more conventional-looking hybrid watches. DKNY, Marc Jacobs, Michele, Relic and Tory Burch are all introducing their first wearables, and Fossil will introduce two hybrids (the Q Accomplice and Q Activist) with customizable pushers and slimmer cases. Existing brands are adding new colors and styles, too. Fossil will start things off with a summer launch, and the rest should be widely available in the fall or the holidays.

Prices and device-to-device differences will have to wait, unfortunately. However, it’s already clear that Fossil is treating smartwatches much as it does any other fashion piece in its catalog: it’s covering virtually every potential wearer’s exact tastes, no matter how niche. That could make it ideal if you’re annoyed by the narrow selections from most rival smartwatch makers, but it might also lead to some confusion if you aren’t dead set on a particular model.

Source: Fossil Group

Google Photos and Duo App Updates Coming For Users in Low Connectivity Areas

Google announced a couple of notable updates for its Duo and Photos apps yesterday at the company’s São Paulo event, where it pitched the features as ideal solutions for users in Brazil who live in low connectivity areas.

Google Photos received two new features to make photo backup and sharing easier when using the app in locations with poor network coverage.

Photos now backs up images in a lightweight preview quality that Google says “still looks great on a smartphone” and can be easily shared over poor connections. When a good Wi-Fi connection does become available, the backed up photos are automatically replaced with high quality versions.

We’re also making it easier to share many photos at once even on low connectivity. Never mind if you’re at the beach or hiking in the mountains, with Google Photos you can now share pictures quickly even with a spotty connection by sending first in low resolution so friends and family can view them right away. They’ll later update in higher resolution when connectivity permits.

Video calling app Duo gained an audio-only calling feature that users can switch to when an internet connection is poor. The features for both apps are available in Brazil from today, and Google says it will be rolling them out to users around the world in the coming days.

Yesterday, Google also announced a new feature for Maps that lets users share their real-time locations with friends and family.

Tags: Google, Brazil, Google Photos, Duo
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Leaked render shows off the Moto G5 in stunning blue

The Moto G5 is getting a new color option.

Motorola launched the Moto G5 in grey and gold color options, and it looks like the company will launch a blue color variant. Renders of the blue version — which will be called Blue Sapphire — were leaked earlier today by Ronald Quandt of WinFuture, showcasing a device that looks far more attractive than the two colors currently available.

Other than the new hue, there won’t be any changes in the internal hardware, with the blue color options also sporting a 5-inch Full HD panel, Snapdragon 430 SoC, 2GB/3GB of RAM, 16GB/32GB storage, 13MP camera, 5MP front shooter, and a 2800mAh battery. The renders suggest a launch is imminent (the date on the widget shows April 3), so it’s likely we’ll hear more from Motorola sometime next week.

What we do know is that the Moto G5 won’t be coming to the U.S., so the best chance of seeing the blue color option in the country is to hope that Motorola launches the G5 Plus in a similar hue.

Xiaomi’s $90 Redmi 4A is going up for sale on Amazon India

The first Redmi 4A sale kicks off at 12 p.m. IST on Amazon India.

The Redmi 4A is Xiaomi’s most affordable phone to date in India, offering decent specs for ₹5,999 ($90). The phone will be going up for sale for the first time later today, March 23 at 12 p.m. IST, on Amazon India.

To recount, the Redmi 4A offers a 5-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 425 SoC, 13 MP camera, 5MP front camera, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, microSD slot, and a 3120mAh battery. The phone is available in Dark Grey (which isn’t dark or grey but in fact blue) and Gold color options, and Xiaomi will start selling the Rose Gold variant on Mi.com starting April 6.

Xiaomi Redmi 4A hands-on

Amazon India is incentivizing the launch of the Redmi 4A by providing a 10% cashback offer to IndusInd Bank customers. You’ll also get ₹50 off of official Mi cases, and a ₹200 promotional credit toward Kindle purchases. If you’re an Idea Cellular customer and are looking to pick up the device, you’ll be eligible to receive 28GB of data (limited to 1GB a day) with a ₹343 recharge.

Interested? Head to the link below at 12 p.m. to get your hands on the Redmi 4A.

See at Amazon India