Two of the world's hottest hatchbacks lock horns in the hands of Steve Sutcliffe - can the new Audi RS3 overthrow the Mercedes-AMG A45 S?

2022 Audi RS3 Sportback review: https://aex.ae/30VNElz
2022 Mercedes-AMG A45 S review: https://aex.ae/2PePt4y
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The new, 2022 Audi RS3 packs more of a punch than ever - and it needs to. Hot hatches have morphed into steroidal, four-wheel drive powerhouses, and topping the tree is the Mercedes-AMG A45 S, which costs almost £60,000, hits 62mph in under 4 seconds and deploys an explosive 416bhp to all four tyres.

On paper at least, the new RS3 is bang on the money. It's 22bhp down on the Mercedes, but it fights back with a trimmer 1,570kg kerb weight, a slightly faster 0-62mph time and a warbling 5-cylinder motor. Audi is promising that this is an RS3 for drivers to get properly stuck into, with a more serious chassis setup beneath that swollen bodywork. But can it beat the monstrous A45 S in a straight fight? Steve Sutcliffe gets behind the wheel to find out.

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