Vom Premium-Duft zum Fahrerlebnis: Der neue Audi RS 3 verführt mit Geruch nach Natur und Ursprünglichkeit

The latest Audi RS 3 exudes an aroma of "nature and authenticity"

A team of five chemists has assessed the scent of approximately 200 interior components. Yes, you heard that right…

Today's spotlight is on the revamped Audi RS 3. The folks from Ingolstadt have just unveiled the updates to their compact powerhouse, with the focus on the expected updates: Aesthetic tweaks, suspension refinements, a beefier exhaust note, and interior enhancements – the usual drill. However, there's a twist – the car is now designed to have a more appealing scent. Wait, what?

A few weeks ago, as I was heading to an interview, I found myself quite taken aback. Julia Winkler, a spokesperson for RS 3, shared with me that they are now placing increased emphasis on enhancing the scent experience within the car. It might sound odd at first, but let's face it: Most of us do judge the quality of a product by its smell, right?

Inexpensive compact cars often emit plastic fumes, which can be quite unpleasant. Conversely, the luxurious interiors of a Rolls-Royce or Bentley are so inviting that you may never want to leave. This is undoubtedly due to the way the expensive materials are pleasing to the sense of smell.

Initial Seating (and Smelling) Test in the New Audi RS 3

If Audi aspires to be considered "premium," it seems they now understand the importance of scent in conveying that image. Audi refers to this as "Quality that isn't visible but is always present." To ensure the aroma inside their vehicles meets their high standards, Audi has established specific guidelines. The fragrance that greets your nose is a combination of natural emissions from materials such as leather and the distinct smell of chosen polymers.

To prevent Audi customers from immediately expressing their dissatisfaction due to unpleasant odors, a range of quality control steps must be integrated into the manufacturing process. This starts with choosing the leather, selecting the tanning agents, and extends all the way to the final touches. Every component within the vehicle's interior, which totals around 200 per vehicle, undergoes a chemical evaluation. These parts are heated in a dedicated component chamber, after which the air inside the chamber is examined. This process takes about two to three hours for each component.

Once the inspection of each individual component is complete, the next step is to examine how they all function together within the car. This is where all the materials come into contact with each other and are expected to produce a pleasant aroma in unison. Moreover, this should hold true across varying climatic conditions, a detail that can be easily overlooked.

To mimic the heat experienced on hot summer days, external heat lamps are used. Following this, a panel of five chemists evaluates the resulting odors in terms of their type and strength. If these skilled professionals give their approval, then the discerning Audi customer is expected to be content as well.

Even though numerous manufacturers are quick to hop on the bandwagon of promoting vegan interiors for public relations benefits, real leather is still an option in the RS 3. For the Four Rings brand, it seems to be a critical aspect of quality, as they suggest that "the RS sport seats crafted from fine Nappa leather or the new RS bucket seats with a substantial amount of pearl Nappa leather, along with the standard leather steering wheel, exude a scent of nature and authenticity."

These new Audis likely have a pleasant smell too.

During my initial experience inside the updated RS 3, I can't say for certain that the essence of nature and authenticity was overwhelming, but one thing's for sure – it smelled fantastic. With a starting price of 66,000 euros for the hatchback version (and an additional 2,000 euros for the sedan), one would expect no less.

Photo Gallery: 2024 Audi RS 3 Sportback

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