Audi S3
The all-new Audi S3 has been revealed.
Available in both Sportback and Saloon variants, the new car boasts a sub-five second century sprint time and all-wheel-drive. Together with an S-specific suspension, it can deploy its 306bhp output even more effectively on challenging roads.
CHARACTERISTIC DESIGN
The front of the car is dominated by a Singleframe grille with a large rhombus-pattern and air inlets. The car is embellished by LED head lights with LED daytime running lights, or upgraded Matrix LED units in the Vorsprung models.
Audi S3 Saloon.
A pronounced shoulder line extends from the headlights to the tail-lights, below which the body curves inwards – a new Audi design element that places a stronger emphasis on the wheel arches. Aluminium door mirror surrounds confirm the car’s position as an S Series.
At the rear, a large diffuser and four trademark exhaust tailpipes round out the S3’s dynamic design.
A POWERFUL DRIVE
A turbocharged 2-litre engine with 306bhp and 400Nm lets the Audi S3 Sportback and Saloon dispatch the zero to 100km/h sprint in just 4.8 seconds.
10.1-inch display houses the Audi MMI infotainment unit.
The engine’s high-tech features include the Audi valvelift system, which adjusts the lift of the intake valves as required to ensure optimum combustion chamber filling.
This is coupled with comprehensive thermal management measures to help deliver a balance between exuberance and efficiency.
The engine is paired with a 7-speed S tronic (dual-clutch) gearbox, which combines rapid gearchanges and a de-coupling function (freewheeling) for enhanced efficiency.
DYNAMIC SUSPENSION
The Audi S3 sits 15mm lower to the ground compared to the regular A3. It is also equipped with a four-link rear axle and progressive steering.
As always, where the S badge appears, so does quattro all-wheel-drive. The Audi S3 utilises a hydraulic multi-plate clutch to distribute torque between the front and rear axles as required.
The brake discs of the Audi S3 are internally ventilated. The front callipers are painted black as standard, but can be finished in red as an option.
UK-bound S3 Sportback and Saloon models have 18-inch graphite grey alloy wheels as standard, and 19-inch gloss black wheels in both Vorsprung versions.
PURPOSEFUL INTERIOR
The cabin of the Audi S3 features Sport seats finished in Fine Nappa leather.
All-wheel-drive is paired with a seven-speed S tronic gearbox for lightning-fast gear shifts.
Audi’s MMI is housed within a 10.1-inch black panel touch-screen display. The infotainment system can recognise letters entered by hand, provides acoustic feedback, and can also be voice-controlled.
It is powered by the third generation modular infotainment platform, which endows it with 10 times more computing power than its predecessor. All of its connectivity features are delivered at LTE Advanced speed.
A fully digital, 10.25-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit provides crisply rendered information, while S3 Vorsprung models come with Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus. This 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offers three different layouts for the driver to choose from.
Connectivity between the new Audi S3 and the user’s smartphone can be done using the myAudi app, as well as via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the Audi Phone Box, which is a standard feature of S3 Vorsprung models.
Audi Phone Box conveniently links the smartphone to the vehicle’s aerial while also charging it inductively.
Audi Singapore expects the new S3 models to arrive in Singapore in the first half of 2021.
But if its an SUV you are looking for, perhaps you might be more interested in the Audi Q3 Sportback we recently tested?
Read our review of the previous Audi S3 here
The Audi RS3 takes on the Mercedes-AMG A45 in this Group Test
