The new Audi S3 Sedan and S3 Sportback produce 310hp

By topgear, 14 August 2020

Time was, you’d need something like a 911 or M3 to get sub-five second 0-100km/h times. Now you just need a 2.0-litre turbocharged small Audi, here revealed in S3 Sportback and S3 Sedan varieties.

Both new cars offer more than enough performance for the daily: 0-100km/h takes just 4.8s, and top speed for both is limited to 250km/h. This comes courtesy of that 2.0-litre turbo four-pot, offering 310hp and 400Nm of torque. It features such hits as Audi’s valve lift system, and “comprehensive thermal management measures” (ie, it’ll keep itself very cool which right now sounds welcome).

The engine’s hooked up to a standard-fit 7spd S tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and of course, quattro four-wheel drive. Audi claims 7.2l/100km is possible, while both cars emit 178g/km of CO2.

The S3’s been dropped by 15mm over its regular A3 cousin, gets S-specific suspension with a few modes, ventilated front and rear brake discs, and 18in wheels, or 19s for the ‘Vorsprung’ cars.

Naturally both cars are longer and wider than the outgoing S3, offer some boot space (370 litres in the Sedan, 325/1,145 in the Sportback), fancy new leather sports seats, a 10.1in touchscreen display and Audi’s really quite amazing digital Virtual Cockpit. Other things are on offer too – MMI Nav Plus, CarPlay, Android Auto, driver assists, etc.

Looks? It looks… like a fast Audi. Big, shouty grille, aggressive air intakes on the front spoiler, fancy LED lights, a “pronounced shoulder line” underneath which the body curves a little inwards, to make the arches stand out a tad, and aluminium surrounds on the mirrors. Oh, and a big rear diffuser and four exhaust pipes.

Reckon you'll be getting enough grille for your money?

STORY Vijay Pattni

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