Audi S3 2012 News

It will hit the showrooms priced at $59,900 and powered by a 2.0 TFSI engine that develops 206kW and 380Nm, shooting it from rest to 100kmh in a rapid 5.0sec. Also on the positive side of the ledger is fuel efficiency rated at 6.9 litres per 100km. The sporty six-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive system combine to offer enthusiasts an engaging drive. Compared to its predecessor, the latest generation S3 Sportback is 70kg lighter thanks to ultra lightweight technology. The accessible price tag doesn't mean lean features with the S3 Sportback scoring xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights, MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, Audi parking system plus: park assist, front and rear sensors with rear view camera, 18-inch alloy wheels, 'S' specific body kit, 'S' exhaust system with quad tailpipes, 'S' sports suspension, sport seats in fine Nappa leather and heating for front seats, Audi music interface, Bluetooth interface with music streaming, dual-zone climate control with digital display and rear air vents, leather-wrapped, multi-function flat-bottom steering wheel. Optional packages add more equipment.

Audi plans a five-door S3 model (it showed a three-door S3 at the Paris motor show) which is already being organised for sale in Australia. It is expected here late next year. Audi isn’t saying too much about the five-door rocket yet, though Carsguide learns it has a 221kW version of the 2-litre turbo-petrol engine, gets a stronger version of the A3 quattro’s drivetrain and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It also has a unique electric steering system based more on the S5 and with a sharper rack ratio. Audi spokesman Tobias Sollner also says there is a 225kW RS3 coming but Audi Australia is yet to confirm it. Australia missed out on the previous RS3.  

...caught here at the Nurburgring by Carparazzi. The giveaway is 18-inch alloys but the car also gets bolder lamps similar to the new A6, as well as quad exhaust tips, while the bonnet likely hides a 2-litre turbocharged four.  

It’s starting to look that way with the spread of blink-fast double-clutch automatic systems. And people are apparently happy to pay more for them. For example, the six-speed S-tronic dual-wet-clutch transmission arrives in the Audi S3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI for an extra $2700, bringing the list price to $71,010. Audi, which debuted the transmission in the TT 3.2 quattro in 2003, claims the S-tronic reduces the 0-100km/h acceleration time by 0.2 seconds to 5.6 while economy is improved to 8.4 litres/100km with CO2 emissions of 195g/km. The S-tronic is a perfect partner for the turbocharged engine, swapping cogs so quickly the blower doesn't get a chance to drop revs, thus keeping the power on. Audi Australia product planning manager John Roberts believes the S-tronic model will not only become the top-selling S3, but will also lift volumes. Currently the S3 Sportback ($68,310) is the top seller with 62 per cent of S3 sales. However, Roberts claims the S-tronic will reach 65 per cent, dropping the Sportback to 20 per cent and the three-door manual ($66,403) to 15 per cent. He says the S-tronic will target younger buyers and sell about 200 a year.

The Japanese brands like Subaru and Mitsubishi give you a choice of both from the all-wheel drive WRX and Lancer Ralliart to the pipping hot STi and Evo. The Europeans find a middle ground with cars like Volkswagen's R32 and the silky 3.0-litre sixes that BMW slots into things like the 130i. Audi's distinctive S3 three-door leans towards the pipping hot category. Now the S3 range has just gotten a whole lot warmer with the arrival of the five-door S3 Sportback. Priced at $68,310, the S3 Sportback is $1907 more than the three-door and a whopping $11,820 more than VW's R32 all-whee drive five-door hatch. Along with the extra doors, the S3 Sportback is available for the first time with Audi's magnetic ride system and a parking assist system similar to that available in some Volkswagen models. The Sportback shares its turbo-charged direct injection 2.0-litre four cylinder with the three-door, mated to Audi's quattro Haldex all-wheel drive system and a six-speed manual transmission. An electronically-controlled, rear-mounted hydraulic multi-plate clutch, distributes the torque as required. The 2.0-litre delivers 188kW at 6000 revs and 330Nm between 2500 and 5000 revs. The Sportback can hit 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Despite the grunt, the high-tech four delivers a combined economy figure of 8.5 litres/100km. Apart from the engine, the five-door shares much underneath with the three door, from its aluminium swivel bearings and wishbones that reduce unsprung weight to the stiffer chassis bearings, 25mm lower ride height, beefy brakes and electro-mechanical steering. At 4303mm the five-door is 72mm longer than its three-door stable-mate and 3mm higher while width remains the same at 1765mm. Visually, the Sportback shares the “S” styling cues of its three-door brother including the chrome-plated radiator grille, vertical double bars, and a front bumper with powerful spoiler lip. The foglights get chrome rings, there's a platinum grey rear diffuser and twin oval exhausts at the back, along with redesigned tail-lights. S-specific exterior mirrors with indicators round out the design. Fitted as standard are new S design 18-alloys and Xenon-plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. Inside, there are Nappa leather sport seats, S design multi-function leather sports steering wheel, Bose stereo speakers and Bluetooth. Aluminium-look pedals and door sill strips complete the look. There is a full complement of safety gear, from airbags to electronic stability control incorporating anti-skid brakes, traction control, and an electronic differential lock. The S3 Sportback goes on sale next month. Audi Australia expects the five-door to account for almost 70 per cent of all S3 sales over the next 12 months. Since 1999, 650 S3s have been sold nationally. The current generation S3 three-door, which was launched mid-2007, has sold more than 260 to date. The magnetic ride suspension is a $2400 option, along with the $950 parking assist system.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo , Alfa Romeo and Audi are among the marques with quality, small cars. Audi offers its A3 in an extensive range: $33,950 for an A3 1.6-litre manual to $65,900 for the S3 turbocharged hot rod. It's the latter car at the top of the Audi small-car range in Australia that soon will have an almost identical twin. The S3, currently available as a three-door hatchback, will also be imported as a five-door hatch from late this year, giving it more practicality as a family sporty. Both versions will share the 1984cc turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which generates 188kW of power, catering for Australian conditions. Its 330Nm of torque streams from 2500rpm to 5000rpm. Audi says the extra weight of the rear doors adds just 0.1 seconds to the 0-100km/h sprint time (5.8 seconds) and its official fuel use rating is 8.5 litres per 100km. The S3 three-door is listed at $65,900 and the price for the five-door will be released closer to its on-sale date. The five-door will also have a six-speed manual transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system and 18-inch wheels. The S3 gets more sports and performance components over the A3 on which it is based. Its suspension brings a 25mm-lower ride height and includes aluminium components. The brake discs are larger. The S3 will come with aluminium-look exterior mirrors, leather-clad sports seats, xenon-plus headlights with LED daytime-running lights and aluminium pedals. Meanwhile, Audi has unveiled a show-car version of the Audi TT two-seat sports car called the Clubsport quattro. The Clubsport has a low, raked, small windscreen. That means the A-pillars are short, so there is a pair of generous rollover hoops behind the seats, aft of which are aero humps.  

A new five-door version of the Audi S3 will join the refreshed three-door model this year. The S3 Sportback will arrive in time for Christmas and should be priced close to the $65,900 three-door. Audi spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf said pricing had yet to be confirmed but she expected the Sportback to be less than $70,000. Many prospective buyers had been asking for a five-door model. “Obviously, with the two extra doors, we expect the Sportback to appeal to a broader range of buyers,” she said. “It makes sense to have the three- and five-door here, particularly given that our market loves five-door small cars.” The Sportback will be equipped with the same engine as the three-door, the re-engineered hot direct-injection 2-litre TFSI. This engine produces 188kW at 6000 revs and 330Nm from 2500 to 5000 revs and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The beefy engine catapults the three-door to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds and 5.8 seconds for the Sportback version. The car's top speed is limited electronically to 250km/h and yet the S3's fuel consumption is reasonably contained at an average of 8.5 litres/100km. The six-speed transmission works through Audi's quattro all-wheel driveline, and 18-inch wheels and sports-tuned suspension enhance handling. Visually, the S3 is 25mm lower than the standard A3 and integrates lightweight aluminium components. To cope with the power, the car gets beefier 17-inch disc brakes. Like the three-door, the Sportback has a deep radiator grille, front bumper with an integrated spoiler and a spoiler on the roof, as well as aluminium-look exterior mirrors. At the back, a modified hatch and tail-light design uses fibre optic rods to create a bright, clear look. As a result of the redesigned bumpers, the new A3 has grown 25mm to 4240mm. The sporty proportions of the Sportback remain virtually unchanged at 4290mm. The Sportback benefits from a slightly larger boot, 20 litres more than the three-door when the rear seats are upright or folded flat. Inside, it has leather-clad sports seats, but racing-style bucket seats will be available as an option. Also part of the equipment are aluminium pedals, automatic airconditioning, twin exhausts, anti-theft alarm and xenon-plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. The second-generation S3 made its debut last June and Audi Australia has sold 45 so far this year. The company expects to sell about 100 S3s a year. Audi sold 380 of the previous-generation S3s, which were available here from 2000 to 2003. PRICE VARIANTS Audi has announced pricing for the new A3 Cabriolet arriving in August. It will come in two variants at launch including the 1.8 TFSI with Attraction specification ($49,900), and the 2-litre TFSI engine with Ambition trim in six-speed manual ($54,900) and S tronic ($57,500). A 1.6-litre version with Attraction specification will arrive later in the year. It features a semi-automatic lightweight soft top that opens and closes in nine seconds. An optional fully automatic hood will cost an extra $1300.