Local hot hatch fans are licking their lips for the arrival of the 174 kW Seat León Cupra, but the VW Group has managed to produce even more firepower out of its 2,0-litre turbocharged FSI engine, combined it with quattro all-wheel drive and loaded it in an aggressively-styled Audi A3 body.
Local hot hatch fans are licking their lips for the arrival of the 174 kW Seat León Cupra, but the VW Group has managed to produce even more firepower out of its 2,0-litre turbocharged FSI engine, combined it with quattro all-wheel drive and loaded it in an aggressively-styled Audi A3 body.
CARtoday.com reported last month that the Cupra was powered by (what we thought was) the most potent version of the VW Group’s 2,0T FSI powerplant, had been launched at the British Show and that the model “was being considered for local release”. However, the 174 kW Cupra, which is claimed to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in 6,4 seconds, is tame compared with Audi’s latest addition to its “S” series of performance models.
At this stage, Audi South Africa plans to launch the new S3, the flagship of Ingolstadt’s subcompact range, on the domestic market in “the first half of 2007”.
Compared with the A3’s 147 kW 2,0T FSI powerplant, the S3’s direct-injection engine is mated with a turbocharger (with an enlarged turbine and compressor rotor), modified intercooler, has strengthened connecting rods with new bearings, a stiffened cylinder block and head made of heat-resistant alloy and revised exhaust camshaft timing to accommodate higher power output.
Mated with a six-speed, close-ratio manual transmission with shortened gearshift travel, the S3’s engine produces 195 kW at 6 000 r/min and 350 N.m of torque from 2 500 to 5 000 r/min. Audi claims the S3 is capable of sprinting from zero to 100 km/h in 5,7 secs, and acceleration is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
In line with the increase in power, the S3 features a new S sports suspension (aluminium pivot bearings and wishbones reduce weight, springs and shock absorbers are stiffer, and the body sits 25 mm lower), more direct steering and 17-inch brake system with sports brake pads and black-painted callipers bearing S3 emblems.
Racy 18-inch alloy wheels and 225/40 tyres are standard.
As is the case with all S models, the S3 has permanent quattro all-wheel drive. An electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, positioned at the rear for the benefit of weight balance, distributes the torque as required to front and back wheels.
Sports seats with prominent side sections (upholstered in a combination of two-tone cloth and leather, Alcantara/leather or full leather), black headlining and the S instrument cluster (with its sporty dials and needles) accentuate the hot hatch’s interior.
The pedals, gear knob and air vents have aluminium look and the inlays “Piano black” finishes. There are red and silver S3 emblems on the leather sports steering wheel and gear knob.
Standard equipment for the German market includes automatic air-conditioning, a driver information system with a new lap-timer function, an anti-theft alarm, front fog lights and xenon plus headlights with daytime running lights.
