What’s the big deal about a standard-looking Audi A3 testing at the Nurburgring you might ask. Well, this isn’t a standard A3. Take a closer look at the rear-end and you’ll notice four exhaust tips poking out from the diffuser. This can only mean one thing, the new Audi S3 is on its way.
The images come just days after we published a video of the S3?s upcoming hot-hatch rival, the BMW M135i.
What we’ll find under the bonnet of the new S3 has yet to be revealed, although reports out of Europe suggest a brand-new 2.0-litre turbo’d engine with around 210 kW on tap. This figure is just 15 kW more than the current European S3 model, but Audi have shaved around 80 kg off the new A3, which should equate to a better power to weight ratio and slightly better handling. A seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission will be optional over the standard six-speed manual, and like the second-generation S3, both will transfer power to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro system.
Inside, expect to find all the upgrades we’ve come to expect with S cars, such as: sports seats; carbon fibre and satin silver trim inserts; as well as a new 7.0-inch display screen that rises from the dashboard to reveal the upgraded Audi MMI system that incorporates sat-nav, online connectivity, audio, media, telephone functions and voice control. A number of driver assist systems will also be available, including adaptive cruise control with emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and surround view park assistant.
The third-generation Audi A3 was unveiled at last month’s Geneva motor show and is expected to go on sale in South Africa in 2013.
