What is it? > Audi’s S3 has always been seen as the kind of car to deliver in all types of situations. As a practical hatchback, it’s formed around a layout which can bring the boot space and interior roominess that you’d expect from a ‘normal’ day-to-day car, yet with a potent engine and four-wheel-drive it’s always had the kind of performance that could give supercar drivers a bit of a shock away from the lights. But quite often, the S3 was criticised for being a little cold.
Effective, yes, but not the kind of car that would keep a grin on your face. Audi is aiming to address that with this updated version which, alongside some key exterior changes, introduces some mechanical upgrades which should help elevate the overall driving experience. What’s new? > From the outside, things are quite subtle.
You may notice that the S3 now wears Audi’s new ‘flat’ logo – which is designed to be easier to read in digital formats – while across the car there’s a more blackened, undercover approach in the variety of badges and details. It’s much the same story inside, too, where it’s all rather similar to how it was before albeit with more extensive ambient lighting to help add some drama. While the engine that the S3 is powered by may be largely similar to that of its predecessor – more on that shortly – Audi has equipped this car with bigger brakes and a torque-splitter at the rear differential, which helps to more accurately place the power where it is.
