A new Audi S3 is on the way, and it’s now ‘more powerful than ever’, according to the German manufacturer.
This is shaping-up to be a big year for Audi hot hatches and saloons.
A brand new RS 3 - the more aggressive sibling to the S3 - is expected imminently having been spotted testing at the end of 2023.
And now an updated S3 is seen here being put through its paces in the wilds of Oman ahead of a full reveal in the coming weeks.
As before, the S3 will be available as both a Saloon and ‘Sportback’ hatchback. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard issue.
And the big news here is that the fresh S3 won’t just get more power and pace - up to 333 PS compared with the outgoing model’s 310 PS - it’s also being handed the torque splitter from the RS 3.
What does a torque splitter do?
In case you’re not au fait, it uses a clever electric disc clutch on each drive shaft to actively distribute the torque between each of the rear wheels, shifting it between the wheel on the inside of the curve, or the wheel on the outside of a curve, depending on which one needs it most.
The net result? Optimum traction and handling on both road and track, and the torque splitter intervention can be varied depending on which Audi drive mode you select.
The fresh S3 - which is now able to put its added power down on the Tarmac with greater ease - also gets from 0-62mph 0.1 of a second quicker than the outgoing model, at 4.7 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
Audi also promises a ‘sportier transmission setup’, with the seven-speed S tronic box now enabling ‘more rapid acceleration thanks to higher starting torque’.
Meanwhile drifting fans will want to take note of a new ‘Dynamic Plus’ drive mode.
An Audi spokesperson explains: “The torque splitter sends as much drive torque as possible to the rear axle and the rear wheel on the outside of the curve, resulting in a tendency to oversteer. The electronic stabilisation control (ESC) is automatically active in sport mode. Modest interventions by the ESC system ensure an increased and even more emotional driving experience on surfaces with different friction coefficients.”
There’s a sportier suspension setup all round, as well as more powerful brakes, courtesy of larger ventilated discs on the front axle.
Speaking about the S3’s most recent testing, an Audi spokesperson adds: “Challenging curves, steep mountain passes – the roads around Salalah in Oman offer ideal conditions for a first test with the Audi S3, which provides driving dynamics on a new level. Still shrouded in its exterior camouflage, the upgraded S3 is more than a mere product upgrade. Numerous technical innovations, from increased power output to the addition of a new torque splitter and the new dynamic plus mode, guarantee an exhilarating driving experience, strong performance, and agile handling.”
Watch this space for further updates.
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