Major update is intended to boost the fun side of Audi hot hatch’s all-rounder appeal
JAMES ATTWOOD @atters_j
TESTED 14.12.23, SALALAH, OMAN ON SALE MID-2024
Audi describes this latest S3 Sportback as “more than a mere product upgrade”, which has the distinct whiff of marketing hype – until you run through the list of the changes that the firm has wrought beneath the fetching camouflage wrap of our prototype test car.
The formula for a great S3 – blending premium feel, strong performance and everyday usability – is well established, and when we road tested the initial version of this 8Y generation in 2020, we found an accomplished and engaging performer let down by its ride quality and interior feel.
We suggested that the S3 felt like the “forgotten hot hatch” of the Volkswagen Group – but clearly Audi’s engineers haven’t forgotten it, judging by the tinkering they have done in the time since then.
Because this is a prototype, we are not allowed to talk about the exterior or interior styling of the revised S3 (the latter was covered up anyway, bar the infotainment touchscreen and the digital driver display), so judgement on how much that crucial interior has been upgraded (or downgraded) must wait. For now, then, let’s focus on the grubby mechanical bits.
Under the bonnet, we still find the Volkswagen Group’s EA888 2.0-litre turbo petrol four, but its output has been raised by 25bhp to 329bhp and 15lb ft to 310lb ft (now available from 2100-5500rpm).
Audi has also adjusted the engine tuning so that the turbocharger is preloaded under low to medium acceleration, allowing its power to be delivered faster when called on.
The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox has a higher starting torque, achieved by compressing the clutch pack more strongly, while shift times under full load have been halved.
Engine speeds are also increased under partial load when the transmission is in D mode.
Most notably, Audi has added the torque-splitter system from the RS3 mega-hatch. It features a clutch on each driveshaft, allowing for torque to be distributed between the two rear wheels in a variety of ways, depending on the driving mode.
Then there’s a new mode, named Dynamic Plus, which gives a faster idle speed (1300rpm, compared with 1100rpm), shorter shifts and a more direct throttle response. It also sends as much drive torque as physics allows to the rear axle and from there to the outside rear wheel in corner
