The 2021 Audi S3 (sedan) and S3 Sportback (hatchback) borrows their 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor from the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Cupra Leon
German automaker Audi AG has unveiled the new 2021 S3 in both sedan and Sportback (hatchback) formats, both of which will go on sale in global markets by the end of this year. It may be recalled that the first-generation Audi S3 was revealed in 2000 as a three-door hot hatch.
Styling & features
Where the new design elements are concerned, the new-gen S3 gets Audi’s revamped ‘single-frame rhombus’ grille, front splitter with larger air intakes, redesigned headlamps with optional Matrix LED units, aluminium mirror caps and wider wheel arches compared to the regular 2021MY Audi A3. At the rear hangs a large diffuser housing quad exhausts. Both Audi S3 variants sit on 18-inch wheels as standard while 19-inch wheels are offered as an option.
Coming to its interiors, the new sports seats (upholstery is made using recycled PET bottles) offer more support and comfort. There are tasteful additions of carbon fibre, aluminium and Alcantara across the cabin. The 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster can be upgraded to a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit.
Meanwhile, the updated 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen panel offers new connectivity features such as Audi Connect Key that allows the owner to lock, unlock and start the car via an Android smartphone. In terms of safety, the all-new Audi S3 range boasts of Audi Pre-Sense, swerve assist with turn assist, lane departure warning along with cross-traffic alert, park assist and adaptive cruise control.
Size & dimensions
Compared to its predecessor, the new version has grown a bit as well. Both the Sportback and sedan are 30mm and 40mm longer, respectively in addition to being 30 mm wider. This relates to a total length of 4,340mm for the Sportback and 4,500mm for the sedan avatar.
Width, height and wheelbase stay common for both variants at 1,820mm, 1,430mm and 2,640mm, respectively. Luggage space (normal bench position)) in the Sportback stands at 325 litres. The Audi S3 sedan holds 370 litres.
Engine & specs
Powering the 2021 Audi S3 siblings is a 2.0-litre TFSI turbo petrol four-cylinder engine (same unit as in the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI and Cupra Leon). It churns out 310ps and 400Nm of torque while mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic DCT. The output is sent to all four wheels via a tweaked version of Quattro AWD (front-wheel-biased). Put together, both variants can do a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds before topping out at 250km/h (limited).
Audi India plans to bring down the new-gen A3 compact sedan to our market sometime in early 2021. If the new S3 arrives, we expect to see only its sedan version as a rival to the upcoming Mercedes-AMG A35 limousine.
