Audi S3

The Audi S3 retains the cabin layout of the standard S3. Still, to give an enhanced sportier experience, the interior has been treated with a more premium black Alcantara leather and carbon fibre inserts in the middle layer of the dashboard and lower centre console.

The Audi S3 comes with a modern-looking driver’s cockpit, featuring a flat-bottom three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel, which here comes with multifunction plus, and a full-TFT virtual cockpit instrument console behind it. The console here gets flanked with offset AC vents, while the centre console is slightly tilted towards the driver’s side with trapezoidal housings for the infotainment system and climate control buttons.

For an even sportier feel on the inside, the Audi S3 comes equipped with S-specific sport seats, ambient lighting, gloss-black highlights on the dashboard and lower centre console. The S3 retains all the comfort and convenience features of the standard A3, including powered and heated front seats with memory function, dual-zone automatic climate control, an MMI controller, a premium Bang-&-Olufsen audio system, and S logo illuminated aluminium door sill trims.

Based on the regular version of the A3 compact sedan, the Audi S3 compact sports sedan looks the part of a sports car, with lots of gloss black and a few carbon fibre highlights. While it does not have the size and length of a high-end sports car, the attention-to-detailing of the Audi S3 can make you believe that it is one sporty-looking car.

At the front, the Audi S3 retains the fascia of the standard A3 sedan, comprising angular all-LED headlamps and a bold-looking hexagonal grille stretching down towards the lower edge of the front bumper. However, here in the S3, while the grille comes with a different and sportier mesh design, the air curtains on the edges of the bumper also look sportier with satin silver and carbon fibre inserts.

The side profile of the Audi S3 has been tweaked over that of the standard A3 for a sportier stance. For that, the S3 features a different set of 19-inch alloy wheels. The interesting highlight of the Audi S3 is that for each colour option, Audi is offering a different design for the alloy wheels. Adding more visual appeal to the side profile of the Audi S3 are the satin silver finish for the rearview mirrors and lower door garnish and chrome finish for the window-frame surrounds.

At the back, the Audi S3 has the same design as that of the A3, with an integrated boot-mounted spoiler in a curved fashion, angular LED combination lamps and faux air vents integrated into the corners of the rear bumper. However, the blacked-out rear diffuser is a distinguishing element here, with it also getting a different-looking pair of rounded exhausts.

Like all the S and RS models in Audi’s lineup, the Audi S3 also comes as standard equipment with Quattro all-wheel drive technology. Along with this all-wheel drive system, the S3 also comes with S Sport suspensions and S Tronic dual-clutch transmission for an agile and dynamic driving experience.

The Audi S3 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard. This turbo-petrol engine in the Audi S3 is capable of producing a maximum power output of 290 PS and a peak torque output of 400 Nm, thus making it one of the most powerful cars of its size. Audi claims a top speed of 250 kmph and a 0-100 kmph acceleration timing of 4.9 seconds.

The Audi S3 gets all the essentials in safety such as airbags all around, ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic stability control, hill hold assist, hill descent control, front and rear parking sensors, rear camera and a few ADAS feature on board.

The Audi S3 is one of the best driver-oriented cars of its size, with several factors like an aggressive design, punchy turbo-petrol engine and Quattro all-wheel drive system making it incredible fun behind the steering wheel.