• Striking all-new hero model arrives with more power than ever before, at 228kW, innovative new tech and more muscle
• Sansom: "The newest generation remains faithful to its performance car heritage"
• S3 Sportback and S3 Sedan to arrive in Australia in early 2022, starting at $69,900*

Zetland, September 23, 2021 – Audi Australia is announcing pricing and specification details for the all-new Audi S3 Sportback and S3 Sedan. Due to arrive in early 2022, the all-new S3 returns with more technology, striking styling, and greater performance than its predecessor.

"The S3 is the original model that established Audi in the sporty premium compact segment some 20 years ago, and the newest generation remains faithful to its performance-car heritage," said Paul Sansom, Managing Director of Audi Australia.

"The all-new S3 is an extraordinary step forward over its popular predecessor, with a striking new dynamic design, many new features and importantly for these owners, more performance than ever before. As expected of any S3, the new model comes packed with an extensive list of standard features and is priced very competitively."

Striking exterior design
The all-new Audi S3 Sportback and S3 Sedan are an image of taut, masculine design. Sporting a wide Singleframe, rhombus-patterned grille with aluminium inlays, large air inlets allow for greater airflow to cool the engine. With a streamlined roofline, the shoulder also follows a strong line from the headlights to the rear, with heavily-inclined C-pillars giving the Sportback a forward-thrust appearance, and the Sedan a flowing coupé style. Sporty exterior lines continue through to the lower body that curves inward to accentuate the wheel arches.

The S3 exterior boasts meticulous consideration in design, whereby paneling and intakes have been optimised to ensure aerodynamic efficiency. Brake cooling with a neutral drag coefficient is attributed to the front three-dimensional air intakes, guiding air from the engine bay through to the wheel arches and the brakes. At the rear and flanked by the S model signature four oval exhaust tailpipes, a sizable diffuser reduces rear axle lift.

A total of eight paint colours are available, including new colours Python Yellow and Turbo Blue. Inlays and trims feature a stainless-steel look while exterior mirror housings feature a gleaming aluminium look finish, characteristic of S models in the Audi range. For those wanting to ramp up the sporty edge of their S3, for $1,500 an optional black exterior styling package is available, including the Singleframe, the front air inlet blades, the inserts in the side sill, exterior mirror housings, and the frame of the diffuser.

The new S3 comes standard with Matrix LED headlights with dynamic front and rear indicators and digital daytime running light signature. Consisting of 5 x 3 LED segments, these incorporate intelligently-controlled high beam lights and lock/unlock animations as standard.

More power for greater performance
Producing 228 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque, the all-new S3 boasts a powerhouse 2.0 TFSI engine. The additional +15kW of power and +20Nm of torque from its 2019 predecessor brings the new S3 up to speed with equivalent performance of that in Europe, as the Australian market has been reclassified as moderate-hot climate country by Audi. This makes this generation of S3 the most powerful to ever reach out shores.

The four-cylinder petrol engine delivers maximum torque across a broad range of between 2,000 and 5,450 rpm, while the rated power output comes in where this ends, remaining constant up to 6,500 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. The S3 Sportback, has a fuel consumption of 7.4 litres per 100km, with CO2 emissions 170 g/km, while the Sedan's fuel consumption is 7.3 litres per 100km, with CO2 emissions 166 g/km.

State-of-the-art technology extracts power from the engine, with a direct fuel-injection system building 350 bar pressure ensuring optimum mixture generation, and the Audi valvelift system (AVS) allowing for variable valve control through two adjustable camshafts. Technical efficiency is assured through thermal management systems, including a rotary slide module that precisely controls the flow of the coolant through the engine. In turn, this ensures that cooling water heats up quickly following a cold start, shortening the phase of increased friction losses due to cold oil.

1.8 bar of charge pressure (relative) is provided by the turbocharger in the S3, while an intercooler greatly reduces the temperature of the compressed air. The resulting response time of the engine becomes even more spontaneous and its sound even more sonorous.

To harness the engine's power, the S3 is equipped with a fast-shifting seven-speed S tronic as standard to allow for lightning gear shifts. The fast-shifting dual-clutch transmission allows for switching between D and S modes via the compact electronic shifter, or the standard steering wheel paddles.

As standard for Audi S models, the new S3 Sportback and S3 Sedan are equipped with quattro all-wheel drive. The S3 also features a hydraulic multi-plate clutch and fully variable torque distribution between the front and rear axle, depending on the driving environment. In combination with wheel-selective torque control, handling of the S3 is incredibly nimble, adding to its sporty character and making for an engaging drive.

Dynamic Suspension
The dynamic high-performance of the S3 is also attributed to its suspension package, designed with sporty everyday driving in mind. Four-link rear axle and progressive steering come as standard, with central dynamic handling control to maximise the full potential of quattro drive system.

The all-new S3 models sit 15mm closer to the road than their A3 counterpart, with S sport suspension with adaptive damper control included as standard. This suspension package enables a wider range between precise, taut handling and comfortable cruising than that of its predecessor, and replaces the previously used Audi magnetic ride. 

The Audi drive select dynamic handling system comes as standard. The driver can use the system to vary not only the dampers, the quattro drive, and the engine sound, but also the characteristics of the steering and throttle response, as well as the switch points of the S tronic. Five profiles are available: efficiency, comfort, auto, dynamic, and individual.

Gloss-red brake callipers clamp 340mm ventilated rotors at the front-end of the S3, with 312mm discs at the rear, working in combination with a new electric brake booster for impressive rapid braking response. 19-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels in a matte titanium finish, 5-Y-arm design, wrapped with 235/35 R19 tyres are included as standard, with the option to switch to 5-double-spoke edge style in anthracite black for an additional $300.

Generous size and sporty interior
Inside the cabin, the new S3 interior has been reimagined from the former 2019 model, with a host of refreshed standard features and design elements. Anthracite tones, dark aluminium spectrum inlays, stainless-steel pedals, S embossing on the seats, contrasting stitching on the steering wheel with an S emblem, and a newly designed compact shifter all amplify the character of the S3. An ambient lighting package is also included, which can be adjusted to 30 different colours, further heightening the interior atmosphere.

Comfort and practicality, however, are not compromised with the S3 seeing the addition of electric heated front seats with four-way lumber support, a folding rear seat backrest (40:20:40), and a 325L boot capacity. This further extends to a 1,145L volume for the Sportback variant, depending on whether the rear seats are upright or folded down. Seeing a slight increase in size, the spacious interior also accommodates more elbow room for both front and rear passengers. The lowered seat position of the driver allows for greater headroom, while also evocative of the S3's sporty nature.

Infotainment
The new S3 is abundant with significant infotainment and technology updates, including a new 10.1-inch MMI touch display, with 10x more computing power than its predecessor. This enables voice control with natural speech recognition, 3D map display including places of interest and city models, and MMI search: free-text search with intelligent destination suggestions. It also includes the latest Audi connect plus services, affording in-car convenience through online traffic information with hazard alerts, destination entry via myAudi or Google Maps, parking and weather information, fuel prices, and Google services.

A 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus with additional functionality is also included as standard for the first time, including the "S Performance" design for the instrument display, as well as "Dynamic" and "Sport" display options. The display can be tailored to the driver's requirements to show speed, engine speed, maps, radio and media information.

Additional features include a Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound in the front and 15 loudspeakers, DAB+ Digital radio, Audi smartphone interface for Android Auto and wireless Apple Carplay and two USB outlets as standard.

Safety
The all-new S3 models feature a multitude of advanced driver assistance safety systems imparted by some of the more recent Audi model lines. Features including collision avoidance assistance, lane departure warning, cross traffic assist rear and parking system plus ensure a high level of safety. Audi pre sense front with Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian and cyclist detection is also a new addition to the S3.

Adaptive cruise assist with Stop&Go and hands-on detection, traffic jam assist and emergency assist, lane change warning, efficiency assist, exit warning, a rear view camera, and a tyre pressure loss indicator are driver assistance systems that are included standard extras. Access to Audi connect plus Security & Assistance services also will provide S3 owners with car finder with remote signal, remote lock and unlock, emergency calls, and online roadside assistance features.

Available packages
A Premium Plus package will be available soon after market launch. The all-new Audi S3 Sportback and Sedan are also offered with the comprehensive five-year service plan package, priced at $2,580.

Market introduction
The all-new Audi S3 will be available in Audi dealerships, and to order through the Audi online purchase platform at audi.com.au, in early 2022.

Pricing*

(*Manufacturer List Pricing [MLP] – excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges)

– ENDS –

NOTE TO EDITORS: The vehicles depicted in the supplied images are international press vehicles and are for general illustration purposes only. They do not accurately reflect the final specification available in the Australian market.

The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati, and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 17 locations in 11 countries. Wholly owned subsidiaries of AUDI AG include Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm, Germany), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).
In 2020, the Audi Group delivered to customers about 1.693 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 7,430 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and 48,042 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2019 fiscal year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of € 55.7 billion and an operating profit of € 4.5 billion. At present, about 87,000 people work for the company all over the world, 60,000 of them in Germany. With new models, innovative mobility offerings and other attractive services, Audi is becoming a provider of sustainable, individual premium mobility.