Author:
ROBIN ROBERTS
A new Audi S3 is being readied for sale early next year.
It will be seen in Paris this week and UK order books open at the end of this year.
The newcomer uses an all new compact 2.0 TFSI engine giving 300ps and 380Nm torque with a six speed manual or optional six speed automatic.
The long-stroke 2.0 TFSI in the Audi S3 is new from the ground up. The only thing it has in common with its predecessor, which was named Engine of the Year in its category five times in a row between 2005 and 2009, is its displacement of 1,984 cc.
The four-cylinder unit delivers a constant 380 Nm of torque to the crankshaft between 1,800 and 5,500 rpm. Rated power at 5,500 rpm is 300PS, and the engine redlines at 6,800 rpm. It uses both direct and indirect fuel injection to optimise emissions and power as required, as well as a liquid cooled exhaust manifold.
The S3 delivers impressive performance. The sprint from zero to 62mph is completed in 5.1 seconds when equipped with the S tronic transmission (5.4 seconds with the manual transmission), and top speed is electronically governed at 155mph.
Combined fuel economy stands at 40.9mpg (manual 40.4mpg). This corresponds to CO2 emissions of 159g/km (162 in the manual version).
The newcomer is going to reset the comparison tables when it reaches the UK next year and you can keep up to date with the progress of its introduction in our business car news and then see how it takes on competitors in the business car comparisons section.
