In the prototype in the desert: This is how Audi’s next S3 drives

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Suddenly they appeared before them: sheep. Not two, three or a dozen, but 200 or more. Just behind a secluded bend and, of course, in our lane. We completely put the brakes on; This was so close! On the winding roads of Salalah, Oman, herds of cattle pay little attention to traffic rules. Just like the extremely relaxed camels standing all over the landscape, even napping on the asphalt.

Isn’t it ridiculous to test cars in the gravel deserts of Oman? Not unless you, like Audi, want to reveal yet what the S3 sports version of the A3 will look like after the facelift planned for mid-year. Yes, drive, but don’t look yet: So we drive through nearly deserted streets, the interior covered in black rags and the S3 sedans rolling around in a paint job only a colorblind person could dream of.

More power, faster gear shifting

Audi’s compact sports car with a Boller four-cylinder and the proposed four tailpipes is particularly strong in Switzerland. In some years it was even the best-selling version of the VW Golf Twin A3; We always like very powerful compact cars. But it is also clear that at some point e-mobility will replace the hot compact sports cars called hot hatchbacks. Therefore, there is a technology update to refresh the model, including parts from the even more powerful RS3. This saves development efforts.

However, it’s not the crazy-sounding 400-hp five-cylinder RS3 – the S3 remains with four cylinders and a new 23-hp more engine with a two-litre displacement. The five-door model now produces 333 hp (245 kW), reaching 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds; It is one tenth faster than its predecessor and, as always, reaches a limited top speed of 250 km/h. But neither this nor the 20 Newton meters more torque makes a difference: After all, Audi has trained the start-up phlegm with the combination of the turbo petrol engine and the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The turbocharger is kept at a constant speed, idle speed is increased depending on the driving mode and the transmission shifts into gear faster. Now the S3 starts to act without thinking and launches into an overtaking sprint with more venom.

Rear axle steers strongly

The all-wheel drive system has been completely adapted from the RS3, including the rear axle with fully variable torque distribution. With what please? Nowadays, many vehicles with electric rear axles support cornering by braking the rear wheel on the inside of the bend (covers a shorter distance) – the vehicle turns into the corner better. In the upcoming Audi S3, this also works actively: instead of just braking when understeer is approaching, there’s torque at both wheels, but the rear wheel on the outside of the bend has slightly more torque (covering a longer distance) – the car actively pushes itself out of the curve pushes it in. This allows for higher cornering speeds and more direct turning. But the S3 is slightly heavier: the torque is distributed fully variably, with one clutch per rear wheel. Ford also used a similar system on the currently discontinued Focus RS.

Additionally, the front axle and suspension arms were optimized, the steering characteristics were adjusted and larger brakes were installed – the sheep thank you. Finally, there’s an additional driving mode called Performance Plus, which makes the S3 feel like a rear-wheel-drive car by sending as much torque as possible to the rear axle. So how does it all work? It’s fast on the straights, but incredibly dynamic, especially on steep winding roads. You can feel how the rear axle is steered, carry the momentum into the corner and practically navigate 180-degree bends. It’s surprising: how wide the Salala’s range of driving modes is, from cruise mode for lots of speed bumps to Performance Plus for corners.

Lack of detailed information

Consumption? No idea, no homologation data yet. Audi is not yet releasing any information about changes to the design and interior. So is the price. This will only be possible when changes to other A3 versions are introduced.

But one thing’s for sure: camouflage green and fire engine red prototype paint won’t make the options list. And the test cars are not for sale and will be sent to the scrap press. But the longer you look, the more certain it seems: there are fans who will buy their S3 exactly like this.

Source: Blick