Audi has prepared the update of its compact A3 model, which will reach dealerships during the second quarter of 2024. The range will continue to have the high-performance S3 version, which will improve in many aspects over its predecessor. And he points out ways… We have not yet seen the series sports car in all its splendor, but the brand has shown a camouflaged pre-series unit and has provided data on the ten key points that it has renewed about the car to improve its performance and dynamic behavior.
The 2.0 TFSI gasoline engine increases its performance by 23 HP and 20 Nm, so that it will now offer 333 HP and 420 Nm of torque between 2,100 to 5,500 rpm. With this engine, the S3 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.
The two-liter TFSI block mounts a precharged turbocharger that guarantees a more spontaneous power delivery. In addition, the throttle valve is open during acceleration phases, which improves performance. This can be experienced especially in dynamic mode and the new dynamic plus profile.
The seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission has been optimized to improve its responsiveness, so gear changes are quicker.
Like the Audi RS 3, the S3 model now equips the torque splitter, which increases agility and stability. This technology allows an active and fully variable distribution of torque between the rear wheels. This system uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch on each drive half shaft to optimally distribute torque between the rear wheel located on the inside and outside of the curve, depending on the driving situation and the profile selected in Audi drive. select.
The S3 incorporates a new driving mode, called dynamic plus, whose settings offer the greatest dynamism. The torque splitter sends the maximum possible torque to the rear axle and the rear wheel located on the outside of the curve, which causes a tendency to oversteer. The slight interventions of the electronic stabilization control (ESC) guarantee a more intense driving experience. Compared to dynamic mode, the idle speed of the 2.0 TFSI engine increases by 200 rpm to 1,300 rpm, to further improve acceleration from a standstill and make the throttle response even more direct. In addition to shorter gear changes, the transmission also contributes to increased dynamics by delaying the moment of shifting up a gear and with earlier downshifts.
The front axle mounts McPherson suspension with a new pivot bearing that offers greater wheel inclination. This improves steering response and allows for greater lateral control, resulting in greater grip and more agility when cornering. The wishbones, for their part, are more rigid, which increases agility in motion.
Progressive steering has the advantage of a variable ratio depending on the steering angle of the steering wheel: the more the driver turns, the more direct it becomes. To achieve improved steering feel, the steering characteristics have been adjusted, especially in the center position, for greater precision and better overall handling.
New two-piston calipers have been fitted to the front axle. They further improve braking performance, as do the larger pads and larger friction surface of the discs, which have a higher thermal resistance and therefore also a higher load capacity.
The car’s footwear is very important, since it is its only point of contact with the asphalt. The S3 is equipped with 19-inch high-performance 235/35 tires. These tires offer high grip and precise track stability, especially on dry asphalt.
All suspension control systems have been specifically tuned for dynamic cornering response and improved handling. Wheel-selective torque control – a software function of the electronic stabilization control (ESC), which intervenes by lightly braking the inside wheels during cornering when driving sportily – has been further developed, as has the traction and deceleration behavior. The difference in propulsion forces makes the vehicle corner more easily and follow the steering angle more precisely.
