GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

New models - Audi - A3 - S3 Sportback 5-dr hatch

Audi S3 priced from $65k

Pocket rocket: The Audi S3 will be the hottest member of the A3 range, at least until the as-yet-unseen RS3 emerges.

It’s still months away, but Audi’s S3 hand grenade will be priced as low as $65k

Gallery

Click to see larger images

11 Apr 2013

AUDI Australia will stride into the hot-hatch melee against arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes from December this year, when it launches its new S3 from as little as $65,000.

The five-door pocket rocket made its debut last month in Geneva, and is the hottest version of the new-generation A3 range – at least until the next RS3 emerges next year.

Audi’s estimated starting price of $65,000 to $70,000 is on par with the more powerful, but no faster, BMW M135i ($68,400 plus on-road costs).

Mercedes-Benz, meanwhile, will launch its A45 AMG hand grenade here in September, priced from $74,900. For that, buyers will get the world’s most potent production four-pot engine – a 265kW/450Nm 2.0-litre turbo built by hand.

Mercedes will also offer a version of its sexy CLA sedan with this same engine from early next year. Audi will counter this by offering an S3 version of its recently revealed A3 sedan, also confirmed to touch down in the first quarter of next year.

Audi’s answer to the Bimmer and Benz packs its own 221kW/380Nm punch courtesy of its 2.0-litre turbo engine. Like the Mercedes (but unlike the rear-drive BMW), power is sent to all four wheels.

The company has also promised to offer a six-speed manual gearbox alongside a six-speed dual-clutch automatic – notable considering an increasing number of performance cars are being released only with autos.

With the optional automatic fitted the S3 can dash from zero to 100km/h in a slick 5.1 seconds – the same as the BMW but four-tenths behind the AMG – while the manual gearbox adds an extra half a second.

The previous-generation S3 managed to find nearly 900 buyers in Australia between 2007 and 2012. The new one is not only faster, but also more than 20 per cent more efficient with a claimed combined-cycle figure of 6.9 litres per 100km with the automatic (7.0L/100km for the manual).

The new model is also 70kg lighter than before, thanks to the Volkswagen Group's new modular transverse MQB platform – the regular A3 was the first car to use it – and extensive use of aluminium in the bodyshell.

The company claims to have sharpened the handling by shifting the front axle further forward – thus reducing the front overhang – chopping five kilograms from the engine’s weight and tilting the block back 12 degrees.

Special sport suspension that lowers the body by 25mm, a 59:41 axle-load distribution front/rear and a speed-sensitive electro-mechanical power steering system also join the party.

The understated design is differentiated from the regular A3 Sportback by its more aggressive grille, integrated front air inlets, faux side intakes, aluminium-look side mirror housings, a re-designed rear bumper with a platinum grey diffuser, quad tail-pipes, LED tail-lights and a roof spoiler.

Read more

GoAuto can help you buy a new A3

Customer Terms and Conditions – New Car Lead enquires

Agreement

This is an agreement between GoAutoMedia Pty Limited ACN 094 732 457 of PO Box 18, Beach Road, Sandringham, VIC, 3191 (“we/us”), the owner and operator of the GoAuto.com.au website (“the website”) and the person wanting GoAuto.com.au to provide them with a lead for the purchase of a new car (“you”).

By completing a New Car Lead Enquiry, you agree to the terms and conditions and disclaimers and acknowledge the policies set out below.

Terms and Conditions

  • In order for us to effect a lead you must you must complete a New Car Lead Enquiry (“Enquiry”).
  • We will call you as soon as possible after you complete the Enquiry and certainly no later than the next business day. When we call, we will discuss with you your new car requirements.
  • You consent to our passing on the Enquiry and your requirements to an appropriate authorised motor car dealer as a lead.
  • We will contact you again in approximately eight days following your initial enquiry to check on the progress of the Enquiry.
  • While we will provide the dealer with the Enquiry and details of your new car requirements, we take no responsibility for what happens after passing on that material as a lead.
  • You acknowledge that we are a new car information service providing new car editorial information, pictures and prices to our customers as a guide only. Any new car prices published on the website are the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices and do not include delivery charges and on-road costs. Any authorized motor car dealer to which we pass on your Enquiry as a lead will provide you with full details of the price at which the vehicle will be sold to you.
  • You acknowledge that we do not sell motor vehicles. Any sale of a new car to you by a dealer after we have passed on your Enquiry to that dealer as a lead, is a sale by that dealer not by us.

Privacy Policy– New Car Lead Enquires

  • We take privacy very seriously. We understand that you will only complete an Enquiry if you can trust us to protect your personal information and use it appropriately. Our policy is to ensure that the personal information collected when you make an Enquiry is only used for the purposes of connecting you with an authorised motor car dealer.
  • We do not on-sell information collected from you or any other customer.
  • From time to time, we may email you with information or promotions that may be relevant for car buyers. You will continue to receive communications from us unless you tell us that you do not want to receive any advertising or promotional information in the future by unsubscribing from these communications.
close
* Denotes required field
** Australian inquiries only

Click to share

Click below to follow us on
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram

Audi models

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here