Audi S3 was first introduced in March 1999 at the Geneva Motor Show. The S3 hatchback is a “charged” version of the Audi A3 in a three-door version. The car is built on the same platform as the VW Golf IV - with a transverse engine, with a compact McPherson front suspension and with rear-wheel drive via an electronically controlled axle coupling Haldex. It differs from the Audi A3 by reduced ground clearance, a wider gauge and larger 17-inch wheels with tires in size 225/45 WR17, as well as larger front and rear bumpers painted in body color, extended wheel arches and a spoiler above the rear door. Xenon headlights are equipped with smooth lenses.
The sports-styled interior includes Recaro sports seats and a sports steering wheel, air conditioning, and a high level of additional equipment. The first generation Audi S3 was equipped with a 1.8-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 210 liters. from. and six-speed manual gearbox. With this engine, the car accelerates to 100 km / h in 6.8 seconds, its maximum speed is limited to 250 km / h. In 2001, the Audi S3 was upgraded, bringing the engine's recoil to 225 power.
In total, until 2003, 32 thousand S3 of the first generation were released. In September 2006, the second generation of the model was presented at the Paris Motor Show. From the A3 model of the same years of release, the “hot” hatchback was distinguished by a tougher and lower suspension, enhanced brakes, “sporty” settings of the electric power steering and stabilization system, and, of course, a more powerful engine. Under the hood, the second-generation S3 was a two-liter engine with direct injection and turbocharging with a capacity of 265 liters. from. The car was equipped with a six-speed "mechanics" and all-wheel drive transmission. Acceleration to 100 km / h took 5.7 seconds.
In 2008, in addition to the three-door hatchback, a five-door version appeared in the S3 model range, and the S tronic six-speed preselective gearbox appeared in the options list. From the same year, the model began to be officially supplied to the Russian market. The production of the second-generation Audi S3 was completed in 2012. The third generation of the model debuted at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. The first was traditionally a three-door hatchback, but this generation, like no other, is rich in the choice of bodies. In addition to the three-door version, there is a five-door hatchback, sedan and convertible.
Externally, the Audi S3 2013 model year can be distinguished from the standard A3 on a different grille, new front bumper, side skirts, a spoiler above the trunk lid, a diffuser, four exhaust pipes, chrome lining on the mirrors and unique 18-inch wheels. Inside, the novelties include frosted brushed aluminum inlays, a sport steering wheel and seats, gray dials on the instrument panel and numerous logos depicting the letter “S”. Under the hood, the Audi S3 has a new 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline turbo engine with direct fuel injection, delivering 300 hp. and 380 Nm of torque, which is 35 forces and 30 Nm more compared to the previous engine.
The thrust is transmitted to all wheels through six-speed mechanics (acceleration from zero to one hundred takes 5.4 seconds), or through a pre-selective transmission S tronic with double clutch (from 0 to 100 km / h in 5.1 seconds). The maximum speed trehdverki in both versions is limited to 250 km / h. Improving the dynamics of the new S3 contributed not only to a more powerful engine, but also reduced by 60 kg (up to 1,395 kg) weight, compared with the previous generation car.
Among other technical innovations is a retuned sports suspension with a 25 mm lower ground clearance and reinforced brakes. At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show debuted the Audi S3 hatchback in a more practical five-door body. Compared with the three-door, this model has a wheelbase increased by 35 mm (up to 2 631 mm). Overall length is 4324 millimeters, width - 1785 millimeters, height - 1404 millimeters. Thus, the third-generation S3 Sportback is 22 millimeters longer, 19 millimeters wider and 2 millimeters above its predecessor. The front track has also grown - it has become more by 52 millimeters.
The mass of the 2013 S3 Sportback hatchback is 1,445 kilograms. This is 50 kilograms heavier than the three-door and 50 kilograms lighter than the previous generation hatchback. Weighing models on axles - 59:41 in favor of the front wheels. Externally, with the exception of two additional doors, the 2014 Audi S3 Sportback repeats the S3 modification, flaunting a chrome grille, another front bumper, door sills, aluminum lining on the mirror housings, a diffuser and four tailpipes of the exhaust system. The standard equipment hatchback S3 Sportback is equipped with 18-inch wheels with tires dimension 225/40.
The model received the same engine that is used on the three-door version - a two-liter turbocharged "four" with a capacity of 300 horsepower. In this case, "Sportback" dials "hundred" in exactly five seconds, which is 0.1 seconds faster than the three-door. The model can be equipped with a pair of gearboxes - six-band S-Tronic “robot” or six-speed “mechanics”. Five-second acceleration to the "hundred" is carried out with the first of them, while cars with a manual gearbox gain 100 kilometers per hour 0.5 seconds slower.
Maximum vehicle speed is limited to 250 km / h. Fuel consumption for cars with the "mechanics" is 6.9 liters per 100 kilometers, for versions with the S-Tronic - seven liters. This result was made possible thanks to technologies such as, for example, a dual fuel injection system, an exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head, a system for changing the valve timing Audi valvelift, and others.
The standard equipment of the model includes Quattro four-wheel drive, 340-mm front brake discs, as well as the Audi drive select system, which allows the driver to independently adjust the response of the gas pedal, set the gearshift timing points of the S-Tronic, and also change the effort on the steering wheel. At the same time, the model already has a number of preset settings that can be selected using the interface of the MMI entertainment system. In addition, as an option for the S3 Sportback, an adaptive suspension Magenetic Ride is proposed. She is able to independently adapt to the road conditions.
At the end of a sporty event of 2013, Audi announced the launch of Russian sales of the “charged” Audi S3 Sedan, a model characterized by rich basic equipment and impressive dynamic performance. The sedan has retained the design touches of the rest of the Audi S Series models. The appearance attracts attention with sporty bumpers, a chrome front grille and chrome tailpipes. From the Audi A3 sedan, the S3 version is distinguished by modified front and rear bumpers, a sports spoiler, a 25 mm lower suspension, as well as original mirror housings with a pseudo-aluminum body.
Dimensions of the car are 4456x1796x1416 mm. The size of the wheelbase is 2637 mm. The interior matches the exterior: high-quality materials for decoration, original interior details, comfortable seats for the driver and passengers, an informative dashboard and excellent cabin ergonomics.
Separate words are deserved by the MIB infotainment system, which includes a navigation system, a DVD reader, a 64 GB hard disk, voice control and a 7-inch high-resolution screen. All-wheel drive for the 2014 Audi S3 sedan, available as an option.
