Audi S3 road test

Amidst ever increasing congestion and rapidly inflating mineral and pollution costs, any motorist with a hint of high octane in their veins have needed to broaden their horizons when looking for a new vehicle.

This is where the hot hatch market can be of service. A brief scan over the protagonists in this field can reveal several options that combine practicality and frugality with a performance punch solid enough to embarrass sports cars of even five years ago. Some may look a little tacky, combining ‘look at me’ add-on bodykits with plastic interior ‘features’ which reveal their small family hack ancestry.

The Germans decided they also wanted to play in the hot hatch market and created a segment that has been virtually their own since the late nineties- that of the premium hot hatch. Sophisticated electronics and textured surfaces abound in this category, for a price commensurate to their image. This price can be found as you scale the peak of $60,000 and head straight towards $70,000. Here you will find two traditional German protagonists vying for supremacy: BMW’s 130i, unique to this class with rear wheel drive and a 195kw, 3 litre straight 6, and our feature car- Audi’s latest S3.

Launched in 1998, the S3 has always been the hero car of Audi’s compact A3 generation. This latest version, retailing at $65,500, packs VAG’s familiar, 1984cc four cylinder engine. The award winning TSFI nomenclature used to describe the motor is an acronym for “turbocharged stratified-fuel injection”, the fuel being directly injected into the combustion chamber rather than the airstream as it draws through the inlet manifold. In this tune the dependable 2 litre has had turbo pressure boosted from 0.9 bar to 1.2 with the lower end components strengthened accordingly. These modifications lead to headline figures of 188kw at 6000rpm and a meaty 350nm of torque held firm from 2500 to 5000rpm. Despite the impressive power figure, Audi claims fuel economy of 9.2 litres per 100kms, which is frankly brilliant for this kind of performance potential. It is somewhat curious however that Australia doesn’t receive the full house Euro specification of the motor, which sees the power output nudge 195kw. Apparently this is due to substandard Australian fuel, though the real-world difference between the two engine specs would be difficult to quantify subjectively.

Taking a walk around the car one can take time to appreciate the purposeful tweaks used by Audi’s designers to differentiate this premier model from its standard A3 siblings. The suspension has been firmed and the ride height is lowered 25mm with the lower bodywork altered to match. Additional s-spec subtleties include twin oval exhaust tips along with a roof spoiler and rear diffuser, though their contributions to aerodynamic performance are a moot point. Driving mirrors offset the choice of exterior colour with their aluminium-look finish and particularly suit the vivacious blue of the test car. An impressive, chromed single frame front grille section evokes images of Rosemeyer tangling with 520bhp of mighty Type C Auto-Union. Completing the picture are tasteful 18 inch alloys running 225/40 tyres, the wheels’ 14 spokes matched in pairs that give the appearance of 7 on first glance.

Carrying on this air of classiness, the long held perception of Audi interiors being second to none is continued here. Lovely, tactile controls abound and the materials used reek of quality. ‘Our’ S3 came with the standard steering wheel, leather bound of course, but for many the optional RS4 style wheel with its flat bottom adds a touch of hardcore that can be further enhanced with RS4 wide-backed seats. In our case, the standard leather seats do a great job as is, offering decent side support and an upright yet comfortable position from which you can see exactly where the nose is pointing. Though a relatively small car compared with other luxo-barge Germans, you get the impression that long autobahn distances would be accomplished from this driving position with a minimum of fuss, just like its larger stablemates.

Further inspection reveals a myriad of interior features designed to entertain driver and passenger alike. The central screen can display stereo or navigation options, while also acting as a television with DVD capability when not a danger to the driver (great for passengers and the driver- but only when parked!). To control the climate within there are 2 switches near the base of the console that allow different temperatures from left to right and are a delight to the touch- you find yourself unconsciously clicking the toggle from side to side during periods in stop-start traffic. For the driver, the dashboard provides a wealth of data from which to view, from fuel consumption to a slightly boy-racer inspired lap timer, though it’s probably best to keep your eyes on the road ahead…

The proof is in the driving

Settled now, it’s time to fire the S3 up, the hidden key suddenly leaping out of its fob on the press of a button, and head out into some challenging roads in the Yarra Valley hills. Initial impressions are of an uninspired engine note at lower revs before being interlaid with the sighing breaths of forced induction and a hardening of note as revs build. This compares poorly with the soulful growl of its sister VAG product, the Golf R32 with its creamy 3.2 litre V6, but is not altogether unpleasant. You can tell it is conspicuously turbocharged from the feel of its delivery, initially requiring more revs than you may think to move off smoothly as the all-wheel drive system hooks up. Once mobile, that feeling continues and below 2500rpm the S3 feels docile in a manner that you just don’t expect from an Audi, whose usual low-pressure turbo applications are a model of linearity. Still, as you become more familiar you automatically adjust your technique to better utilise the tightly spaced ratios of the 6 speed gearbox, keeping the S3 on the boil.

As the traffic thins out and the roads become more inviting, beckoning you to drive simply for driving’s sake, you can conclude that the low-rev calmness in delivery is quite handy in the heavier traffic. Why? Because when you do hit the sweet spot and awaken that angry turbo, the S3 really comes alive. It’s not laggy as such, and the delivery is nicely linear one you have built in the initial requirement of revs, but you do notice a sudden pinning to the seat and a look of surprise on your passenger. The figures show that 0-100km/h arrives in 5.7 seconds, with top speed being limited to 250km/h, wonderful figures for a comfortable, economical and practical hatchback.

Harnessing this eighties supercar humbling acceleration is a chassis/drivetrain combination of inspiring depth. Weighing in at 1455kg, it is heavy for a hot hatch but it’s loaded with modern buzz-phrases for the safety conscious (awd, abs, tc, esp, ebd…). As a result the S3 has unflappable traction but despite all the gizmos it provides enough interactivity through its major controls to let you explore the contents of its well resolved dynamic repertoire. The Haldex clutch is rear-mounted and can direct up to 50 per cent of the drive to the rear wheels as required though in normal running the drive is directed through the front wheels. The chassis itself does a respectful job of quelling understeer on initial turn-in but if you press on further a degree of nose-heaviness shows through, pushing the front wide of your intended trajectory. This is especially apparent through increasing radius corners combined with bumpy road surfaces. In having said that, the suspension and damping are both notable for their tight control, the MacPherson strut front and four-link rear both mounted to aluminium subframes and communicating sporty firmness to the cockpit without jarring its occupants. Overall the S3 provides a lovely mix of excitement and control, allowing the driver to maximise its plentiful traction to slingshot out of corners without concern for power oversteer. Steering-wise, the ‘Servotronic’ sensors allow the weighting to be adjusted to allow fingertip adjustment at parking speeds while conveying meaty solidarity and impressive feel and feedback at touring speeds, something that previous generations of S series Audi’s have been criticised for lacking in the past.

By melding its inherent strengths the S3 makes light work of serpentine roads, its urge and tightly spaced gearing punching that gorgeous grille forward, while the 345mm front/310mm rear brakes are resolutely impressive both in pedal feel, with decent initial bite followed by consistent pedal weighting, and in the retardation they provide.

It was as the roads became more open, the smoother and more flowing corners inviting larger throttle openings with greater vision that the S3 felt it’s most competent; solid and composed, without the front end push that occasionally represented itself on entry to slower corners. Here it felt more all-of-a-piece, smoothly demolishing sweeps and devouring straights with a shrug of turbocharged thrust, again invoking the feeling that it would be a great companion for a long-distance strop through the countryside, pulling up perhaps at a swanky Bed and Breakfast somewhere in the Victorian countryside. Not that it would look out of place in the bright lights of the city, of course- understated style and the cachet of German engineering see to that. When combined with the wonderful combination of economy and power, and the grip of its all-wheel drive chassis and enough room for the kids in the back and shopping in the boot the S3 would make for a superb all-rounder with a sting in its tail. In this market like anywhere you get what you pay for.

© 2010 lautista.com.au.