Audi also reveals the sportier version of their hatchback, the S3 Sportback

Seems someone at Audi didn't liked the attention given the the new Mercedes A-Class AMG (A45) and thought "hey, let's release pictures and more information about our fast hatchback", too bad the S3 Sportback is less powerful and slower compared with the Mercedes.

And like the Mercedes the exterior styling package is almost the same to the S-Line version, while there are no other differences to the 3-door S3 besides the two extra doors, roof rails and different taillights.

The new S3 Sportback weighs 1.445 kilograms (3.186lb) which is 70 kilograms (154.32lb) less than the previous model, and just with the car is now faster, besides consuming less fuel and polluting less.

The improved 1.984cc four-cylinder engine in the S3 Sportback now produces 300hp (221kW) @ 5.500rpm and 380Nm (280lb/ft) available from 1.800 to 5.500rpm. You can choose between the six-speed manual transmission (0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds with an average fuel consumption of 7l/100 km or 33,60 US mpg) and the six-speed S tronic (0 to 100km/h in just 5 seconds and an average fuel consumption of 6.9l/100 km or 34,09 US mpg). The top speed is electronically limited at 250km/h or 155mph.

And all those 300 ponies go to the four wheels through the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system and a redesigned multi-plate clutch for a better performance in all types of weather.

But in the end it is still slower and weaker than the A45 AMG, still i am sure Audi is working on a RS3 version. Don't miss them at the Geneva Motor Show!

PS: Funny things. Audi seems to use the same background for all the pictures of the A3, and Mercedes introduced a white car with an interior red trim and stitching, while Audi has a red car with an interior white trim and stitching.

2014 Audi S3 convertible caught testing in the snow

Slowly the German brand introduces new variants of the A3, but before that each vehicle has to be tested in low and high temperatures. And that is what we have here, the Audi A3 convertible, but this time it isn't based on the hatchback but on the soon to be introduced sedan.

And this is also the fastest version, the S3, that will have a new 2.0liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine with 296hp and 380Nm (280lb/ft) of torque. This engine will be available with a manual or a dual-clutch transmission, possibly with the four-wheel drive quattro system.

One advantage of being based on the A3 sedan, which rides on a larger MQB platform, is the bigger space for luggage and rear passengers

Source: carpix via carscoop