2015 Audi S3 – A Handsome Car

The 2015 Audi S3 didn’t draw much attention on this sunny, cool morning in Monte Carlo. Parked outside a posh hotel near the famous casino you know from James Bond films and mere steps from the iconic streets that make up the circuit of the Monaco Grand Prix, the S3 only hints at what it can do. It’s a handsome car, for sure, but it doesn’t stand out in these glamorous surroundings. That’s not this car’s mission, though; the S3 is meant to turn the heads of American consumers seeking a classy sedan with sporting character and luxurious features.

Like the rest of the brand-new A3 lineup, the S3 was designed with the U.S. market in mind. That means the S3 has a real back seat and a decent trunk. You can sit in this car and not wish you had skipped a few meals. A four-door coupe, a hatchback, and other body styles were considered, but none of them passed muster because Americans prefer sedans.

 ”This car has largely been made with a focus on the U.S.,” says Filip Brabec, Audi of America product planning manager. Specifically, the focus is on the U.S. small-sedan market, an area that Audi and other premium-brand automakers are rediscovering. Slightly longer and lower than the new A3 sedan, the S3 sports dimensions very close to those of the original A4 from the mid-1990s, a car whose spirit the new A3 family hopes to recapture now that the current A4 has grown larger, heavier, and more upscale.

The S3 is the headliner in the 2015 A3 line, although it won’t arrive here until the fall. Audi will launch its standard A3 models, with 1.8- and 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinders, beginning in the first quarter of 2014. The wide-ranging lineup also will include a diesel, a cabriolet, and a plug-in hybrid.

The S3, however, promises to be the most fun, thanks to its potent 2.0-liter turbo. Audi estimates that the S3 will push out 290 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The direct-injected engine works with Quattro all-wheel drive and a six-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters. Audi predicts a 0-to-62-mph sprint of 4.9 seconds, which seemed very possible during our drive.

The output figures of the S3 are modest compared with those of the brash Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG, which boasts 355 hp and 332 lb-ft along with a 4.6-second 0-to-62-mph time. Although the CLA is the A3′s natural rival, the AMG variant is not directly comparable to the S3. Audi puts its most sporting – and powerful – models in RS trim to face off against Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and BMW’s M divisions, meaning we’ll have to wait for a theoretical RS3 for a true comparison. And while S3 pricing hasn’t been announced, it’s estimated to start at about $41,000, which well undercuts the CLA45′s $48,375 sticker price.

As it is, the S3 provides a nice boost over the highest-powered A3 (which makes 220 hp). It also includes special design touches such as sportier bumpers, silver mirror caps, restyled side sills, and a matte-gray, chrome-framed grille with split horizontal bars. Our tester’s black interior looks sharp with brushed-aluminum trim and red stitching and accents. The tachometer also shows boost pressure, and a driver-information system can record lap times. Other electronics include a seven-inch high-resolution screen that extends up from the dashboard and an MMI rotary controller that also functions as a touchpad.

The S3 is plenty of fun to drive, with an eager chassis and a strong engine. Its trim dimensions and good visibility are welcome on the twisting roads of southern France. Our route begins in the heart of Monte Carlo, and we quickly navigate the mid-morning traffic, dash through the famous tunnel where Formula 1 cars howl, and arrive at the mountainous region on the border between France and Italy. The most       challenging pass we encounter is the Col de Braus, which cuts into the Alps with a spectacular array of hairpins and switchbacks. The S3 is more than up to it. The car has excellent reflexes, and the suspension maintains its composure through the tightest of turns. The electrically assisted steering is direct and communicative, and the system varies the ratio as you move the flat-bottom steering wheel off-center. The result is a purposeful, athletic sedan for enthusiasts.

When the terrain is less taxing, we take note of the engine. The sound is only OK. We goose the throttle in tunnels hoping to get an earful, but the reply is a grunting, buzzy note. Activate dynamic mode, however, and not only does the transmission hold gears longer but the engine sounds better, thanks to flaps in the quad-tipped exhaust system that open under higher loads.

The S3 is impressive. It’s agile and quick but still subtle in appearance. It may not turn heads like its flashy competitors from Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac, but it rewards the driver with an engaging experience and plenty of everyday functionality. That combination should play well in America – even more so than on the French Riviera.