Audi had been feeding us teasers of the performance-oriented S3 model for a while now: the first shots appeared even before the standard A3 debuted. Today, however, marks the first time the car was sighted on the street completely undisguised.
On the outside, you can tell the S3 from its more mundane counterpart thanks to the new radiator grille and bumper details. Other than that, they are nearly identical.
No engine data is available to date, but rumor has it that the 2.0-liter TFSI the S3 comes with will get a boost from 300 to 310 horsepower (224 -> 230 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission will send the momentum to all four wheels thanks to a new AWD system never before used on the S3. The latter can redirect up to 100% of torque to one axle.
The feature list goes on to mention suspension tweaks, progressive steering, and wheels wrapped in special Bridgestone tires unique to this car model.
The reveal date of the Audi S3 remains unannounced after the event in May was canceled due to the coronavirus.