The Audi S3 largely faded from view with the advent of its more powerful cousin, the RS3, but MTM and Auditography would like to remind us that it remains a perfectly capable car with impressive power and traction.
While the RS3 has five cylinders arranged in a row under the hood, the lukewarm hatch featured in the video has only four. Except that ‘lukewarm’ no longer applies: MTM has devised a quartet of tuning options for that engine, and the car featured in the video enjoys the most expensive makeover.
In case you forgot, the S3 normally outputs up to 310 PS (306 hp / 228 kW) to the wheels. A software tune raises the number to 360 PS (355 hp / 265 kW). Replacing the exhaust manifold adds a further 20 horses (15 kW), and upgrading the air intake system puts another 50 hp (37 kW) under the hood.
The fourth and final tuning stage sees the stock turbocharger replaced with a larger one for 480 PS (473 hp / 353 kW) and a sprint to highway speed in trifling 3.2 seconds. Reaching 200 km/h (124 mph) is a matter of 10.7 seconds – also quite impressive for a four-pot.
In the latest video by Auditography, the car sports a number of further exterior and cabin modifications and feels at home on ice and snow despite lacking the Drift Mode that the RS3 has.