Undisguised Next-Gen Audi S3 Saloon And Hatch Spotted

Prototypes for both variants of the S3 have been spotted undergoing testing on and around the Nurburgring

25 Jun 2020

Undisguised Next-Gen Audi S3 Saloon And Hatch Spotted

The VW Golf R’s posher cousin is on its way. The full S3 reveal won’t be happening until later this year, but we already know what it’ll look like - Audi hasn’t bothered adding any camouflage to these two fly-splattered prototypes.

Yep, prototypes plural - what we have here is a buy one, get one free S3 spotting, with both ‘Sportback’ hatch and four-door saloon variants papped on and around the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

As is the Audi S way, neither car looks all that different to the equivalent S Line-equipped S3. There are some subtle changes, however, including tweaked front bumpers, new rear diffusers and bigger side skirts. Distressingly, the standard A3’s big, fake rear vents are still present, but at least there’s the trademark quad exhaust serving as a distraction.

There won’t be a three-door S3 this time around - the A3 base car is bereft of a three-door option, with Audi not bothering to make a new-generation one owing to low demand.

As with the last S3, the new one will be powered by VW Group’s widely-used ‘EA888’ 2.0-litre inline-four turbo engine, although it’ll be pokier than before. We’d expect the output to match that of the incoming VW Golf 8 R, which - according to a recent stats leak - will be good for 329bhp.

During a drive of an S3 prototype, our Auto Express colleagues learned that the all-wheel drive system is now fully variable between the front and rear axles. So in some situations it might - we hope - have a noticeable rear-bias.

The question is, would you go for the saloon of the hatchback?

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

I’d go for the hatchback, but in that really attractive blue 😍

EDIT: the more I look at that shade of blue, the more I see a Polestar Volvo… Perhaps Audi’s Nogaro Blue would look better!

Looks boring, but at least it is not a diesel and the exhausts might even be real

Looking decent. I’d definitely take the sedan anyday. Give me one in misano red or sepang blue and I’m happy!

Looks hideous!! Fake vents everywhere and now they’ve spread to the back bumper too. The new front end slope looks like a elephant has sat on it

Give. It. RWD.

Then it wouldn’t be an Audi?
I mean when you look at performance car wise even BMW and Mercedes are moving away from RWD on performance models.
I get the want for rear wheel drive but for every day accessible performance Audi 4WD systems work and work well.

Great as that would be it is simply not viable for vehicles in that class in this day and age.

Even BMW who previously used RWD for their 1 series has thrown in the towel in that regard.
Why? Because the FWD based architecture is cheaper to manufacture, faster to manufacture, has lower driveline losses, is more space efficient, and offers better crash protection.

In short, RWD in this class makes vehicles noncompetitive because it is more expensive and compromises the base vehicle too much.

I would want the saloon because it looks nicer, but then i would regret it because the hatch is more practical. I do like the understated look though, i like the “boring” look, i like having a relatively quick car that doesn’t get me noticed everywhere.