Two
2021 Audi S3 prototypes were spotted on and around the Nordschleife, a black
Sportback hatch and a Riviera Blue sedan. None of them featured camouflage,
allowing us to spot the styling tweaks over the regular A3 models. The S3 models adopt an
understated appearance, with the most noticeable upgrades being the quad round
exhausts flanking a rear diffuser, larger honeycomb inserts in the grille, and
bigger side air intakes in the front bumper. The rear bumper features honeycomb
inserts as well echoing those at the front, with the larger wheels and brakes
rounding out the changes.
In addition, the 2021 Audi S3 Sedan
prototype features an add-on deck lid spoiler, black window trim, black side
mirrors, and black roof. We can’t tell if the latter is made of carbon fiber
but that would be a very nice surprise. Carscoops photographers did not manage
to catch a glimpse of the interior but you should not expect big upgrades
compared to the regular Audi A3 in S-line grade. Standard sports seats, a
chunkier steering wheel, red accents and possibly carbon fiber trim should be
on the list.
Under the hood, the 2021 Audi S3 will
feature a 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine with around
300 horsepower, an S-tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard
quattro all-wheel drive. Combined with adaptive suspension and
electromechanical progressive steering, the latest evolution of the quattro
system will deliver “composed, surefooted and incisive driving
characteristics”, according to Audi.
Tailored specifically to suit the new S3,
the electronic torque distribution has been integrated in the Audi drive select
dynamic handling system. More importantly, quattro distributes the torque with
full variability between the front and rear axles. Under normal driving
conditions, most of the torque goes to the front wheels, but when the front
loses grip, up to 100 percent of drive torque is transmitted to the rear axle –
effectively turning the A3 into a rear-wheel-drive car.
