New 2024 Audi S3 debuts punchier powertrain and RS tech

It’s a two-for-one on fast, four-wheel-drive Audis: meet the all-new S3 Saloon and Sportback. Faster, sharper, and more advanced than ever, can this devilish duo steal sales from BMW and Mercedes?

Just one letter separates Audi’s S and RS models, yet their products are radically different. In camp RS: brazen, unapologetically brutish machines steal headlines and shatter supercar owners’ egos. Meanwhile, the S-line ethos is far subtler. Eminently capable, but with covert styling and refined dynamics, it was for cars like the S3 which the term “sleeper” was coined.  

It looks like business as usual for the revamped S3 saloon/hatchback pairing. Exterior tweaks including a new frameless grille, angular side intakes, and a gloss black rear apron, ensure a handsome aesthetic without blowing the S3’s cover and revealing the muscle lurking beneath.  

You’ll not find any dinner-table-sized rear wing either — a modest boot lid lip is all that’s required. The only styling accent which is a little out of character, are the optional, louder — both aesthetically and aurally — quad titanium tailpipes. 

In true sleeper fashion the real story starts under the skin. The enduring 2.0 TFSI turbo four pot has been fettled with for an extra 22 bhp and 15 lb-ft. Hardly groundbreaking numbers, however, a new tuning means more of that peak 328 bhp output is available across a greater rev range. 

Then, translating that boost into forward momentum, a new clutch pack halves gearshift times and sends power to four sticky Falken tyres for an impressive 4.7 second 0-60 mph dash. To put that into perspective, such performance figures place the new S3 on par with the full-fat RS3 of just a decade prior.

What truly separates this S3 from its forebears is the way it behaves in the bends. Previous iterations were clinically effective tools for covering ground at speed, although their chassis offered little in the way of playfulness or fun. That’s all set to change thanks to the inclusion of an RS3-derived torque splitter. In practice, this means the new S3 can distribute its torque across the rear axle mid-corner, enhancing agility and potentially offering an attitude akin to rivals like BMW’s M135i.  

Other notable performance upgrades include a new Dynamic Plus driving mode which gives the car a more rear-biased feel. Plus, optimised wishbones, lowered suspension, and recalibrated steering, should all further enhance engagement on your favourite backroad. Finally, in keeping with the S3’s new performance potential, larger ventilated brake discs are sure to scrub off excess speed with ease.  

If you’re a keen petrolhead who doesn’t want the attention that comes with a fully-fledged RS3, the new S3 offers 90% of the thrills with none of the spills. It should be significantly cheaper too, with early estimates suggesting a £48,000 entry point when it arrives in May. The only question is, do you prefer the hatchback or the saloon?

Hero image credit:  Audi