Batten Down the Hatches: Audi Launching S3 This Week?

Could Audi be ready to launch its revived S3 (the first for the US market), amid a lazy August? That's what the guys at Carscoop say. Audi, reports a tipster, will unveil the sport A3 midweek ahead of an introduction at the Paris motor show. It'll have a juiced-up 2.0 TFSI that produces 260 hp, a choice of six-speed manual or SMG, and Haldex center differential for Quattro action. No word on weight, which we're assuming will give it a benefit over the 250-hp 3.2 model. Word is the US will get its first S3 in early 2007.

2007 Audi S3 quattro to be unveiled this week [Carscoop]

Related:
New Audi S3 Coming in Fall 2006 [internal]

7:55 AM on Mon Jul 31 2006
By Mike Spinelli
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5 comments

Comments

Zerin at 09:03 AM on 07/31/06
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Selling the S3 in the US right now just doesn't make any sense to me. The A3 is barely on track to hit sales targets for this year, and a 3.2 S-Line tops out at $42,285 as it is. Despite being a 4-Cyl, there is no way Audi can put this below the 3.2 model. As much as I'd LOVE to see this car here, who in their right mind thinks a $45k+ hatchback is going to sell over here??

On top of that, Audi has refused to certify the 2.0T + Quattro configuration in the US, and it's fairly evident they have no plans to seeing as the new 2.0T TT is FWD only, as are all the current 2.0T cars in the US.

No way, no how, not coming to the US. Speculation is great, but useless without the facts.
S4Avant at 10:48 AM on 07/31/06
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Wow, SMG! It'll be the faster bimmer on the block!
tr at 10:58 AM on 07/31/06
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actually, Zerin, word is that a 2.0 quattro is in the works for release. i think it's release will follow how the Mk I's were released: first year they had a fwd model and quattro. a year later, they had a fwd and a quattro with same hp, and a higher output quattro.

check out this thread from the fourtitude TT forums:
http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothread?id=2718128
Hodo at 04:22 PM on 07/31/06
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Ok, DSG-2.0 quattro certification issues aside, who will buy this thing? As has already been said (sorry, I feel the need to say it again), this thing will come in above a fully optioned 3.2 A3, so north of $42k for 10 more HP and slightly less weight? Who the F*CK is going to buy one of these? A TT 3.2 making 300 HP, sure, but not this. Btw, the "normal" 2.0 turbo with quattro should be available on this car. Audi is stupid for not making it available.
skierpage at 11:33 PM on 07/31/06
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I don't think you can buy a DSG-2.0T-quattro A3 anywhere in the world. Pick any two, but not all three.

A 3-door S3 would indeed be a tough sell for 3x the cost of the Rabbit.

That fourtitude thread mentions a "1.8 TFSI 4 cylinder engine with 240HP". It's great to see displacement going down.

Meanwhile the Impreza/Outback Sport, a far better-handling chassis, is moving upmarket.