THE ALL-NEW AUDI S3 SEDAN

Audi continues its exceptional lineage with the new S3.


What is it that sets a motor vehicle brand apart from its competitors? Is it the premium look and feel of its models that elevates it above its rivals? Is it the amount of space and comfort that the automobiles offer? Or is it purely based on the technology and performance capabilities of their mechanical creations? In truth, it is all of these traits that distinguish a great brand from a good one, along with the professional attitude its representatives adopt towards its customers, ensuring they always have a positive experience.

Audi is, without a doubt, one of these prestigious brands. For over a century, this German-based car manufacturer has been creating an outstanding lineage for itself, developing a global fanbase and attracting millions of happy patrons worldwide. This month, FACT was given the opportunity to test drive the new Audi S3, compliments of the fantastic team at Audi Qatar, an opportunity we immediately seized with both hands.

The moment the all-new Audi S3 came into view, we were struck by its dynamic appearance and had to restrain ourselves from immediately jumping inside and setting off down the freeway. However, we were soon distracted by the finer design details of the exterior as we made our way around this impressive vehicle. A singleframe dominates the front end complete with large rhombus-patterned grille and distinctive air inlets. The Matrix LED headlights are aggressively shaped and contribute toward the S3’s confident demeanour. The exterior mirrors have a sporty shape to them and add a touch of bling to the car with their aluminium finish. The shoulder of the body extends prominently from bonnet to boot, whilst the areas below are curved inward, a new design element from Audi that has placed more attention on the wheel arches. The vehicle’s seamless rear finish is accentuated by the stylish lip spoiler, with all elements coming together harmoniously.

The sporty attitude of the all-new S3 flows from the exterior into the interior, where we were greeted by a driver focused cockpit. All materials, trimmings and finishes are of an exceptional quality and the abundant comfort and space on offer added greatly to this already impressive experience. All the controls and instruments are perfectly positioned and, along with the superbly designed steering wheel, ensure that the driver has everything she or he may need at any time.

The sportiness of this car is once again accentuated, this time by the distinctive air vents that form a single unit with the instrument cover. In the centre of the instrument panel sits a 10.1-inch MMI touch display with MMI Navigation Plus, all of which come as standard in the new S3. This system recognises letters entered by hand and provides acoustic feedback. If that is not enough, the infotainment can also be voice-controlled using natural language, a feauseful when out on the road. ture we found to be exceptionally useful when out on the road.

We also found plenty of room on offer in the rear, with ample head, shoulder and leg room for three passengers. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 325 litres, a volume that can be increased to 1,145 litres with the rear bench folded down. Finally, it was time to get the new S3 out onto the tarmac and we were soon all nodding at each other in appreciation at the sound of the inline four-cylinder Turbo charged engine. This sturdy sounding engine is coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission that allows the vehicle to produce a maximum power output of 81kW at 5,500rpm with 290hp and a maximum torque of 380Nm at 2,000 – 3,000rpm. This combination allows the S3 to accelerate from 0-100km/h in a respectable 4.9 seconds as well as to offer an electronically limited top speed of 210km/h. As we made our way along the streets, our appreciation for this vehicle grew as we experienced all its capable performance features.

The electromechanical steering with speeddependent power assist allows for super smooth navigation, whilst the dual-circuit brake system with diagonal split and hydraulic brake assist, ensures you are always in complete control of the driving experience. The driver assist system is yet another example of Audi’s technical superiority, boasting an array of assistance and safety features designed to keep you and your loved ones safe at all times. All of this combined with excellent traction control and the general responsiveness of the S3 provided us with one memorable test drive.

If you’re in the market for a technologically superior, highperformance, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing premium motor vehicle, we would recommend you try the S3. ✤

GO: CALL AUDI CENTRE QATAR ON 4445 2375 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE OF YOUR OWN.

All materials, trimmings and finishes are of an exceptional quality and the abundant comfort and space on offer added greatly to this already impressive experience.