Audi S3 Sportback to be priced from mid-60s

It’s not all that long ago that the Audi S3 had the upper-end of the hot hatch market pretty much all to itself. But with the recent or impending arrivals of hyper hatchery from BMW and Mercedes-Benz the four-ringed posse has quite a fight on its hands to earn your custom.

With only 221kW and 380Nm to play with Audi cannot compete on outright performance and that just leaves price. And while it won’t be an outright bargain the new S3 Sportback should undercut the M135i and A45 AMG when it goes on sale locally in December. Audi Australia says the S3 will carry a $65,000–70,000 price tag and will include plenty of standard kit.

If you want the S3 sedan you’ll only have to wait an extra month or so, Audi has announced it will launch in the first quarter of 2014.

Audi knows the S3 is fighting in the toughest market it has ever faced. “It’s a highly competitive market place and we want the many Audi customers, both existing and new, to be delighted with their brand new S3 Sportback,” says Audi Australia’s managing director, Andrew Doyle.

Pleasingly, Doyle confirmed a proper gearbox will be offered this time as well. “We will offer our customers both a 6 speed manual and a 6 speed S tronic transmission when we launch in December this year,” he said.

We look forward to finding out more about the standard level of equipment the Australian-spec S3 Sportback will carry. It’s going to have to be good to compete with its German rivals.

The All New Audi S3 Sportback is Launched

April 11 2013

• All-new Audi S3 Sportback to arrive in Australia in December 2013
  
• Top quality combined with uncompromising performance in a compact package that is ideal for Australian buyers
  
• More power, more torque and more value than ever before

Audi’s all new S3 Sportback will arrive in Australia in December 2013.

Characterised by strong performance, with 221 kW and 380 Nm of torque, this all new third generation model offers more power, more torque and more value than its predecessor – already considered a great success in Australia.

The second generation S3 found almost 900 buyers in Australia between 2007 and 2012 and was considered one of the brand’s best-loved compact sportscars thanks to its highly cultivated 2.0 TFSI engine, exhilarating performance and quattro all-wheel drive surety.

The next generation goes one step further. The engine has been redesigned and now offers more performance than ever before. It is 70kg lighter and significantly more fuel efficient, says Audi Australia’s managing director, Andrew Doyle.

“The new S3 Sportback is a truly responsive vehicle for those customers who want uncompromising quality, in a diminutive package. The S3 has all of the features of our much larger sportscars, yet its size and relatively light weight make it extremely nimble and fun to drive. It covers the sprint from 0 -100km/h in just 5.1 seconds and consumes a low 6.9 litres/100km,” Mr Doyle said.

“We will offer our customers both a 6 speed manual and a 6 speed S tronic transmission when we launch in December this year.”

The Audi S3 Sportback is expected to be priced at around $65,000 – $70,000 MLP and will carry a similarly high level of specification compared to its predecessor.

“But we intend to add even more value to the package,” said Mr Doyle.

“It’s a highly competitive market place and we want the many Audi customers, both existing and new, to be delighted with their brand new S3 Sportback.”

The Audi S3 sedan will join the S3 Sportback around Quarter 1, 2014.