THE FANTASTIC FOUR

Audi’s speeding bullet that can go around corners

- Pawan Dhingara

It’s a balance between evolution and revolution once again. Essentially the S3’s anatomy hasn’t changed since it was launched in 1999 and neither has its market position as a sophisticated and cultured hot hatch that doesn’t sacrifice premium niceties for spine-tingling speed. Suffice to say, the new S3 (8Y in nerd terms) doesn’t deviate from the successful and now ubiquitous script, rather choosing to enhance these characteristics and sharpen the styling.

The entire A3 range, when wearing the S-line kit, now features a bolder look with wider vents carved into the bumpers. Due to this, even a relatively plain A3 can appear menacing with the right options and the S3 sometimes struggles to take it a notch higher. Our Sportback in Python Yellow isn’t as flamboyant as a Mercedes-AMG A35 but the four pipes, big alloy wheels over large red calipers, bonnet vents, and black mirrors - wrapped in a sensible five-door configuration - conveys a sense of sportiness and all-round ease-of-use.

The S3’s interior isn’t too different to the A3 35 TFSI we recently drove on test. That’s because they both feed into the same extensive options, some of which, like the reverse camera, really should be standard on a S3! But Audi could push the S3’s cachet a little stronger, or throw in some details, other than red stitching, that aren’t offered in the lower-tier models. Nevertheless, those piercing lines and angular shapes that run from door to door do suit the S3’s cut-and-thrust personality.