Tuesday 9th November 2004

Audi to head off Imprezas and Evos

Company hopes 330 bhp S3 will see off rice-burners

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Audi next S3 won't be called an RS3, according to this week's Autocar, but only the badge is affected: the plan is to still to produce a seriously powerful hatch.

The magazine's sources suggest that, instead of the old turbocharged four-pot 223 bhp engine in the current model (right), the next S3 will sport a narrow-angle V6 offering as much as 330 bhp.

The reports speculates that Audi's radical uprating of the car is prompted by competition from affordable and fast cars such as the Subaru Impreza and the Mitsubishi Evo, both of which are quicker and more agile than the S3.

Asa result, in addition to a new powerplant, the new car will also get a stiffer chassis -- 80 per cent stiffer, according to the report -- and an upgraded 4WD system. The system can send up to 100 per cent of the drive to the rear wheels in extreme conditions apparently.

Audi is reported as saying that the new transmission is quicker to engage and is more sensitive to road conditions.

The car is due out early in 2006.

[darren]

It may have 330hp, but it still has an air of 'conservatism' - it's not going to appeal to the same market as the WRX and Evos 'cos it needs scoops and spoilers + a large bank of after-market tuning accessories.

[jaker]

yeah, but it will be a much more 'grown up' car.

I think there is a good market for a 4wd barnstormer that doesnt make you look like a chav.

I just hope Audi concentrate on the car's lardiness.

No doubt it'll weigh about 1800 kg tho...

[mrwomble]

jaker said:

yeah, but it will be a much more 'grown up' car. I think there is a good market for a 4wd barnstormer that doesnt make you look like a chav.

Too bloody right. There's absolutely no way I'd ever touch an Evo or Scooby with a bargepole - purely because of the image, and the way I see them being driven - but an S3 with real power would be seriously tempting.

[jaker]

Yes indeed Mrwomble.

I went to a Subaru dealer the other day to look at a wrx sti ppp (too many letters for a start)

technical spec is startlingly good, and vfm is amazing, but I would just hesitate signing on the dotted line 'cos of all the pi55 take I would get for being a wideboytwat. Great shame really.

[dinkel]

Well VAG - put the lump in a Golf and call it, er . . .

Golf 330 Turbo?

[tuscanboy]

Its the dowside of making affordable fast cars - anyone can afford them!!

I wonder which of Audi's bewildering array of transmissions will be available on the S3. At the moment the availability of Manaul, Tiptronic, DSG and Multitronic vary across the ranges and are dependent on power output and whther or not Quattro is specified.

[oagent]

Oh great just what we need.. another nutter in an Audi trying to glue themselves to your rear bumper. This sort of thing used to be the domain of BMW driving reps, now it seems the suited masses have chosen Audi's as their Germanic chariot of choice. If anything give them less power please Audi!!! Stick to dull silver cars with optional baby on board sickers and in the process make the roads a safer place.

[ApexClipper]

Could there BE any more generalisations & misconceptions in this thread?

*sigh*

[battlecat]

ApexClipper said:

Could there BE any more generalisations & misconceptions in this thread?

Could Audi BE anymore of a generalist manufacturer!!

I hope Audi do something to the A3 to make it perform and look rather special. Bodywork changes can really work - just look at the M3 . And please don't make it in silver

[mrwomble]

ApexClipper said:

Could there BE any more generalisations & misconceptions in this thread? *sigh*

Of course there could. There's always room for a few more prejudiced, uninformed ramblings

But really - like it or not - a car is a significant investment that is often the first (and only) thing that people see about you. Whether or not you care about the image it projects, the image is still there.

[custardtart]

or is it????

[ed.]

indeed...

[Lone Granger]

I have to say I was rather impressed with my recent ride in the 3 v6.

The DSG is awesome - mate that to a tuned version of the v6, add sports exhaust, few alloy / plastic panels (good excuse to flare wings whilst theyre at it..)and 350 bhp - plus match the Scoobs for value and I will be in the queue.

Presently drive STI Prodrive UK, going to Prodrive to upgrade map next week, and frankly I really couldnt care less what peoples misconceptions are !! - It is not a boy racer car, it is a genuine road going 'practical replica' of the WRC car

Cheap high performance / pound cars are always going to attract the younger crazy element, a majority of which dont forget will mature into car enthusiasts like yourselves......

[jaker]

Lone Granger said:

Presently drive STI Prodrive UK, going to Prodrive to upgrade map next week, and frankly I really couldnt care less what peoples misconceptions are !! - It is not a boy racer car, it is a genuine road going 'practical replica' of the WRC car Cheap high performance / pound cars are always going to attract the younger crazy element, a majority of which dont forget will mature into car enthusiasts like yourselves......

Agreed, but I still think the pink writing on the side is a bit too tacky

[Lone Granger]

jaker said:

Lone Granger said: Presently drive STI Prodrive UK, going to Prodrive to upgrade map next week, and frankly I really couldnt care less what peoples misconceptions are !! - It is not a boy racer car, it is a genuine road going 'practical replica' of the WRC car Cheap high performance / pound cars are always going to attract the younger crazy element, a majority of which dont forget will mature into car enthusiasts like yourselves...... Agreed, but I still think the pink writing on the side is a bit too tacky

you will find no argument from me there - toying with stripping her of such items - unfortunately Prodrive couldnt offer any replacements - missed opportunity, me thinks..

[yertis]

Lone Granger said:

The DSG is awesome - mate that to a tuned version of the v6, add sports exhaust, few alloy / plastic panels (good excuse to flare wings whilst theyre at it..)and 350 bhp - plus match the Scoobs for value and I will be in the queue.

You'll be behind me ... please let it be so... I think you can bet your socks it won't match the Scooby pricewise, but then again it won't feel like it's been made out of biscuit tins either...

[Lone Granger]

yertis said:

Lone Granger said: The DSG is awesome - mate that to a tuned version of the v6, add sports exhaust, few alloy / plastic panels (good excuse to flare wings whilst theyre at it..)and 350 bhp - plus match the Scoobs for value and I will be in the queue. You'll be behind me ... please let it be so... I think you can bet your socks it won't match the Scooby pricewise, but then again it won't feel like it's been made out of biscuit tins either...

Aha, you are mistakingly associating the, ahem 'biscuit tin construction' with lack of quality, whereas discussed above - it is for competitive lightweight - suggest Audi consider the biscuit tin approach on their performance models...

Compare size of Scoob to S3, then compare weight - who has got it right for a performance car? - I will give you a clue --- it is not Audi!! - THey really do need to dress the shell in alloy / plastic panels (Mercedes do it on cars 3 times the price..)and get that weight down somewhere approaching 1200 kg - target min of 300 bhp / ton and similar for torque, then we have a contender!

THe Prodrive STi has same power to weight as World WRC contender - however, the torque is ramped up considerably and it is that which makes it competitive.

If Audi cant make near 350 lb ft N/A, then twin micro turbos will do nicely (help aftermarket tuning...)

Dont forget, because the Jap Market has dropped the gentlemans aggreement over BHP - next generation Scoobs and EVOs will be much more powerful - the 400bhp Evo, may well have lit the blue touch paper (couldnt resist seasonal analogy!)

So Audi really do need to pull out a fizzer! - They have the technology, lets see if they have the bottle..

>> Edited by Lone Granger on Tuesday 9th November 17:23

[mel]

I'd still bet in a decent spec it will be £30k + (the 3.2 DSG already is) Anyway IMO its a grown version of a Scoobretza turbo thingy and understatement is everything, I'd buy one, infact f.ck it when the announce it official I will order one to replace my current S3.

[yertis]

No, I know Subarus are well engineered. But light weight doesn't have to feel tinny - see Lotus Elise. Scoobys feel, and sound, tinny. IMO. Very fast, fine handling cars. But I'd rather drive something a bit more... sunstantial. IMO - respect to Scoobies and all that. Had a great laugh in Smiffys last Sun. Wouldn't want to do the M4 in one every day, but could easily do that in an S4.

[agent006]

"- and an upgraded 4WD system"

Surely they mean downgraded to a proper TorSen setup rather than this haldex shite that they keep slapping quattro badges on these days.