Bob Gritzinger | | AutoWeek / August 1, 2006 - 9:21 am
The official word from Ingolstadt is that the Audi S3 won't be sold in the United States anytime soon. It is, after all, a three-door hatchback, and Americans still aren't keen on three-door hatchbacks.
But the S3, Audi's sport version of the A3 five-door already sold in the United States, is just too good to leave the U.S. market out of the plans. Audi has shown a tendency to deny the United States its best hardware initially, but then eventually comes through with the goods. See S4, S6, S8, and most recently, the RS4, for evidence.
The S3 is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 265-hp, 258-lb-ft four-cylinder engine, driving all four wheels via quattro and a six-speed manual gearbox. A lowered sport suspension, 18-inch aluminum wheels and bigger brakes, along with "S" exterior and interior trim modifications, complete the package.
S3 goes on sale later this year in Europe, starting at 35,150 euros. That works out to about $45,000.
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