00:00The name Audi S3 has long been synonymous with a fast, competent, and technologically flawless car.
00:08But let's be honest, it was also synonymous with a predictably clinical drive.
00:14A car that did everything right, but rarely provoked that mischievous grin in the corner of your mouth.
00:21Well, it seems the engineers in Ingolstadt finally got tired of hearing that old tune
00:26and decided to implement a course correction that goes far beyond just a visual facelift.
00:33Audi's big move with this new S3 wasn't simply injecting a few more horses into the engine.
00:38A lazy solution, let's admit.
00:40The brand went deeper, performing a tech transplant straight from its older and more psychotic brother, the RS3.
00:48I'm talking, of course, about the torque vectoring rear differential, the so-called torque splitter.
00:53This piece of hardware alone transforms the car's dynamic behavior in a way that no software tweak ever could.
01:02The S3 stops being an all-wheel drive car that merely corrects understeer and becomes a true accomplice in the pursuit of the perfect line.
01:11Under the hood, we find the familiar 2.0 TFSI engine from the EA888 family, now in its fourth evolution.
01:19It now delivers no less than 333 horsepower and 420 newton meters of torque in its European configuration.
01:27But raw numbers don't tell the whole story.
01:31Audi has implemented a turbo preload function.
01:34While cruising, the turbo is kept spinning at a constant speed, eliminating that annoying lag when you suddenly run out of patience.
01:41The response is instant, almost telepathic, with maximum torque available across a ridiculously wide range from 2100 to 5500 RPM.
01:52To manage this newfound aggression, the 7-speed dual-clutch S-tronic transmission also hits the gym.
01:59Gear change times under full load have been cut in half.
02:02In practice, this means shifts that are not only fast but brutally precise, keeping the engine squarely in its ideal power band.
02:10The engineering result?
02:12A 0-100 kmph time of 4.7 seconds, with the electronically limited top speed locked in at 250 kmph.
02:22Not bad for a sedan you can take to the grocery store.
02:25The real game changer, however, is the new Dynamic Plus driving mode.
02:30When selected, the torque splitter is instructed to send the maximum possible torque to the outer rear wheel in a curve,
02:37inducing a light and controllable oversteer.
02:39Yes, you heard that right, an Audi that likes to wag its tail.
02:45In this mode, idle speed increases, throttle response sharpens, and stability control enters a sport mode,
02:52allowing a level of slip that would have once been considered heresy for the brand.
02:56Naturally, the rest of the chassis had to keep up.
02:59The S-Sport suspension lowers the car by 15mm and can optionally be fitted with adaptive dampers.
03:05The progressive steering has been recalibrated for a more direct response,
03:09and the braking system has been upsized with larger and more powerful front discs
03:14to ensure that fun doesn't end abruptly and dishonorably against a guardrail.
03:19Of course, no facelift would be complete without a proper cosmetic update.
03:24Up front, a new frameless single frame grille, flatter and wider, gives the car a more aggressive stance.
03:31At the rear, a new diffuser and the classic four oval exhaust tips reinforce the S-identity.
03:37One standout feature is the ability to choose from four different LED daytime running light signatures.
03:43Arguably unnecessary, but sure to place those who like to stand out.
03:47Inside, Audi's signature refinement remains, with a few pointed updates.
03:52The gear lever has been replaced with a more compact selector,
03:55and the premium audio system now carries the Sonos badge.
03:59The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus remains a benchmark,
04:02presenting information in a clear and customizable way.
04:05It's an environment that blends technology and builds quality in a way rivals still struggle to match,
04:11proving it's possible to be a beast on the track and a gentleman in city traffic.
04:15The S3 has finally found its place.
04:18Not as a tamer RS3, but as the dynamic balance it should always have been.
04:24If you enjoyed this review, give it a like.
04:26Thanks, and see you next time.
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