AUDI launched the 2022 S3 sports sedan on Friday, July 15 at their Oxford Road showroom, signalling a year of performance and innovation of the brand.

“The Audi S3 last underwent a facelift in 2017, and so the all-new exterior is designed to impress. It’s safe to say that Audi’s engineers have made the 2022 S3 more spacious, more powerful, and more dynamic than ever,” Damien Kerr, head of business, Audi Jamaica, and general manager told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

The S3 is the performance version of the A3 sedan. The new car is wider and longer to increase passenger comfort. The bodylines are even more aggressive with a single-frame grille design inspired by the RS edition Audi vehicles. The signature quad-exhaust system, larger for 2022, demarks the S3 from the other A3 models. The styling isn’t just for looks as it is aerodynamically functional, down to even the side mirrors. The underbody is panelled as well to reduce air resistance.

As one of the pioneers in advanced motor vehicle lighting technology, LED lights are standard all around, with LED Matrix as an option. The already impressive interior of the A3 gets a sportier focus due to eight-way power adjustable seats and carbon atlas inlay.

The seats will be welcomed as the famous 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder TSFI motor makes 290 horsepower and 295lb/ft of torque. When paired with the seven-speed S-Tronic transmission, they rocket the S3 to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds. To handle those speeds the standard all-wheel, Audi’s Quattro system is used and a suspension that is lowered by 15mm over the standard A3. With all that acceleration and grip comes the need to stop, and the S3 has 357mm front brake disc rotors. The four are internally ventilated to increase cooling.

“We’ve been waiting for this car for several months. We were out of S3s for pretty much a year, so it was highly anticipated and so many people wanted to see it. So many have seen pictures, seen videos, but it’s nothing like getting the car in person,” said Kerr.

Despite the current automotive climate, Kerr applauded his team for their efforts, citing that 2021 saw the best sales numbers for Audi and that last month they were able to deliver a record number of units for any premium brand. He added there is more to come as the brand delivers both on performance and the future with electric vehicles.

“Audi is leading the way. We are going to be launching the RS e-tron GT on our shores very soon. We’re also going to have the e-tron SUV. Interested buyers can order the Last Edition Audi R8. The RSQ8 is also available, of which we have several orders already,” said Kerr.