S3 and A3 difference?

[P2WRTMR]

I know the S3 has different breaks, steering wheel, turbo, exhaust, suspension and what else? Is it the same motor? Same Trans? What other differences between the A3 2.0 and the S3?

[LINDW4LL]

I know the S3 has different breaks, steering wheel, turbo, exhaust, suspension and what else? Is it the same motor? Same Trans? What other differences between the A3 2.0 and the S3?

Design changes for the new S3 engine:

• Different Pistons with new bolts and rings
• Reinforced connecting rods
• New mounts transfer the power to the crankshaft
• Gray cast iron crankcase reinforced at the main bearing seats and the main bearing cover
• New cylinder head
• New exhaust valves, valve seats and springs
• New high-pressure injection valves
• New turbocharger

-Larger Brakes (340mm vs 312mm)
-Different transmissions (S3 has tighter gearing, possibly other differences to beef it up)
-Different Suspension (and optional Magnetic ride)
-Different Exhaust
-Different Interior Stuff

[slvrb7]

The only brake difference is the rotors

[Spoonie]

The only brake difference is the rotors

Different "S3" logo calipers as well on the front (painted black or red). A3 front calipers aren't as jeweled out. And the rears can also come painted in red or black on the S3. Don't think you can get that on the A3.

[slvrb7]

Lol calipers are the same just like other S models it's just a clip or paint ;)

[mpsmith]

Intake and exhaust manifolds, exhaust, turbo, fuel lines, injectors, intercooler, suspension options, larger disks, the tune itself lol .. The lost goes on

[Spoonie]

Lol calipers are the same just like other S models it's just a clip or paint ;)

Still different from a looks standpoint :)

[mattchow]

The only brake difference is the rotors

so all i have to do is get a set of 340mm rotors to "upgrade"?

[LINDW4LL]

so all i have to do is get a set of 340mm rotors to "upgrade"?

No, you'd need the S3/Golf R caliper carriers as well in order to space the caliper out enough to fit the larger rotor.

[slvrb7]

The rears are vented as well

[P2WRTMR]

So damn it, the engine is different. Looks like i bought the wrong car. :-(

[CRL77]

So damn it, the engine is different. Looks like i bought the wrong car. :-(

All is not lost. If you don't care a whole lot about the warranty, you can get the APR tune and intake, and add some power to the A3. We're on winter blend gas where I am, so it's not AS fun as it was back in the fall, but I'm sure the S3 is slightly tamer with winter gas as well.

The tune and intake turns the A3 into a new car. It sounds more aggressive, the torque curve is insane, and it's a nice "sleeper". Everyone will expect the peppy but efficient little 2.0, and in reality, the car wants to chirp tires at every stoplight.

[mattchow]

Lol calipers are the same just like other S models it's just a clip or paint ;)

Kris, is this confirmed? I know you've been tearing into the 8v stuff pretty hard, would like some kind of confirmation before I go buy new carriers and rotors. Are your oem parts for sale?

[slvrb7]

Yes Same caliper just different carriers

[zarraz]

Not sure but I was told that the front fenders aand hood were aluminum is the a3 the same

[slvrb7]

I heard the same, but I'm not sure my rs4 hood, which is for sure aluminum, feels a lot lighter then the s3 hood.

[BlackAudi87]

weird calibers look bigger to me

Lol calipers are the same just like other S models it's just a clip or paint ;)

[gamegenie]

I'm about hijack this thread and make you all upset about what your cars don't have.


I think the most striking difference is not the A3, its the A3/S3 versus the Concept A3 car.

For starters that car ran on a 2.5L 5-cylinder TFSI turbo engine @408 hp and it has the most cleanest looking engine bay, and you know it worked because they drove it into the Geneva 2011 convention.

those door handles actually pop-out when you approach the vehicle.

and Prestige owners, you ought to be upset that Audi never really gave you the right LED headlights, since the amber light laws require you get a reduced sized LED headlight that doesn't pop like it did on the A3 Concept Car.

I think the non-Prestige A3 (non-S3) looks closer to the A3 concept, especially when you look at the lines that draw air intakes in the front. I don't know why Audi veered away from that design completely on the Prestige A3 and S3.

But look at that tail exhaust! Audi ought to be ashamed to what they did to the production A3/S3. Even the latest Hyundai Sonata has better looking tail exhaust shapes than we do.
Its almost like the designers got lazy on the production model.

Even the 19" 5-wing star wheels on the Concept A3 look superior than the production 19"s

But lastly, that engine bay. Look so clean on the A3 Concept car. Can you imagine if Audi made all of our A3/S3's like that. You would want to show that part off too to spectators.












S3 owners, when they put that flat-bottom steering wheel in this Concept A3, they had you in mind.

Oh so much talk about the sports seats I read here, wouldn't you rather have the original concept sports seats?

India was the lucky country to get the light colored interior, although Audi stiffed them giving them older 4-spoke steering wheel.

Perhaps the only thing I don't agree with is the gear shift being button based. What's the fun in that? And some peeps complain about having no manual DSG.

[Spoonie]

weird calibers look bigger to me

I was thinking the same thing.

[bp044]

Design changes for the new S3 engine:

• Different Pistons with new bolts and rings
• Reinforced connecting rods
• New mounts transfer the power to the crankshaft
• Gray cast iron crankcase reinforced at the main bearing seats and the main bearing cover
• New cylinder head
• New exhaust valves, valve seats and springs
• New high-pressure injection valves
• New turbocharger

-Larger Brakes (340mm vs 312mm)
-Different transmissions (S3 has tighter gearing, possibly other differences to beef it up)
-Different Suspension (and optional Magnetic ride)
-Different Exhaust
-Different Interior Stuff

Is the steering feel better on the S3 than the A3 ?

[extrememike]

Hey @LINDW4LL,

Is this list for the 2015 US model?

I guess the new "redesigned" 2017 only has only cosmetics/convenience upgrades. Apple paly, Virtual cockpit, etc.

[diztek]

S3 hood and fr quarter panels are aluminum. Not sure about a3.