Performance Review: Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A3 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder 4.6 V8.This particular Audi A3 has a 1984cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The A3 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the A3's All Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1470 kgs (3240 lbs) this makes the Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Audi A3 shares the same bhp with the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 1984cc 16V St4 engine produces 296 bhp (220 kW) @ 5500 rpm similar to the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 280 lb-ft (379.6 Nm) @ 1800 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Audi A3 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1966 Pontiac GTO 6.4L V8 (226.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A3.

The Audi A3 has a Power to weight ratio of 201.3 bhp per ton and 190.4 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 A3 competing with the 1966 Pontiac GTO 6.4L V8 (226.2 bhp per ton) or the 2006 BMW Z4 3.2 M Coupe 2d (226.0 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Audi A3 generating around 190.4 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2015 Audi A3 RS3 Sportback 2.5 Turbo (215.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2015 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport SVR 5.0 V8 Supercharged (214.9 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.10 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.3 secs, this made the Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo as fast as the 2018 Alfa-Romeo Giulia Q4 2.0L Turbo (5.10 secs) the 2018 Alfa-Romeo Giulia Ti 2.0 Turbo (5.10 secs) the 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona 5.7 V8 370 (5.10 secs) the or the 2017 Audi A6 3.0T Competition (5.10 secs). This Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo is also faster than the 2021 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 16V Limited Edition (5.20 secs) the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (5.20 secs) the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range (5.20 secs) the and the 2018 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.20 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A3 and the 2009 Mercedes E Class 500 Sport

When talking about the performance of the Audi A3 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.44 secs @ 101.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2009 Mercedes E Class 500 Sport (13.38 secs), the 2007 Toyota Aurion TRD 3.5 V6 Supercharged (13.38 secs), and the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive Cabrio 3.0 Turbo F23 (13.38 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 A3 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2012 A3 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison