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

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A3 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo Sportback 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 Koenigsegg Agera S 5.0 V8 Hundra.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 1500 kgs (3306 lbs) this makes the Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo Sportback in the same weight category as the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 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 2002 Jaguar S Type 4.2 V8 R Auto (222.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A3.

The Audi A3 has a Power to weight ratio of 197.3 bhp per ton and 186.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 A3 competing with the 2002 Jaguar S Type 4.2 V8 R Auto (222.2 bhp per ton) or the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS 3.3 V12 (222.2 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 186.6 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 2014 Peugeot 308 GT 2.0 Blue HDI 180 (211.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 1964 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS 283 V8 Turbo Fire (211.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.20 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.4 secs, this made the Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo Sportback as fast as 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 or the 2018 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.20 secs). This Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo Sportback is also faster than the 2019 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy-R (5.30 secs) the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (5.30 secs) the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 V6 Supercharged 360 (5.30 secs) the and the 2017 Mercedes G Class 63 AMG (5.30 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A3 and the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302

When talking about the performance of the Audi A3 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.52 secs @ 101.2 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 (13.46 secs), the 1951 Jaguar C Type 3.4L (13.50 secs), and the 1993 Nissan Skyline R33 GTR (13.51 secs).

Top Speed:

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