Based on the latest motor1.com spy shots, the first model within the Volkswagen Group to be underpinned by the now widely used MQB platform has taken leave of some of its previous disguise, with the front air vents now only sporting the black-and-white masking and the LED headlights being more visible.
The rear facia meanwhile is kept unchanged from the last sighting, with the quad exhaust outlets, new alloy, sporty alloy wheels and masked diffuser identifying the prototype as the mid-range model between the standard A3 and still-to-be-seen red-hot RS3.
Like its regular sibling, the S3 will be offered in five-door Sportback guise only due to the three-door being dropped as a result of declining sales, although this could change later if Audi decide to make the A3 available again as a sedan. No word regarding the soft-top cabriolet has been made.
Aimed directly as the incoming Ford Focus ST, the recently launched Mercedes-AMG A35 and the forthcoming BMW M130i X Performance, the S3 is expected to retain its 2.0 TFSI engine, but with updates to raise power from the current model’s 228kW/400Nm. With the Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI set combine this engine with an electric motor for a mild-hybrid setup, a hybrid S3 could well become a reality at some stage.
Given the recent spotting of both models, speculation is that the A3 will make its world debut next year, while the S3 could arrive towards the end of 2019 or in early 2020.
