Geneva Motor Show: Audi to debut 300-horsepower S3 Cabriolet
Audi’s A3 family just keeps growing.
Starting with the all-new A3 sedan that’s due on sale soon, Audi’s new entry-level lineup will also include an A3 convertible, an A3 diesel model, an e-tron plug-in hybrid hatchback and an S3 performance sedan. And now we meet the S3 Cabriolet.
Debuting at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show in early March, the S3 offers the mechanical bits of the S3 sedan without the roof. This means a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine sits under the aluminum hood, pumping out 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.
Audi’s six-speed, dual-clutch S Tronic transmission pushes this power to all four wheels. The car is good for zero-62 mph runs in 5.4 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
The soft top comes in one of three colors and folds and unfolds in about 18 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph, Audi said.
A decent curb weight (for an all-wheel-drive convertible) of 3,571 pounds and tech tidbits such as direct-injection helps keep the S3 convertible’s fuel efficiency reasonable, clocking in at 33 mpg on the highway.
If you’re keen to add one of these to the garage quickly, make sure your passport is up to date. Although the car will likely go on sale in Europe soon, Audi has yet to announce if and when it might land in the U.S.
Knowing our appetite for drop-tops, however, it would make sense for the brand to bring the S3 cabriolet here, so start picketing your local dealer now.
This Audi will debut on March 4, alongside other new models such as the Ferrari California T, Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, McLaren 650S, and Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrid.
