By: IOL Motoring Staff
Ingolstadt, Germany - There's really no arguing with Audi's 'nutshell' description of its new A3 Clubsport Quattro concept car: “Extreme power and dynamics in compact format.”
Fresh from winding its EA888 2-litre turbopetrol engine up to 309kW in the TT Sport Concept , the Ingolstadt wizards have managed to extract 386kW and 600Nm from the 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine that 'manages' 250kW in standard form.
Let's just consider that in its modified form, the five-pot motor is not too far shy of BMW's 412kW M5 or Jaguar's 405kW XFR-S. But the latter two cars are decidedly large. Imagine what 386kW and 600Nm could achieve in the Audi S3's compact sedan body?
That would be a blast from standstill to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds, according to Audi, and a top speed of 310km/h. The list of engine mods that took place is extensive an includes a larger turbo that boosts up to 1.5 bar and a modified intercooler. The intake and exhaust systems have also been honed for maximum throughput.
TO THE LIMIT
“We have pushed the limits in every respect with this show car: power, dynamics, sound, design,” said Audi board member Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg.
Drive is to all four wheels via a seven-speed S tronic and Quattro all-wheel drive system. To keep it perfectly at home whether on the road or track, Audi has installed an adjustable coilover suspension, which in its normal position sinks the car 10mm below the S3. For that all-important anchorage, the concept has carbon fibre ceramic discs and an airbrake that's integrated in the boot.
The Clubsport concept sits on 21-inch alloys and stands boldly apart from civilian S3s with its aggressive body styling kit and Magnetic Blue paint job.
There's a suitably sinister atmosphere inside thanks to a predominantly black colour scheme and those in front sink into racing seats with tall side bolsters.
Fittingly, the concept will make its world debut at the Wörthersee Meeting (a modified car Mecca) in Reifnitz later this month.