New Audi S3 Sportback arrives ahead of Geneva 2013 debut

The new Audi S3 Sportback – the five-door S3 – has been revealed ahead of a debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

We had the arrival of the new Audi A3 this time last year – ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show – followed by the A3 Sportback  and the new Audi S3 at Paris in September 2012. Now the quartet is completed with the arrival of the 5-door S3 – the 2013 Audi S3 Sportback – before it debuts at Geneva next month.

The new S3 Sportback gets the same 2.0 litre turbocharged engine as the S3, which means 296bhp on tap to be delivered to all four wheels through the standard six-speed gearbox or the optional six-speed dual-clutch S tronic.

If you want to unleash the best performance from your S3 Sportback you will need to dig a bit deeper for the S tronic ‘box, with the self-shifter taking just 5 seconds to 62mph it’s a full half second quicker than the manual. Despite the extra performance, the S tronic ‘box is also a bit more economical than the manual (41mpg for the S tronic, 40.4mpg for the manual) – both figures better than the old S3 Sportback.

Styling on the S3 Sportback is pretty much the same as the S3, with the main difference in the two cars being an extra pair of doors and a wheelbase that’s 35mm longer in the Sportback. So you get a bit more room for people and stuff and still get the go-faster S3 bits like chrome grill, butch bumpers, quad tail pipes and aluminium-look roof rails and door mirrors.

New Audi S3 Sportback Photos >>

Inside is the usual Audi practically perfect – if rather anodyne – treatment with beautifully fitted trim and great ergonomics and a few ‘S’ bits like sports seats, aluminium trim and a flat bottomed steering wheel – and ‘S’ logos – so you know you’re in an Audi with a sporty edge.

The 2013 Audi S3 Sportback will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month and go on sale in the UK in the autumn. Prices should start around £35k.