| First Drive | Ingolstadt, Germany | Audi S3 Sportback |

Launched in conjunction with the rest of the facelifted A3 family, the high performance S3 variant has the top-end family hot hatches and even cars such as the BMW 135i firmly in its sights. Powered by a 261bhp version of Audi's award-winning 2.0-litre TFSI engine, the S3 sits at the top end of the hot hatch price spectrum and now comes with the option of five doors for the first time.

In the Metal

Taking its styling cues from its freshened up A3 brother, which features updated grille, door handles and rear end, the S3 adds some bespoke items into the mix. Ensuring drivers get noticed on the road are sharper lines on the roof spoiler and side sills, as well as a generous use of chrome on items such as the fog lamp surrounds.

The only four-wheel drive car in its class, the latest generation S3 now also comes in Sportback form (Audi-speak for estate), which is cleverly designed to maintain the overall appearance of the three-door version. New items include 18-inch alloys and Audi's trademark daytime LED running lights. Customers get a total of 11 paint finishes from which to choose, including the exotic sounding Solar Orange, Imola Yellow and Sprint Blue.

On the inside, you get black silk Nappa leather upholstery and a flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel.

What you get for your Money

On the face of it, £27k for what is effectively a performance hot-hatch may be too much for some to pay for the S3, but the Audi has a number of things going for it. The price is in fact on a par with the BMW 130i, and CAP gives the Audi better residual values over three years - 44% versus 42% for the BMW. The best traction in its class helps the S3 sprint to 62mph from a standstill in just 5.7 seconds, which is quicker than the BMW 130i. A range of options are available, but the S3 comes with plenty of creature comforts as standard.

Driving it

The performance figures speak for themselves, but just as impressive as the straight line sprinting is the in-gear acceleration. That's thanks to maximum torque of 258lb.ft, available through a wide band between 2,500rpm and 5,000rpm, allowing acceleration and overtaking to be executed with ease. However, get away from the Autobahn and onto the open and twisty roads and the driving dynamics do not fully live up to the car's sporty potential. The steering is not the most intuitive, while the optional magnetic damping technology is impressive, but we feel that passengers may tire of the uncomfortable ride that ensues when switched to dynamic mode. The car's large 18-inch tyres ensure plenty of grip and the presence of the quattro technology underneath is evident in keeping the car on the beaten track. As ever the attention to detail and quality is second to none with Audi, and this is sure to be one of the main selling points for the car. The leather is comfortable to sit on, all of the switches are sensibly laid out and clear and easy to operate, and there is just enough room in the back for passengers.

Worth Noting

With the update of the A3 range, Audi has taken the opportunity to re-engineer the 2.0-litre turbo unit so that CO₂ emissions are reduced and fuel economy figures are improved. The result in the three-door version is a significant cut from 217 grams per km to 199 grams per km. The combined economy figure for the car is 33.2mpg, proving that performance need not come at the cost of regular visits to the petrol pumps.

While the S3 may not boast the levels of driver involvement that say a BMW 1 Series boasts (or even a Golf GTI), there is no doubting that for pace alone the Audi is a big success. The brand has recently revealed that UK sales topped 100,000 a year, which represents a staggering year-on-year increase of 17.9% - goes to prove that Audi is doing something right…

Summary

Selling Audis is proving relatively easy at the moment, as the company's latest figures show. The S3 is another example of giving drivers what they want: comfort, performance and technological highlights. Those seeking a more involving experience may look to other German marques, but Audi looks set to stick with its winning combination.