2015 Audi S3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet: New Kids On The Block

After a few tentative years spent testing the subcompact waters in Canada with the A3 hatchback, Audi has elected to dive in head-first.  Starting in the 2015 model year, the A3 line-up will drop the hatch but expand to include not only the Audi A3 sedan, but also cabriolet and S3 editions of the automobile.  This marks the first time that Audi will be going head-to-head with arch-rival BMW in a contest for the hearts and minds of luxury-focused entry-level shoppers who don’t want to leave performance – or fun – behind in the search for a smaller car.

What better place to experience the open-top enthusiasm of the 2015 Audi A3 cabriolet than the sun-drenched shores of Monte Carlo, Monaco?  And what more exhilarating roads to explore the limits of the 2015 Audi S3 sedan can be found than those which climb through the coastal Alps of southern France?  In an act of supreme sacrifice, I hopped the Atlantic to pilot each of these newly redesigned machines to get a sense of where Audi is going with its fresh subcompact initiative.

• Also: Spotlight on the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet and Audi S3: Testing Them This Week
• Also: In Geneva, Audi Unveils the 2014 S1 & S1 Sportback

Small-Scale Sun Worship

I’m going to start with the 2015 Audi A3 cabriolet, which is in many ways the appetizer of the A3 line-up.  Whereas the A3 sedan will enjoy stronger sales numbers due to its practicality and affordability, and the S3 serves as the bananas flambé dessert course, the A3 cabriolet entices the eye and whets the appetite with its promise of open-air cruising pleasure.

It is in exactly the type of relaxed driving environment provided by France’s Cote d’Azur  that the A3 cabriolet shines.  At speeds of between 40 and 80 km/h, I threaded the A3 convertible, top down, through the narrow streets and twisting coastal roads that define the route through Nice to Monaco.  The cabriolet’s chassis was compliant without being soft, especially with the vehicle’s drive control settings in ‘comfort’ mode.  Switch to dynamic, however, and the A3 loses very little of its composure while simultaneously delivering weightier steering and a more responsive throttle.

You Can Have Any Engine You Like, As Long As It’s A 2.0-Litre

Audi had three different Audi A3 cabriolet drivetrains on-hand in Monaco, including two gasoline motors and a turbodiesel.  None of this trio will make it to North America, but the 1.8-litre, four-cylinder turbo gasoline unit that I sampled is closest to the 2.0-litre turbo four that will eventually reach our showrooms under the hood of the cabriolet.  One can assume that it will sport roughly the same output as the 220 horsepower, 2.0-liter that can currently be found in the A4 sedan (which also generates 258 lb-ft of torque).

The less robust 1.8-litre was a willing co-conspirator with the pedal to the floor, coming alive at around the 4,000 rpm mark and surging ahead with confidence.  This indicates that the 2.0-litre motor will be more than capable of getting the cabriolet out of it's own way - and then some.  It’s a bit disappointing that the Canadian-market A3 cabriolet won’t feature the six-speed manual gearbox that I enjoyed during my three days in Europe (a standard S-Tronic dual-clutch automated manual transmission takes its place), but as a consolation quattro all-wheel drive will be included with every version of the convertible.  This helps Audi make the case for its drop-top despite Canada’s notoriously dreadful winter climate.

Also helping to reduce the pain of the colder months are the choice of two cloth tops in three colors, with the top-tier design featuring additional insulation to more effectively keep sound and chill at bay, as well as a neck-warming system.  Peeling back the roof – a feat that takes roughly 18 seconds and can be accomplished at speeds of up to 50 km/h – reveals an interior that can handle up to four adults in a pinch, but which is better suited for a pair riding up front.  Trunk space is subdued, although it is certainly up to the task of housing a couple of weekend bags (even with the roof down).

Here Comes The Sizzle

For those more inclined to cut an apex rather than apply sunscreen during a Sunday drive, the 2015 Audi S3 sedan should quickly become an object of desire.  Immediately, the sloping steel roofline of the S3, combined with its aggressive-yet-restrained body kit set it apart from its more relaxed cousin.  Fire up the car’s turbocharged, 2.0-liter engine and listen to its subtle growl off-idle and it becomes even clearer that the S3 trades in the A3 cabriolet’s cruising character for a shark-like prowl.

Despite featuring the same displacement as the Canadian-edition A3 cabriolet’s power plant, the S3’s turbo mill is of an entirely different character.  With 300 horses and 280 lb-ft of twist on tap, and nary a hint of hesitation on the part of its well-matched turbocharger, this four-cylinder engine sings a engaging (but admittedly artificially-sweetened) soundtrack as it pulls through the rev range. Quattro all-wheel drive is on-hand to enhance the car’s grip, a feature I appreciated while negotiating the switchbacks that ladder their way up the mountainous terrain found just inland of the French coast.

A Sedan That Makes You Smile

The front-wheel drive-derived chassis that underpins the S3 is guilty of at least some understeer at the limit, and feedback through the wheel at times was masked by the overboosted stiffness of the car’s ‘dynamic’ setting, but it was quite difficult to get the plucky little sedan out of shape even on more challenging segments of the roadway.  This is an entertaining car to drive, and despite a small backseat, also eminently practical as a daily driver – particularly considering its posh interior, advanced Audi MMI navigation and communications interface, and reasonable fuel consumption.  Once again, the six-speed manual transmission made available to me in the European S3 will be S-Tronic for Canadian buyers.

No Arms Nor Legs Need Be Donated

Perhaps the strongest point in the 2015 Audi S3’s favour is its combination of price and performance.  Given that the premium subcompact performance sedan segment is essentially a field of two (counting the more expensive, but also more powerful Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG as the other entry), the temptation to inflate the S3 sedan’s sticker must have been enormous.  Instead, we are gifted with a starting MSRP of $44,000, which is far more reasonable than one might expect for such a potent – and stylish – package.

A One-Two (Three) Punch

While some might lament the departure of the Audi A3 hatch from the company’s Canadian showrooms, it’s clear that the market for small luxury cars is one that is more willing to embrace coupes, sedans, and convertibles.  The fact that the Audi A3 and S3 are here in sedan and rag-top editions are proof of that: Audi’s aim isn’t to create demand, but rather sop up the enthusiasm for these particular body styles.

Furthermore, while the A3 cabriolet finds its nemesis in the BMW 2 Series convertible, the S3 sedan has no such Bavarian analog, leaving its rival on the outside looking in at Audi and Mercedes-Benz as they pillage the hi-po subcompact sedan niche.  Because that is fully what I expect the 2015 Audi S3 to do once it becomes available early next year – turn a lot of heads, and empty a lot of bank accounts, while doling out audacious four-season performance.