Spyshots: 2013 Audi S3

With the mental Ford Focus RS on the market dog-fighting the Megane for supremacy, and Audi’s mighty RS3, which offers a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) time of less than 5 seconds, it’s easy to forget the car that first brought insane power to the hothatch world. Yet Audi has not forgotten the S3, and is working on the 2013 version of the model that will take on the world when it arrive next year.

Our dedicated photographers have recently spotted this hot version of the next-generation Audi S3 that is clearly making use of the three-door configuration. This is the body shape that we wish Audi had built the RS3 in instead of the Sportback. There will also be five-door and four-door sedan versions coming to market.

Under the bonnet will be a new generation of 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which could develop as much as 280 horsepower. This figure is only a bit more powerful than the current version, but the S3 will follow the strict diet, so expect it to be much lighter and more focused. The extra kick from the engine will be sent to all four wheels via either a six-speed manual or the optional S tronic dual clutch gearbox.

The S3 could be officially unveiled next year at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, with sales to follow in the second half of the year. The A3 platform will once again be shared with the Volkwagen Golf, and could be used for new variants including hybrid and all-electric ‘e-tron’ models, the latter of which is already testing as prototypes under the skin of the current generation.