Audi A3 Clubsport Quattro Concept

At this year’s Worthersee festival, the annual car show dedicated to all things VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda, Audi is bringing along an S3-based super sedan called the Audi A3 clubsport quattro concept. The car is an extreme version of the S3, featuring a high-powered engine, enhanced chassis, active aerodynamics and modified bodywork.

The Audi A3 clubsport quattro concept all starts with a not-so-humble S3. Audi’s engineers first ripped out the standard car’s 2.0 litre  turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and replaced it with a 2.5 litre five-cylinder turbo’d engine which develops a mighty 525 horsepower. This engine is the same found in the RS Q3 performance SUV, and has been voted “International Engine of the Year” in its category no less than four times. In the A3 clubsport quattro concept the engine has been enhanced with a new high-flow intake and exhaust system.

Pumping out 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, this furious little motor is capable of catapulting the Audi A3 clubsport quattro concept from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.6 seconds. The car’s top speed is an equally impressive 193 mph. The transmission is a seven-speed S tronic unit with a launch control function for flawless off-the-line sprints. The quattro all-wheel-drive system of the car is the latest hydraulically activated design which has been specifically tailored to handle the high-torque output of the vehicle.

The suspension system of the Audi A3 clubsport quattro concept has been enhanced in comparison to the standard S3. Changes include a reduction in ride height of 0.4 inches (10 mm), and a recalibration of the spring and damper rates. The suspension is adjustable to allow the car to be setup for street or track use.

On the outside, the Audi A3 clubsport quattro features a number of aerodynamic and aesthetic changes. At the front there is a new carbon fiber lip spoiler, while down the sides are wider wheel arches, carbon fiber side skirts and a racing-style aluminium fuel filler cap. At the rear of the concept is a larger diffuser and an active air brake built into the trunk lid. When the driver applies the brakes at high speeds the electronic air brake activates and the rear section of the trunk rises to a near vertical position to increase down force over the rear axle and improve stability. At 155 mph, Audi say the air brake reduces the stopping distance by around 40 feet (12 metres). The car is topped off with stunning metalic blue paintwork called “Magnetic Blue”.

Audi haven’t said much about the production possibilities of the A3 clubsport quattro concept. Stating only that the concept shows;  ” just how much sporty potential there is in the A3 family and in our top‑of‑the‑line engines such as the 2.5 TFSI.”