INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi will offer its first two-pedal model of the performance S3 hatchback to European customers with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The three-door S3 with the S tronic dual-clutch transmission can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 5.5 seconds, 0.2 second faster than a manual-transmission-equipped model. The transmission also improves the car's combined fuel economy figure by 0.8 mpg to 34 mpg. British customers will tack an extra $2,600 onto the purchase price of their S3 if they opt for the dual-clutch gearbox. Dealers will begin taking orders for dual-clutch S3s beginning on October 1.
The S3, which is not sold in the U.S., makes 261 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque and has a top speed of 155 mph.
Audi has also tweaked the car's Quattro all-wheel drive to improve performance. The S3's system now reacts faster, with its central clutch quickening the response time to redistribute power between front and rear wheels.
What this means to you: Audi's European customers not only get faster cars, they also get more advanced technologies. — Eric Tingwall, Correspondent
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