The mid-life facelift for the RS3’s little brother adds more bang.

MORE power to match its VW Golf R sibling, amongst other performance and styling improvements - that’s the synopsis of the outcome of a big overhaul Audi has meted the S3.

There’s no word yet about when New Zealand will start seeing supply of Ingolstadt’s junior hot hatch, which revealed overnight.

The facelift to a product Kiwi can buy in current form for $97,490 addresses what overseas media call an “odd product-planning decision” that saw the understudy to the ultimate RS3 being the first in about a decade to produce less power than what had been a mechanical twin with the same engine; the Golf R.

That’s been resolved now. The updated S3’s 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine has been boosted to 245kW/420Nm – up from 228kW/400Nm, and so set to match the facelifted Golf R. It also takes the clever torque-vectoring rear differential fitted to the VW and, of course, the RS3.

The performance upgrades are accompanied by mild changes to styling. The 2024 car has a new front bumper set to inform the look of Audi's final generation of new petrol cars. It also brings retuned suspension, larger brakes and updated interior technology.

The S3 is now capable of 0-100kmh in a claimed 4.7 seconds – 0.1sec quicker than before, and a match for the current 235kW/420Nm Golf R. Top speed is 250kmh.

However a facelifted Golf R due to be unveiled in the coming months that shares the 245kW/420Nm engine tune is expected to be faster than the S3, albeit by a mere one tenth of a second, due to a weight advantage.

The S3's seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has been revised for "a more spontaneous take off" with the gear shift speed in 'D' mode doubled under full acceleration.

The car can keep the turbo spinning at a set rpm when the car is travelling at a constant speed, and the accelerator is partially pressed – for quicker responses faster if the driver floors the accelerator.

That torque-vectoring rear differential allows for all of the torque sent to the rear axle – up to 50 percent of the engine's 420Nm maximum – to be routed to either rear wheel. 

There is no specific mention of the 'drift mode' coming across, but Audi says a new Dynamic Plus setting does allow for oversteer. It also increases the idle speed to 1300rpm to improve off-the-line performance further, sharpens throttle response, and retunes the transmission with later upshifts and earlier downshifts.

Audi says the suspension has been revised with stiffer bearings and increased camber for more confident cornering – plus retuned steering and brake-based torque-vectoring software.

Adaptive suspension is optional in Europe but likely to continue to be standard here.

The 19-inch alloy wheels gain new 235/35 profile Falken Label D performance tyres.

The front brake discs have been enlarged to 357mm in diameter, and 34mm thick with new two-piston calipers claimed to include larger pads that can better resist heat.

Beyond the revised bumper design, styling changes include a revised rear diffuser, vertical reflectors and titanium silencers for the quad sports exhaust.

District Green, Ascari Blue, and Progressive Red metallic paint colours are now available, as well as a matte version of the existing gloss Daytona Grey.

The matrix LED headlights have been upgraded with 24 'pixel' elements, and the ability for owners to choose between four daytime-running light signatures through the touchscreen. The LED tail-lights also have a new signature.

Inside, there are new air-vent inserts, a subtly revised centre console, and a flatter design for the compact automatic gear shifter.

A new ‘technical textured fabric’ dashboard inlay material is now available – in addition to the carry-over Dinamica microfibre, aluminium and carbon-fibre – while sports seats remain standard.

Audi has updated the 10.1-inch touchscreen with 'function-on-demand', which in the regular A3 allows features from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, to adaptive cruise control and satellite navigation to be purchased after the vehicle is 

delivered, either outright or rented for a limited time.