300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped The last generation S3 was never shipped to the US for sale, and Audi has given us no indication thus far that this one will be. We'll expect to pin down a firm answer to that when we see the S3 Sportback roll onto stage at in Geneva.

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

300-HP 2013 Audi S3 Sportback unwrapped

Not content to let Volkswagen have all of the fun with its GTI and Golf R, Audi is rebooting its five-door S3 Sportback with rather monstrous power. Headed for an official unveil at this year's Geneva Motor Show, the new S3 rolls out with a 300-horsepower, 280-pound-feet of torque turbocharged 2.0-liter TFSI engine under the hood. The four-cylinder powerplant is strong enough to shove the Sportback to 62 miles per hour in just 5.0 seconds when connected to the optional S-Tronic gearbox, or 5.5 seconds with the traditional manual transmission. Top speed is said to be an electronically governed 155 mph. Almost as impressive as those performance figures are the fuel economy ratings: the S- S3 is said to average 34 miles per gallon.

All S3 Sportback models offer Quattro all-wheel drive, ride on a sport-tuned suspension tuned to a lower ride height (about one inch) versus the standard Audi A3. 18-inch wheels with 225-section tires are standard equipment, and 13.39-inch front brakes should offer serious stopping ability.

Audi has done a lot of work shedding pounds from this latest MQB-architecture S3, as well. The car has a curb weight of roughly 3,186 pounds, or some 154 pounds less than the outgoing model. 11 of those pounds were cut via weight-saving measures in the 2.0-liter engine.