Audi Singapore Club

Characteristic design and lighting

The new S3 models ^{display their dynamic character from the very first glance. The front is dominated by the Singleframe with its large rhombus-patterned grille and impressive air inlets, while the housings of the exterior mirrors have a gleaming aluminum look. The shoulder of the body extends in a strong line from the headlights to the rear lights. The areas below are curved inward – a new element of Audi’s design that places a stronger emphasis on the wheel arches.}

The new S3 Sportback ^{and the S3 Sedan can be fitted with matrix LED headlights on request. Their digital daytime running lights consist of a pixel array made up of 15 LED segments, ten of which form two vertical lines. At the rear end, the large diffuser and the four exhaust tailpipes accentuate the sporty look.}

Powerful drive

With 228 kW (310 PS) of power and 400 Nm (295.0 lb-ft) of torque, the new S3 models ^{are powered by the 2.0 TFSI engine. High-tech features like the Audi valvelift system (AVS) – which adjusts the lift of the intake valves as required – mean that the combustion chambers are well filled, while thermal management helps to ensure high efficiency. Both models accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 4.8 seconds on the way to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.3 mph). The driver can use the standard series Audi drive select system to make the sound of the powerful four-cylinder turbo engine even crisper.}

The seven-speed S tronic with lightning-fast gear shifts and freewheeling function and the quattro all-wheel drive deliver the torque to the road. The hydraulic multi-plate clutch in front of the rear axle is fully variable and moves between the front and the back as required, combining dynamic performance with stability and efficiency. It is managed by the modular dynamic handling control – a new system that closely links the quattro drive to the Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) and the controlled dampers that are available optionally.

Dynamic suspension

With its four-link rear axle and progressive steering, the standard suspension offers everything that is required for pleasurable driving. It lowers the body by 15 millimeters (0.6 in). Audi can also install the series S sport suspension with damper control on request. Valves control the oil flow in the dampers so that they adapt to the condition of the road, the driving situation, and the driver’s requests in an individual and ongoing in a few thousandths of a second. The spread between comfort and dynamism is even wider than for the predecessor model. 

The new electric brake booster ensures strong and spontaneous deceleration. All four brake disks are internally ventilated. The brake calipers come in black as standard, with red offered as an option. The S3 models ^{come with 18-inch wheels as standard, with 19-inch wheels available optionally.}

Generous space concept

Compared with their predecessors, the new S3 models ^{have grown in size: The Sportback and the Sedan are three centimeters (1.2 in) and four centimeters (1.6 in) longer respectively, while both models are three centimeters (1.2 in) wider.}

The five-door car is now 4.34 meters (14.2 ft) in length, while the four-door is 4.50 meters (14.8 ft) long. Other than minimal differences, the two body variants are identical in terms of width (1.82 m (6.0 ft)), height (1.43 m (4.7 ft)) and wheelbase (2.64 m (8.7 ft)). The interior offers greater shoulder room and elbow room. The luggage compartment of the S3 Sportback ^{holds between 325 and 1,145 liters (11.5–40.4 cu ft) depending on the position of the rear bench seat, while the Sedan has a capacity of 370 liters (13.1 cu ft).}

Sporty interior

The strikingly sporty design of the new S3 models ^{continues on the inside – with the new, compact shifter for the seven-speed S tronic and decorative aluminum or carbon inlays whose design evokes the cut of the headlights. The cockpit is focused on the driver. The distinctive air vents form a single unit with the instrument cover, underlining the sporty character. A 10.25-inch digital display is offered as standard. Alternatively, the Audi virtual cockpit and its “plus” version can be selected. Both have a 12.3-inch diagonal, with the latter also offering three different screens. The optional ambient lighting package plus delivers targeted lighting effects in the dark. The sport seats have been newly developed, and their standard series upholstery is largely made from recycled PET bottles, accentuated by stylish contrasting stitching.}

In the middle of the instrument panel is a 10.1-inch touch display embedded in a large black panel. It recognizes letters entered by hand and provides acoustic feedback. As an additional operating level, the infotainment can also be voice-controlled using natural language as standard. Audi also supplies a head-up display as an option.

A new generation of infotainment 

The MMI operating concept of the new S3 models ^{is powered by the third generation modular infotainment platform (MIB 3). Its computing power is ten times higher than that of its predecessor, it performs all tasks relating to connectivity with LTE Advanced speed, and it has an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot. Route guidance is flexible and accurate. Navigation offers predictions on the development of the traffic situation, high-resolution satellite images from Google Earth, and information about the traffic flow. Individual settings, such as frequently selected destinations or air conditioning preferences, can be stored in up to six user profiles.}

The Audi connect online services also include car-to-X services, which help with finding available parking spots on the roadside or allow the driver to surf the green wave by communicating with traffic lights in cities like Düsseldorf and Ingolstadt. Connectivity between the new Audi S3 ^{and the user’s smartphone is free of charge via the myAudi app, as well as via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the Audi phone box – which links the device to the vehicle’s antenna and charges it inductively.}

Another feature is the Audi connect key, which authorizes the customer to lock and unlock the car and start the engine via their Android smartphone. For HiFi fans, the Bang & Olufsen premium sound system with 3D sound delivers a particularly spatial soundscape.

Helpful driver assist systems

The driver assist systems in the new S3 models ^{also demonstrate Audi’s technical expertise. Audi pre sense front, swerve assist with turn assist, and lane departure warning all have the potential to prevent accidents and are included as standard. Further assist systems, such as lane change and exit warnings as well as the cross-traffic and park assist systems, are available optionally. The adaptive cruise assist helps with longitudinal and lateral guidance. It maintains the speed and distance to the vehicle in front and assists with lane guidance by means of gentle interventions in the steering. The efficiency assist supports an economic driving style.}

Scheduled: Market launch and prices

Presales of the new compact S3 models ^{start in many European countries in August 2020, with the first vehicles being delivered to dealers from beginning of October. In Germany, prices for the S3 Sportback start at €46,302, 53, while the S3 Sedan is listed at €47,179, 83. The market launch is accompanied by the limited “Edition one.” It comes in Python Yellow (Sportback) or Tango Red (Sedan) paint finishes with black accents and has 19-inch wheels, and fine Nappa leather sport seats.}

The Audi summer kids are in the middle of their fun vacation. After a long period of uncertainty as to whether childcare could even be offered in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the vacation program can now take place with some adjustments and provided that hygiene and distancing rules are observed. More than 170 kids of Audi employees now enjoy fun and games under the motto of “WELLness weeks” from July 27 to August 21. “Offering a vacation program for children and adolescents is more important than ever this year. In the interest of ensuring compatibility of family and career, it was therefore particularly important to us to make the 2020 Audi summer kids program possible with special precautionary measures,” says Ute Röding, Head of Corporate Citizenship at AUDI AG.

The cooperation partner, Gesellschaft zur Förderung beruflicher und sozialer Integration (association for the promotion of professional and social integration, gfi), developed a vacation program that adheres to the current coronavirus requirements and complies with a comprehensive hygiene concept. Due to the pandemic, the kids won’t be able to visit the Audi plant this year. Instead, the Audi plant fire department visited the summer kids on a hot, sunny day and provided action and an opportunity to cool off with a spray wall. The kids also have the opportunity to go on a tour at the FC Ingolstadt stadium in small groups. The program also includes longboard lessons, karate, cinema visits and a magic show. For the 10 to 16 year old “summer teens” the offer ranges from programming and graffiti courses to a social media photo workshop.

Audi has been supporting parents during the long and short vacations since 2011 by offering an exciting and creative program for the kids. Children ages 4 to 14 years are looked after by trained expert staff.

In addition to school vacation childcare, Audi provides support with places in nurseries and daycare centers close to the plant as well as flexible short-term care in the miedelHaus in Ingolstadt. There is also a corresponding program at the Neckarsulm site.

Audi R8 LMS GT4

Two class wins in South Africa: The South African racing series Extreme Supercars started its 2020 season at the Zwartkops circuit. Marius Jackson, who has been competing there with the Audi R8 LMS GT4 since last year, won Class C in both races as the only participant and clinched a top-ten overall result in both races as ninth in the first and tenth in the second sprint.

Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup

Stunning performance: For Tim Reiter, the new season in the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup started perfectly. The student from Ostfildern secured pole positions in both qualifying sessions at the Nürburgring. He won the first race by 23 seconds ahead of Tom Spitzenberger. Only half a second behind him followed Mike Hesse, who celebrated his first podium position in Audi’s only one-make cup. In the second sprint Reiter, who again drove the fastest race lap, proved his excellent form with his second victory. But this time, the competition moved closer: Patrick Schneider had to admit defeat by about five seconds as second. The 5,000 fans at the Nürburgring, who were admitted to the Oldtimer Grand Prix every day, also experienced a nice guest start by Frank Biela. The long-standing Audi factory driver, former DTM Champion and five-time Le Mans winner noticeably enjoyed the weekend. The now 56-year-old fromer pro driver had started from second place in Sunday’s race, dropped back to fourth place up to the first corner, had to avoid a competitor who spun and finally finished third. In the standings Tim Reiter is now leading ahead of Patrick Schneider and Tom Spitzenberger.

Audi RS 3 LMS (TCR)

Second place in China: TCR China combined their first two events into one weekend together on the Zhuzhou circuit. Yang Xi in the Audi RS 3 LMS achieved the best result in the third of a total of four individual sprint races. The Chinese privateer from Team Champ Motorsport led the race for a long time and in the end only had to concede defeat by 2.5 seconds to his internationally very experienced compatriot Ma Qinghua. As in the first sprint, Yang Xi won the Am classification.

Podium in Italy: In the new TCR DSG Europe endurance racing series for TCR race cars from the Volkswagen Group with dual clutch transmission an Audi privateer duo from Team Italy narrowly missed victory. Ermanno Dionisio/Giacomo Barri had secured the pole position on the Misano circuit. Dionisio initially dropped back a few positions but took the lead again in the mandatory pit stop phase. After handing over his Audi RS 3 LMS to his driver colleague, Barri shone with very good lap times in the fight for victory. However, a drive-through penalty due to a mistake during the pit stop left the two Italians no chance. After two hours of racing, they finished third ahead of two other Audi private teams.

Aleksej Dudukalo remains second in the standings in Russia: On the third race weekend of TCR Russia, Audi privateer Aleksej Dudukalo narrowly missed his second victory of the season. At the Kazanring he led the first sprint for 14 laps and only had to concede defeat to his Russian compatriot Klim Gavrilov on the final lap. After the third of seven events Dudukalo from the Lukoil Racing Team remains the best of four Audi drivers in the championship as the runner-up in the standings.

Class win in Belgium: At the season opener of the Belgian Endurance Championship, a racing series for sports prototypes, sports cars and touring cars, the Audi RS 3 LMS clinched a class victory at Zolder. After three hours of racing with Joël Uylebroeck/Peter van Delm/Muth O’Neill, the QSR Racingschool team won the Belcar 5 class in a field of 20 competitors.

Coming up next week

14–16/08 Nürburgring (D), rounds 3 and 4, ADAC GT Masters

14–16/08 Nürburgring (D), rounds 1 and 2, ADAC GT4 Germany

14–16/08 Shannonville (CDN), rounds 3 and 4, Canadian Touring Car Championship

15–16/08 Gelleråsen (S), rounds 1 and 2, TCR Scandinavia

15–16/08 Gelleråsen (S), rounds 1 and 2, GT4 Scandinavia

In 2019, the 500th race in DTM history took place at the Lausitzring and Audi secured the manufacturers’ title with a 1-2-3-4-5 victory on Sunday, winning the title with four races left before the end of the season, while at the same time, all eight Audi RS 5 DTM cars finished among the top nine. There’s hardly a more impressive way to showcase “Vorsprung”. 

“The Lausitzring is a track on which we’ve always done pretty well in the past,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “I assume the gaps will not be as big as at Spa and that we will face more competition. But, I think that with our current package we’re well sorted out everywhere.” This is underlined by nine pole positions and nine consecutive victories (across two seasons) for the Audi RS 5 DTM, both of which are new DTM records. 

The Lausitzring has been part of the racing series since its opening in 2000 and has been the venue for many exciting and, sometimes, curious DTM races. 

At the first Lausitzring race after its return to the DTM on a factory level, Audi celebrated a victory with the A4 DTM in 2004. Mattias Ekström, however, was only declared the winner after Gary Paffett had been excluded from the results due to an insufficient amount of fuel remaining in the tank of his Mercedes-Benz. 

One year later, Ekström and Paffett were the main protagonist in one of the most exciting duels in DTM history. The two drivers raced bumper to bumper for practically the entire race. Although Paffett was faster, the Briton did not manage to pass Ekström, overtaking aids like Push-to-Pass or DRS did not exist in the DTM at that time.

In 2006, there was another “petrol crisis” – this time for Mattias Ekström. The Swede fought for victory when he stopped two laps before the end of the race. A problem with the fuel can during the second pit stop meant that Ekström did not have enough fuel for the final phase in ordrer to finish the race. Later, refueling was banned in the DTM for safety reasons, because dangerous incidents occurred again and again.

In 2007, the spectators at the Lausitzring experienced total confusion when the safety car did not enter the track in front of the leader, but instead drove right into the middle of the field. In addition, the traffic lights at the pit exit did not work, which meant that several drivers won a lap. Nevertheless, the race counted for the championship.

In 2010, Audi lost its best-placed cars in the championship on the opening lap due to a collision involving Audi drivers. This “nightmare” also meant that Audi had to wait six years for the next victory in the Lausitz after 2005, despite numerous podium results. It was Martin Tomczyk who took the next win for Audi in the 2011 season, an important step towards the German’s subsequent title win with a two-year-old Audi A4 DTM.

In 2015, Audi achieved a similarly dominant weekend at the Lausitz as it did most recently at Spa: 1-2-3-4 victory on Saturday, a top five sweep on Sunday. The main star was Jamie Green, who won both races. His triumph in Saturday’s race was particularly impressive: The Briton was in poor health and could hardly speak, making radio communication with his team difficult. In addition, the Drag Reduction System (DRS) on his car did not work. In 2017, Green won a third race at the Lausitzring, making him the most successful of all active DTM drivers on the East German circuit. 

Before the last two races, the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler driver is tied on points with Max Guenther (BMW) in third place. This means that the runner-up spot of the drivers’ championship is now the target for the last two races of the season this upcoming Wednesday and Thursday in Berlin.

Both driver’s and team’s titles were clinched on Sunday. “First of all, congratulations to Antonio Felix da Costa and DS Techeetah on winning the titles,” said Team Principal Allan McNish. “We made the most of our package in qualifying today. Lucas was only a tenth of a second behind first place in the difficult first group. René (Rast) had a great lap to make it into the top ten for the first time in qualifying. Unfortunately, after a strong early phase in the race, late in the race he got pushed back in traffic. Lucas again showed his fighting spirit. But, when he had worked his way up to sixth place, the top five drivers at the front were already out of reach.”

“I was 90 percent satisfied with my qualifying,” said di Grassi. “If you start from 12th, you can’t expect much more than we achieved today.”

Eighth in qualifying, René Rast missed Super Pole of the fastest six drivers by only 0.046 seconds. “Finally, things were going better in qualifying. Unfortunately, after a good start to the race, things went in the wrong direction and I only finished 16th,” said the German.

Sam Bird from customer team Envision Virgin Racing set the fastest race lap in his Audi e-tron FE06. The Briton fought his way forward from 16th on the grid to 11th. His teammate Robin Frijns was unable to take the start due to an issue with the powertrain of his car.