2009 Audi S3 gets S tronic Gearbox
May 22, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
Long gone are they days when manual cars were the real man’s car. These days manual sports cars are kept primarily for true car enthusiasts, or those of us that refuse to accept that times have changed and regardless of how good you can shift, an automated gearbox can do it better and quicker.
More importantly buyers are now demanding that even the proper sports cars be available with automated gearboxes and the Volkswagen group likes to listen to its customers. VW also happens to have the dual clutch gearbox (DSG for VW). Which sister company, Audi, has made great use of.
Of course Audi don’t call it DSG, instead their version of the technology is called S tronic dual clutch transmission, which is now available in the Audi S3 Sportback model in Australia.
Not only does the S tronic make the S3 quicker, but it also uses less fuel. If you haven’t heard of dual-clutch transmissions before, basically the idea is to have a twin multi-plate clutch which can simultaneously preselect two gears. One system for even and one system for odd gears. As a result the gearshifts take a few milliseconds.
The 152 kilogram 2.0-litre TFSI engine found in the S3 has 188 kW and 330 Nm of torque, it goes from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, two-tenths of a second quicker than the manual. Fuel consumption has improved to 8.4 litres/100km and the car puts out 195 g/km of CO2 emissions.
To tell the S tronic version apart, Audi has given it a chrome-plated radiator grille, vertical double bars, a front bumper with a new spoiler lip, chrome rings around the fog lamps as well as a platinum grey diffuser and two large oval exhaust tailpipes. Different exterior mirrors with indicators are also fitted.
Standard features now include S design 18” alloy wheels and Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights.
On the inside embossed Silk Nappa leather sport seats, S design multi-function leather sports steering wheel, BOSE speaker system and Bluetooth mobile phone system come standard with the new gearbox.
As with all Audis, safety is top notch with Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) incorporating ABS, Traction Control ASR, and an Electronic Differential Lock EDL. Head and curtain airbags for front and rear passengers, together with side and front airbags.
The 2009 Audi S3 S tronic retails for $71,010 as is available now.
2009 Audi S3 Sportback S-tronic Specification
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ummm you might want to check your photos. The S Tronic transmission is not currently available in Australia with the 3 door S3, only the Sportback version. Also your pictures are of an older pre-facelift S3 (e.g. no LED lights above the headlights, different wheels etc).
Also, the interior photo clearly shows a 6-speed manual box… Odd on a story all about the new auto!?!
These gearbox’s are all well and good until something in them dies and you have to fork out thousands in repairs. Plus you can’t push start them.
I would much rather the Pirelli GTI and spend $10000 on mods than buy this car and pay the extra just for the Audi badge.
These DSG or S Tronic gearbox may be quicker than a manual transmission. Because of the complexity and dual clutch mechanical systems, its going to be prone to faults and all sorts of nasties.
i’m with gav. why does the pic show a manual?
MkII, you’re not actually paying more for a badge, they are kind of in different leagues. This is a bit hotter than the GTI and has AWD. It has quite a different feel. Not to mention that the Pirelli GTI is rather unimpressive. Not as good as the standard GTI anyway.
Wow, My dream sports car now with a transmision my wife will approve of. Now to win the lotto and place my order.
So why then the RS4 with the manual and S4 without?
I think the purity of the manual change far outweighs to me the fractional quicker acceleration times of ‘…tronic’ transmissions.
There is something intuitive about the balance with three pedals, and it has nothing to do with ‘real men’, more like ‘real driving’.
There has been lots of talk about how good these new DSG-style gearboxes are, and I do believe the hype. However, when I drove my brother’s Golf GTi DSG I played around for a while with the paddles and the gear shift and then found myself driving it like a normal auto. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely fast car, but I got a little bored with it after a while. Give me a manual any day.