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From YourSITE.com Reviews & Road Tests With the horsepower battle winding down in the face of changing emissions and fuel economy rules, the next front in the performance war will certainly be in weight savings. Engineering exercises like the Audi A5 lightweight design study we recently drove are already proving this to be true. As with any other technological advance, much of the progress in lightweight construction will come from racing before trickling down to the street cars. Audi is no stranger to real-world testing on the track, and its Le Mans-winning R-series prototype racers have proven.
Don’t let the ‘Street’ designation fool you, though. This is effectively a front-wheel drive S3 track car, complete with lightweight wheels, vented bodywork for improved airflow and an interior decked out with a roll cage, racing seats and harnesses. The only feature that makes this car ‘street’ over its Nurburgring 24-hour siblings is the extra seat in the cockpit and the distinct lack of sponsor decals on the exterior. On approach, the car doesn’t appear terribly different from any other S3 3-door that’s been lowered and sprayed in quattro GmbH’s favorite Suzuka Grey. The S3-spec grille and aluminum mirrors are there. The chin spoiler strongly resembles that of the S3, but lower air intakes are minimized for improved aerodynamics and a more substantial chin splitter aids in downforce. In other words, it looks like a mildly modded S3.
Look closer, however, and the changes are more obvious. Lightweight and ventilated panels include a carbon fiber hood and front quarter panels. Cast alloy wheels are traded for lighter forged versions in order to bring down unsprung weight. Basically anything that could be lightened has been – carbon fiber panels cover the inner doors, while sound deadening and luxuries such as navigation and such are long gone. Whereas a stock 3-door S3 weighs in at 3208 lbs. (1455 kg), we’re told this 24h Street tips the scales at a mere 2624 lbs. (1190 kg), a savings of 584 lbs. Power for the A3 24h Street comes from Audi’s venerable 2.0T. Of course, the 2.0T isn’t exactly standard issue either. Whereas the stock S3 is good for 261 hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque, this heart of the 24h Street has been massaged to produce 300 bhp and 287 ft-lbs. A six-speed DSG transmission manages torque while an Audi Sport mechanical locking differential at the front wheels helps get the power to the ground.
We were given just enough time to see the car and, after completing a reconnaissance pass, take a couple of quick laps on this particular test loop. The course itself is a mix of curves and slight elevation changes – no room for heady top speeds, but a layout intended to show the handling prowess and oodles of torque that the 24h Street has to offer. Getting into this sort of car is not only a learning experience; it’s an exercise in contortion. Stepping over the roll cage and sliding into the Recaro racing seat is a bit of a trick, but once in, it grabs you like a vice. Firing up this A3, there’s a bark familiar to 2.0T owners who’ve opted for an aggressive aftermarket exhaust. Freer flow is definitely one way this car’s power has been augmented. Upon acceleration, torque comes on immediately and this car easily keeps pace with the full production spec TTRS pace car. The TTRS may have more power on tap, but it’s also got more weight to pull around. Even though the TT boasts a hybrid aluminum and steel Audi Space Frame, it’s also got all of the creature comforts and electronics of a modern road car – ballast that the A3 24h Street does not need.
In the corners the differences are even more apparent. The A3 is flat and has substantially more grip than necessary for these quick few laps. Where the TTRS seems to roll hard into a corner as it leads the way, the A3 just hunkers flatly and bears down on its prey. This test isn’t extensive, so we’ve neither performance numbers nor lap times to share. The quick drive serves its purpose though and it is easy to see just how much can be saved in a typical race-spec transformation, even when applied to a production car like the S3.
Performance was so good, we handed in our helmet and longingly glanced back at the car wondering how close one might get applying a vast knowledge of the aftermarket with its Stage III 2.0T turbo upgrades, coilovers, Haldex controllers and more to a TT 2.0T quattro for one intense track beast. Would a full roll cage be hard to attach given the TT’s aluminum and steel hull? One thing is for sure, we walked away from the A3 24h Street impressed, inspired and yearning for more through the use of less.
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