• Next-gen A3 will be introduced as a MY13, but not necessarily at beginning of model year.

•*Next-gen A3 will be sold as sedan. Sportback won't come to the USA but the Cabriolet might as it is based on the sedan architecture and thus would cost less to homologate for US sale.

The top-spec Audi S3 will get a turbocharged 2.0-liter four with 280 hp, while the hard-core RS3 will get a 350-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five and quattro all-wheel drive. Both a manual and S-tronc dual-clutch transmissions will be on offer.

AT A GLANCE: THE NEW AUDI A3

Design and body
– Sporty-progressive styling with coupe-like lines and long wheelbase,
length 4.24 meters (13.91 feet)
– Intelligent mixed multi-material construction utilizing steel and aluminum
– Weight reduced by 80 kg (176.37 lb), curb weight of Audi A3 1.4 TFSI is just
1,175 kg (2,590.43 lb)
– Optional LED headlights and LED taillights

Interior
– Spacious interior, cargo capacity is 365 liters (12.89 cubic feet)
– Elegant design and exemplary ergonomics, standard and optional graphics in the FIS display and decorative inlays with various materials

Drivetrain
– At launch, one TDI and two TFSI engines with 90 kW (122 hp) to 132 kW (180 hp), all engines have state-of-the-art efficiency technologies
– Power transmission by manual gearbox or S tronic, front-wheel drive at launch, quattro permanent all-wheel drive later for more powerful engines
– 1.6 TDI only consumes 3.8 l/100 km (61.90 US mpg), equivalent to 99 g CO2/km (159.33 g/mile)
– Versions with alternative drive systems such as hybrid, natural gas and Audi e-gas are currently in development

Chassis
– Alloy wheels, up to 18 inches in size
– ESP stabilization system with electronic limited slip differential is standard
– Audi drive select vehicle dynamics system and adaptive shock absorbers are optional

Features
– Extensive standard features as well as comfortable and sporty extras
– Advanced MMI system with MMI touch, ultra-slim, electrically retractable on-board monitor
– Optional highly advanced driver assistance systems, including Audi adaptive cruise control, further developed park assist and Audi pre sense basic
– Wide range of infotainment components, sound system from Bang & Olufsen, Bluetooth online car phone with services from Audi connect

The S3 is confirmed to offer a 2.0-liter turbo four making close to 300 hp, and there is reason for optimism concerning another beastly RS3. The latter would pack a 2.5-liter turbo five-cylinder making around 400 hp.

When the sedan launches here for the 2014 model year, it will be expected to produce large numbers of conquest customers. We won't get the small engines in the States, but the 2.0-liter TDI and a 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline engine with around 200 hp are a given. We could also see the gasoline hybrid and perhaps a fully electric version, as well as the S3.

de Nysschen did stress that none of this is confirmed nor finalized, but that Audi may use the Sportback body style exclusively for alternative fuel configurations – possibly a hybrid, plug-in hybrid e-tron or even a full electric e-tron… maybe even multiple choices from this mix.

The theory here is simple. A unique body style dedicated to hybrid or alternative fuel drivetrains makes a statement. de Nysschen didn’t reference it but an obvious parallel can be drawn to the Toyota Prius. There’s no mistaking the Prius for any other Toyota and it makes a visual statement. Audi is thinking it may have a similar opportunity in the States with the Sportback. Such a move likely won’t make performance-minded A3 owners happy but it is in intriguing proposition just the same.

Audi of America Lobbied Hard for an A3 Sedan, and it's now lobbying just as hard for S and RS Versions.

During our conversation in Geneva, Audi of America boss Johan de Nysschen wouldn't outright confirm the S3 and RS 3 for America, but he did reveal that he and his product management team are in favor of both models and actively working on both projects. And though he didn't say it outright, the focus here is the sedan.

Why sedan? We hear from sources at Audi other than the man himself that de Nysschen was the catalyst for this project. He lobbied hard for it because he saw it as the spiritual successor to the very winning size, price and performance combination offered with the B5 generation of A4, S4 and RS 4. Since that era the A4-based models have grown to roughly the size of a C5 A6 and have left room for the A3 to reclaim the niche.

We hear the S3 will be powered by a new and more highly tuned variant of the EA 888 2.0 TFSI that is currently used in much of the Audi range. The high capacity 2.0T in the TTS and current S3 is an older generation engine and as such the Volkswagen Group will be phasing it out by the end of this production cycle of A3, TTS and Volkswagen Golf R.

Few details are known about the new S-spec 2.0 TFSI other than power. We've heard an estimate of about 260-hp through sources at Volkswagen though any other changes were not outlined as our source indicated that Ingolstadt is handling all of the development of that engine just as Audi did last time around. Looking at that past generation though, we wouldn’t be surprised to see strengthened intnernals and a larger turbo, while valvelift and less frictional loss should make for a more robust torque curve and better fuel efficiency. Who knows, maybe the new engine will even include cylinder deactivation as we've now seen in the 4.0 TFSI and 1.4 TFSI.

As for the RS 3, there’s little doubt it will use a version of the current RS 3’s 2.5 TFSI. That said, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Audi up the power just a bit for the new generation.

Given the typical model rollout that's usually the practice if not the rule, we'd expect to see S-car variants about a year after the A-chassis derivatives hit the market. RS versions usually come along a year after that. That said, the US market won't see the new A3 until 2014 according to what we were told in Geneva by Audi AG board member Peter Schwarzenbauer. If that's the case, then we'd expect a more rapid rollout of S and RS models.

The S3 will be powered by a 280bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine - it 18bhp more than the outgoing model - mated to Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system.

Under the vanilla bodywork, Audi's new 2013 S3 will pack a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, in 280 bhp/251 lb ft tune.