Perhaps inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G-Class Crazy Color Edition that debuted earlier this year, Audi has introduced a limited-edition version of the S3 dubbed exclusive edition. Unlike the G, the S3 is only offered in the United States.
Designed in Germany by — you guessed it — Audi’s exclusive eivision, the limited-edition model is available in five eye-catching colors called Vegas Yellow, Viper Green, Glut Orange, Sepang Blue and Misano Red, respectively. Just five examples of each color will be built, amounting to a total of 25 cars.
Paintwork aside, each car gains S Sport seats upholstered in Nappa leather upholstery with color-coded contrast stitching, as well as leather upholstery on the dashboard, the door panels, and the center console along with a sprinkling of body-colored trim pieces. Each exclusive edition is built on the Prestige trim, and the list of standard equipment includes full LED headlights, navigation with voice commands, dual-zone A/C, a rear-view camera, parking sensors on both ends, and a 705-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system with 14 speakers.
Audi has not made any mechanical changes. That means the S3 exclusive edition is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine that makes 292 horsepower from 5,400 to 6,200 rpm and 280 foot-pounds of torque from 1,900 all the way to 5200 rpm. Linked to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission controlled by shift paddles, the turbo four sends the S3 from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and on to an Autobahn-worthy top speed of 155 mph.
Enthusiast website Fourtitude reports the five cars painted in Misano Red and the five finished in Sepang Blue — two shades available on the regular S3 — will cost $57,250. Painted yellow, green, and orange, respectively, the 15 remaining S3s will each sticker for the lofty sum of $59,900. To put those figures into perspective, an entry-level S3 Premium Plus carries a base price of $41,100 while the better equipped Prestige model costs $47,000.
