WHEN it comes to premium hot hatches of a Teutonic persuasion, there really is only one game in town.

BMW's 1 Series? Weird looks and fuzzy target market. Mercedes C Class Coupe? When was the last time you saw one?

Nope, if you're looking for an upmarket German hot hatch (as opposed to a mass-market German VW one), Audi's S3 is the only logical choice.

Based on the new A3, the S variant was launched earlier this month.

At first glance, it's surprisingly understated - even for an Audi. Look hard and you eventually notice the front and rear spoilers, silver mirrors and 18-inch wheels which distinguish the S from its lesser siblings, but it's the very antithesis of Vauxhall's outrageous Astra VXR or Ford's brash Focus ST.

In fact, with a quick glance in your wing mirror, you might think it's just another new A3, with the trademark deep family grill... until it comes past you, because it's likely to be going very fast indeed.

No one ever bought an S3 to drive it slowly, and with its 2.0-litre direct injection turbo motor now punching out 265bhp, the latest model isn't about to reverse this trend.

Power starts coming in seriously from just below 4,000rpm but, even below that, the hi-tech engine has enough torque to keep things flowing through a set of bends.

With the turbo pulling hard, the way the little three-door hatch accelerates through the gears is addictive - 0 to 62mph (100kmh) goes by in just 5.7 seconds. Real world manoeuvres, such as 50 to 70mph overtakes, are achieved stunningly quickly.

Top speed is electronically limited to 155mph.

Naturally, for an Audi performance model, the S3 is equipped with the company's renowned Quattro four-wheel-drive system. In the damp-to-sodden A roads and country lanes that the vehicle was tested over, the system proved its worth by allowing the car to be driven hard without once feeling like it was going to lose grip.

Spec check Audi S3 Quattro
Price: £26,995
0-62mph: 5.7 secs
Max speed: 155mph (limited)
Engine size: 1,984cc
Max power: 265bhp
Insurance group: 18E
Features: Driver's Information System (including SatNav), six-speed manual gearbox, electronic climate control, xenon headlamps

The Quattro system is aided by superbly set-up suspension.

Some testers have criticised the new S3 for a lack of steering feel - a traditional bugbear of older Audis. Personally, I never once felt lacking for information on what the wheels were up to. In fact, the little Audi instilled supreme confidence with its poised handling and seemingly inexhaustible reserves of grip. The way its superb chassis set-up, coupled with unobtrusive but effective electronic stability systems, kept the power down in sometimes atrocious conditions highlighted the scrabbling shortcomings of almost all of the S3's rivals.

There's even a practical side to the S3, as it'll carry five (although more comfortably four) adults plus a bit of luggage.

This hot hatch is built for covering ground in the most rapid and efficient way possible while having fun on the way. And, at this, it is very, very good.

  • For more information, contact Basingstoke Audi on 01256 307500.