Turns out the A3 Sportback unveiling was just a warm up for this, the range-topping member of the A3 family, the Audi S3. What we have here is a 300-hp, quattro, three-door hatchback that follows a line of very fast, very capable hatchbacks. It doesn’t share many things with its predecessors though. That’s a good thing.

The S3 gets a new 2.0 liter four-cylinder TFSI – that means turbocharged – engine designed specifically for this car, developing 221 kW (300 hp) of power and 380 Nm (280.27 lb-ft) of torque.

Mated to a standard six-speed manual (S tronic optional) and Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive (standard), the S3 can do zero to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds. That’s faster than most today’s sports car can manage. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

To tame the performance and harness it, the S3 has the quattro system and also a sophisticated chassis with multi-link suspension, 7.5 J x 18 alloy wheels with 225/40-series tires, and high performance brakes with 340 millimeters discs. A host of electronic systems are also at hand to help the driver.

The S3 comes with Audi’s Drive Select system which alters the feel of the car between comfort, auto, dynamic, efficiency or individual mode. It’s a bit fiddly though, as seen in other Audi models. Electromagnetic damper control system Audi magnetic ride are other fancy systems offered with the car. You know, you don’t need all this choices.

As for the practicality, the 1,395 kilograms S3 is the same size as the three-door A3, with a luggage capacity of 365 liters (12.89 cu ft), which can be increased to 1,100 liters (38.85 cu ft) by folding down the rear seats. The car also looks like its normal siblings, but gets sporty bumpers, cooler wheels, and quad exhausts at the back.

To make the cabin feel a bit more special, you get lot of Nappa leather covering various bits and bobs. Audi also offers optional S sport seats with integrated head restraints and diamond quilting. The interior of the Audi S3, including the headlining, is in black with contrasting stitching. The two-color Audi design selection in black/parade red is available as an option.

Going on sale in early 2013, prices for the new Audi S3 start at €38,900. The car makes it debut at next week’s Paris Motor Show.