Audi pretty much invented the premium hot hatch with the first-generation Audi S3 back in 1999, effectively dropping in the running gear and engine from the Audi TT sports car into the A3.

For the last few years, Audi has been publicly toying ... and 280 pound-feet of torque by the time the S3 makes it Stateside (our European test car is rated at 300 hp with an identical torque ...