Audi A3 Sedan Concept with 408HP Officially Previews Next Generation Model

It's been rumored for a while now that Audi was exploring the possibility of adding a four-door sedan body style to its A3 range, but today, the German firm officially confirmed the news with the release of the first official sketches of the A3 Concept ahead of its world premiere at the 81st International Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Its main purpose is to preview both the saloon variant and the styling direction of the next A3, which is scheduled for a rollout in 2012 and will also include the successors to today's three-door hatchback, five-door Sportback and the two-door convertible models.

"The four-seater notchback sedan offers a glimpse of the future expansion of the A3 family," Audi said in a statement.

The A3 concept measures 4.44 meters (14.57 feet) long, 1.84 meters (6.04 feet) wide and just 1.39 meters (4.56 feet) high, meaning it's slightly smaller than the new Volkswagen Jetta (4.64 m long).

The sedan study embodies Audi's latest design language as seen on the recent A8, A6 and A7 Sportback models featuring a single-frame grille with tapered upper corners, angular headlights with LED technology and taut body lines.

The show car is fitted with an upgraded version of the 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine found under the bonnet of the current RS3 and TT RS models, producing a peak output of 408-horses. The five-pot distributes power to all four wheels through a seven-speed S tronic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive.

We'll have more details on the A3 Concept from the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Audi A3 Marketing

In the Spring of 2005, Audi began a massive alternate reality game to advertise for the A3, known as The Art of the Heist.

In February 2010, the A3 TDI was featured in Audi's "Green Car" Super Bowl spot, which highlighted that model's "2010 Green Car of the Year" designation by Green Car Journal.


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Audi A3 North American launch

In 2005, the "S line" trim level, with new sporty decorative elements, became available in certain models, and the 3-door received the same frontend as the Sportback. For the first time, the A3 became available in the North American market, exclusively with the Sportback body, with the base 2.0 straight-4 TFSI introduced in 2005 as a 2006 model, and the 3.2 VR6 quattro following in 2006.

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Spy shots: First test-mules for next-gen Audi A3

The next-gen Audi A3 will hit the market in late 2010 in the basic three and five-door hatchback models. Audi is expected the new Audi A3 range to compete with BMW’s 1-series range as well as a family of sporty models based on the next-generation Mercedes A and B-Class. Here spy photographers have caught the first images of the 2011 Audi A3.

The new A3 test mule is wearing the current Mark VI VW Golf Volkswagen body to divert attention. Furthermore, the new A3’s underpinnings will once again be shared with VW’s Golf, which means Audi’s latest modular platform design has been ruled out. The spy shots show that next A3 will be bigger than the current model, growing a few inches in width.

Engine options will likely include a series of four-cylinder powerplants ranging from 1.2 to 2.0L in displacement. The base engine will be a 1.2L TFSI with 105hp and 175Nm of torque and this will be followed by a 1.4L TFSI with 125hp and 200Nm of torque as well as a 1.8L TFSI with 160hp and 250Nm of torque. Rounding out the four-cylinder family will be a 2.0L TFSI with 211hp and 350Nm of torque. For the performance S3 model, expect to see a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A variety of diesel engines, with a rumored 207hp (152kW) 2.0-liter TDI taking the top spot are also expected.

In an attempt to establish a greater foothold in the North America, Audi is also considering an A3 sedan which is designed to appeal to hatch-hating Americans.

New ABT AS3 based on Audi A3 Facelift

German tuner ABT Sportsline has released a tuning kit for the facelift Audi A3 hatchback. The tuner calls it ABT AS3 and it's more than just a cosmetic surgery. The tuned A3 follows in the footsteps of similar work undertaken by ABT on the larger Audi A5. The tuning focuses on both performance enhancements and visual upgrades to give the car more grunt than the standard hatch from Audi.

Under the hood, ABT takes the 2.0L TSI engine and winds it up to an impressive 240hp (179kW), rather than the standard model’s 200hp (147kW). Similar gains in performance are available for the other petrol engines in the A3 lineup, including a 35hp (26kW) lift to 160hp (120kW) in the 1.4L TSI engine, and a 50hp (37kW) lift to 210hp (157kW) in the 1.8L TSI unit. For the 2.0L turbodiesel A3, ABT can also lift power to a maximum of 190hp (142kW), along with plenty of torque.

To help control the extra power on the road, ABT is also offering custom made performance springs that lower the car by 35mm. When coupled with an upgraded braking system, the ABT AS3 should prove to be significantly more agile than the factory A3 on the road.

In terms of visual upgrades, ABT is offering a number of modifications, including a new bonnet, front grille, front bumpers, fenders and LED daytime running lights. The rest of the bodywork is made up of new side skirts, a front spoiler insert, fender inserts and a rear apron. ABT's recognisable four tailpipe unit gives the cars more presence. ABT AR or BR alloy wheels measuring 18 or 19-inch are recommended for the AS3.

Audi expands A3 range with two new economical 1.6L TDI engines

In the U.S. the 2009 Audi A3 is only offered with a pair of petrol engines ranging in displacement from 2.0L up to 3.2L, but in the rest of the world Audi offers a full range of engine options including both petrol and TDI diesel units. And now overseas, Audi has expanded the Audi A3 line-up with the addition of two new 1.6L TDI engines offering 90hp (66kW) and 105hp (77kW), respectively. The two engines give customers who concern about fuel efficiency more options.

The first is a 90 hp engine with a peak torque of 230 Nm, emitting a scant 118 grams of CO2 per km. 0-100 km/h time is 12.9 seconds in an A3 with this engine, and a top speed of 180 km/h. Using only 4.5 liters of diesel per 100km, or 52.27 US mpg, you might be pleased with cleanness of this choice.

But the second unit is not only more powerful, but more efficient, too. Rated at 105 horsepower, this four-cylinder engine uses just over 4 liters of diesel for every 100 km of driving. This translates to a spectacular 57.37 US mpg. Even emissions are cleaner with this unit, dispensing only 109 g/km. With the 105 hp unit, the Audi A3 gets a 0-100 km/h time of 11.4 seconds, on its way to a 194 km/h top speed. But torque figures were not released for this engine. The secret to this engine's success is the use of both engine start-stop and energy recovery system.

The energy recovery system draws kinetic energy from the car’s brakes when slowing down, converting this to electricity to take the load off the alternator, which draws power from the engine and thus consumes fuel. According to Audi, this improves fuel economy by as much as 3%.

The Audi A3 1.6-liter TDI is on sale now. The 90hp (66kW) unit will cost €22,550, while the 105hp (77kW) model will cost €23,550.

Audi planning handful of 2011 A3 variants

Audi has pushed back the arrival of its next-generation A3 by one year as it tackles the development of several other all-new models such as the A1 hatch and Q3 soft-roader. Originally slated to arrive at the end of the year, the next A3 will now hit the market in the first half of 2010 in the basic three and five-door hatchback models. Further down the track Audi will add a new Cabrio model and Sportback wagon, and according to a new report there could even be a four-door coupe as well as an Allroad soft-roader.

The move is designed to help the new A3 compete with BMW’s 1-series range as well as a family of sporty models based on the next-generation Mercedes A and B-Class. The new A3’s underpinnings will once again be shared with VW’s Golf, which means Audi’s latest modular platform design has been ruled out. Compared with the current model, however, the new A3’s footprint will grow in size and its profile is expected to be sleeker.

Audi’s latest-generation B8 A4 grew in length by 14cm over its predecessor, positioning it closer to the 5-series and E-Class in terms of size. The gap left behind will be filled by a new A3-based sedan, which German magazine Autobild reports will stretch 4.2m in length and feature coupe-like styling.

Likely engine options for the A3 range of cars include a series of four-cylinder powerplants ranging from 1.2 to 2.0L in displacement. The base engine will be a 1.2L TFSI with 105hp and 175Nm of torque and this will be followed by a 1.4L TFSI with 125hp and 200Nm of torque and a 1.8L TFSI with 160hp and 250Nm of torque. Rounding out the four-cylinder family will be a 2.0L TFSI with 211hp and 350Nm of torque. For the performance S3 model, expect to see a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine as opposed to the naturally-aspirated V6 found in the current model.

Source from: motorauthority.com