Audi’s all-new five-door A3 Sportback has arrived boasting new looks, lighter weight and more practicality.
While overall dimensions are only marginally more than the outgoing model, Audi’s all-new A3 delivers 58mm more in the wheelbase (2636mm) for more interior space. Cleverly, the five-door model is only 35mm longer than the three-door version.
Noticeable at the front is a new look from Audi with the A3 Sportback adopting a grey single-frame grill with raised upper corners. As usual with the latest Audi design theme, the A3 also scores large air intakes (to provide a visual hint of powerful performance we’re told).
There’s a sporty look in profile with the new Audi A3 highlighting narrow, steeply-sloped C-pillars and a rear-hatch spoiler. Audi fans will also pick the new door-mounted exterior mirrors.
The rear sees split rear lights with an adaptive brake light (pulses under hard, emergency braking to alert following cars) and a sporty diffuser.
Clever engineering, including extra use of hot-shaped and high-tensile steel has allowed Audi to pare weight form the new A3 which is up to 90kgs lighter than its predecessor.
Inside, Audi has ramped-up the elegance as part of a totally new look for the A3 Sportback. Instruments adopt a low positioning, the MMI operating system (power-retractable) is located on the console surrounded by high knee pads and an electromechanical parking brake frees more space for the centre console.
Audi has also stepped-up to the plate big-time with the new A3’s infotainment system. The new model adds a Modular Infotainment Platform (MIB) with a Nvidia Tegra 2 graphics process capable of creating complex 3D images on the high-resolution MMI monitor (5.8-inch or 7.0-inch).
That extra interior space is obvious in the rear with noticeable more headroom than the previous Audi A3 Sportback. Luggage space is similarly enhanced – 330-litres with the rear seat in-place or 1220-litres with the 60/40 split-fold seat folded flat.
Under the bonnet, all-new Audi A3 is launched with one turbo-diesel engine and two TFSI petrols however more will follow.
The range is:
1.6 TDI, a new 2.0TDI with 110kW/320Nm or 135kW/380Nm, 1.2TFSI with 77kW/175Nm, a new 1.4TFSI with 90kW/200Nm or 103kW/250Nm and a new 1.8TFSI with 132kW/250Nm.
Drive is via a six-speed manual transmission or dual-clutch S-tronic automatic in six or seven-speed guise (depending on the model). Interestingly only Audi A3s with the 1.8TFSI or 2.0TDI engines will be offered with Quattro all-wheel-drive – the rest will be front-wheel-drive.
On the safety front, look for the new Audi A3 Sportback to offer radar-based adaptive cruise control, lane-change warning and camera-based traffic sign recognition.
Audi Australia will announce the local specifications and pricing ahead of the all-new A3 Sportback’s local introduction mid next year.
