Reveal: Audi A3

The giant German automaker Audi AG has unveiled the new Audi A3, earlier this year in the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The Audi A3 falls into the segment of small family car produced by the German pioneer since the first version launched in 1996. The two generations of already existing A3 are based on the Group-A platform of Volkswagen, which is also shared with several other models such as the Audi TT, Volkswagen Caddy, Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Touran as well as Škoda Octavia, SEAT Leon and SEAT Toledo.

Audi A3

First impression

The new generation of Audi 3 will be high tech, luxurious and stylish than ever. The car that will be available in the market in early 2012 with three doors and five doors options, has a very sporty look and lives up to the expectations of the quality associated with the brand name. The new generation Audi 3 has been perceived as big challenge for BMW 1 series. The overall design of the A3 is sleek and all the A3 variants will have a prominent line running along the sides of the car, which is called the Tornado Line by the Audi designers. The automaker plans to continue its trend of class leading interior build quality that the brand's latest versions A6 and A1 has been praised for. There are eyeball style air vents and chunky heater controls borrowed from the A1, and the much appreciated soft-touch dashboard and high-quality materials will be used throughout.

The powertrain

The new generation of Audi 3 will be equipped with a series of turbo engines with various displacements that will range from 1.2 to 2.0 liters. To be more specific, there will be 1.2, 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0 liter turbo engines, with the power output ranging from 105 horsepower to 210 horsepower. The diesel options will be 1.6 and 2.0 liter TDI units, with a lager output of 170 horsepower. The new generation of Audi will also offer an all- electric, hybrid, plug-in version, which is expected to arrive in the market in late 2013. The electric version will borrow technology from the A3 e-tron concept. The high tech gadgets in the new generation Audi 3 includes a satellite navigation system that displays the directions on the satellite images taken through the internet connection and Google Maps. The new generation Audi 3 will have the new MQB chassis by Volkswagen Group, but will have more aluminum parts than another vehicle riding on the same chassis i.e. next generation Golf. The aluminum will reduce the weight and will help to improve the agility in both two and four wheel drive models. The new generation Audi 3 will also have Audi Drive Select and adaptive dampers as options.

What’s new

The new generation Audi 3 has more angular exterior than the current existing generations. The inspiration for the LED headlights in the next generation Audi 3 is drawn from facelifted A5 and all-new A6. The large grille in next generation Audi 3 has been picked up straight from the compact saloon concept that automaker displayed at the Geneva Motor Show this year. The new generation Audi 3 has a sloping roof and very chunky pillars in the rear to give it a very sporty look. The Tornado Line, which is a very prominent and pronounced line running all along the new car’s sides from front to back, will be an essential feature in all A3 variants by the automaker. The new hatch will be better on comfort and handling than the existing current generations by Audi. The A3 hatch will be sleeker and lower than today's car. The saloon model is touted more as a saloon/four-door coupe mash-up. The cabriolet option by Audi will not be a hatch but will be based on the notchback.

What’s refreshing?

The 2012 Audi A3 with stylish exterior and sporty look is one of the more practical cars in the class, but still manages to be great fun to drive. the next generation Audi 3 seems to be able to do it all to impress you, it has a good fuel economy, it can race down back roads, it can handle plenty of cargo and doesn't lose its grip even in snowy weather. It is a premium version for a hatchback with an excellent performance, the diesel engine that can race up to 42 mpg on the highway along with a practical cargo capacity.

Price and availability

Although the saloon and three-door models of the next generation Audi will arrive in the market early next year, Audi is keeping the most of the excitement saved for 2013. The Cabriolet and the five-door Sportback version that is most likely to be based on the wheelbase saloon longer than the existing versions, rather than the hatch will be added to the Audi 3 range in late 2013. Apart from the diesel power units and conventional gasoline, there will another addition in the A3 range with all-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid versions, but the automaker has not divulged any additional details about the new generation of the A3 series. However, the manufacturer is expected to preview the in an official press release by the end of the year.

As for pricing, the premium hatchback is available at the base price of $28,750 for 2.0L 200hp and TDI premium hatchback at the base price of $30,250 for 2.0L 140hp.