New Audi A3 Sportback to be Unveiled at Paris Motor Show

Audi is all set to unveil its third generation Audi A3, five-door sportback version at upcoming Paris Motor Show.  By combining its sleek new look with a longer wheelbase than both its predecessor and its all-new three-door counterpart, the eminently practical compact is able to offer even more space for families and their luggage, with barely any increase in exterior ‘footprint’. Carrying a premium of £620 over its three-door equivalent, the first phase of A3 Sportback models is now open for ordering.

Made on the similar 7th generation golf platform, the all new A3 Sportback is larger, longer yet lighter by 90kg than the outgoing model.  The design with the three side windows is taut and concentrated. The distinguishing element at the front of the A3 Sportback is the distinctive, stone grey single-frame grille with its angled upper corners. The lower edges of the headlights taper off at an angle, and on S line models are equipped as standard with xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights – these will also be optional for other versions. Large air intakes up front hint at the power of the engines.

The all new Audi A3 Sportback gets bigger inside, having the 35mm longer wheelbase, the rear leg room has got bigger, thus more comfortable. Boot space too has got a 10-litre increase than the outgoing model. However, the interior styling stays the same, but has got even plush with high quality fitments like central screen, MIMI and other various features and of course with bigger cabin, the all new Audi A3 has come out as great product.

Audi will initially offer the new A3 Sportback with a choice of one TDI and two TFSI engines. Two diesel engines and one petrol unit will follow later. They combine multiple efficiency technologies – direct injection, turbocharging, innovative thermal management and the start-stop system. Fuel consumption has been reduced on average by around 10 per cent compared with the previous model. The newly developed 2.0 TDI, with balancer shafts that now rotate in the crankcase, will in the longer term be available in two versions.  The first to arrive will be the 148bhp version familiar from the three-door, which produces 320Nm of torque and enables the front-wheel-drive A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI to reach 100kmph from rest in 8.4 seconds and continue to a top speed of 214kmph. Combined fuel economy for this version is 28.6kmpl, corresponding to CO2 emissions of 108 g/km.

The more powerful version which will follow later will offer 181bhp and 380Nm of torque. The key data (with manual transmission and front-wheel drive): zero to 100kmph in 7.4 seconds, top speed of 232kmph and combined fuel economy of 28kmpl. The new 1.4 TFSI will initially be the smallest petrol engine in the A3 Sportback range. Now featuring an aluminium block, and weighing just 107 kilograms – 21 kilograms less than its predecessor - it produces 120bhp and 200Nm of torque, accelerating the A3 Sportback from zero to 100kmph in 9.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 202kmph. Combined economy is 22.66kmpl, which corresponds to 123 grams of CO2/km. The new 1.8 TFSI, the most powerful petrol engine in the range, is next in the line-up at launch. It produces 177bhp and 250Nm of torque, and combines FSI direct injection with indirect injection and the Audi valvelift system to vary valve lift as required.

The majority of engines in the new Audi A3 Sportback are paired with a manual six-speed gearbox, with the exception of the 1.8 TFSI which in the UK will initially be equipped exclusively with S tronic transmission. S tronic will be available as an option for all other engines. Depending on the version, the dual-clutch transmission shifts extremely quickly and nearly imperceptibly through six or seven gears.

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