Audi's Premium Compact "A3 Series" Receives Full Model Change | Audi
Audi A3 Sportback
Audi A3 Sedan
Audi S3
Audi A3 Series Receives Full Model Change
Audi Japan announced the fully redesigned premium compact "Audi A3 Series" on April 21. Orders began the same day, with sales commencing May 18. The grade structure has been newly established as Base, Advanced, and S line.
Text by Akira Hara
S Model with 310ps Maximum Output Also Available
The new A3 Series is available as a Sportback and a Sedan. The Sportback's body dimensions are 4,345mm in length, an increase of 20mm from the previous model, and 1,815mm in width, an increase of 30mm. Front headroom has increased by 7mm, elbow room by 6mm, and in the rear seats, shoulder room by 2mm and elbow room by 3mm, expanding interior space. Luggage capacity is 380 liters (up to 1200 liters).
New Audi A3 (front) and S3 (rear)
New Audi A3
The Sedan, on the other hand, is 4,495mm long, an increase of 30mm compared to the previous model, with no change to the wheelbase. The width is 1,815mm, an increase of 20mm, and the height is 1,425mm, an increase of 20mm. Furthermore, lowering the driver's seat position has increased front headroom by 20mm and also widened the elbow room. Trunk capacity is 425 liters.
The new A3 Series utilizes the "MQB" platform for transverse engines. By employing hot-formed steel for 30% of the body structure (by weight), including the cabin frame, it achieves high body rigidity, weight reduction, and excellent safety.
New Audi S3
The exterior design features a low, wide Singleframe grille and large air intakes at the front, along with sharp LED headlights. In addition to the shoulder line that runs from the headlights to the rear lights, blister fenders evoking "Audi quattro" and sculptured concave door panels create a powerful side view.
The Sedan also features a spoiler-shaped trunk lid end. Furthermore, the underbody, covered by panels, aerodynamic exterior mirrors, and brake cooling vents reduce air resistance. The Cd value is reported to be 0.28 for the Sportback and 0.25 for the Sedan.
Inside, the cockpit design is driver-oriented, with the center console angled towards the driver. A compact, newly designed shift switch has been adopted. By eliminating the release button, shifting is now possible with simple forward and backward movements.
New Audi A3
As part of its sustainability efforts, the fabric portion of the S line's standard seats uses material made from recycled PET bottles. For one A3 seat, up to 45 1.5-liter PET bottles are recycled and used. Additionally, 62 PET bottles are recycled for the floor carpets, and recycled materials are also used for components outside the interior, such as insulation, sound-absorbing materials, luggage compartment side panels, the load floor, and mats.
The instrument panel features an optional Audi Virtual Cockpit, a 10.25-inch high-resolution LCD display that integrates instruments, the Driver Information System (DIS), and map display functions. For infotainment, it is equipped with the latest 10.1-inch touchscreen MMI Navigation system "MIB3".
New Audi S3
The powertrain for the 30 TFSI features a 1.0-liter inline 3-cylinder turbo engine producing a maximum output of 110ps and a maximum torque of 200Nm. It is combined with a mild hybrid drive system using a belt-driven alternator starter (BAS) and a 48V lithium-ion battery, a first for the premium compact segment introduced to the Japanese market.
The 40 TFSI model is equipped with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder turbo engine producing 140kW (190ps) / 320Nm, with the quattro 4WD system as the drive configuration. Both engines are paired with a highly efficient and quick-shifting 7-speed S tronic transmission.
New Audi S3
The S model, S3 Sportback/Sedan, is powered by a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder turbo engine with a maximum output of 310ps and a maximum torque of 400Nm, featuring a turbocharger with a boost pressure (relative pressure) of up to 1.8 bar and fuel injection at 350 bar. The 7-speed S tronic transmission and quattro 4WD system further enhance its sporty performance.
Audi Japan President Philipp Noack, who granted us an interview, stated, "Within Audi's sales, the A3 Series, combining the hatchback and sedan, holds an important position, accounting for 20-25% of our share. We are targeting sales of 5,000 units and 6,000 orders this year. Furthermore, there remains a solid base of sedan users, so we want to continue offering it, and I believe it has significance."
Prices range from 3.10 million to 3.89 million yen for the 30 TFSI Sportback/Sedan, 4.40 million to 4.83 million yen for the 40 TFSI, and 6.42 million yen for the S3.
