New Audi A3 revealed

New Audi A3

Executive hatch will be more luxurious than ever - and there's hybrid and electric versions in the pipeline, too

The new Audi A3 will be more stylish, luxurious and hi-tech than ever – and Auto Express has full details on the firm’s BMW 1 Series challenger, which will arrive first in sporty three-door form in early 2012.

Previewed earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, the new A3 range will consist of four body styles. A five-door Sportback arrives in 2013, but before then there will be this three-door, plus a saloon for the first time. There will also be hybrid versions and an electric model.

Based on official Audi sketches, our exclusive images show how the big-selling three-door will look. It’s more angular than before, and the LED headlights are inspired by those on the facelifted A5 and all-new A6. The large grille is lifted directly from the compact saloon concept Audi displayed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

A sloping roof and chunky rear pillars give it a sportier profile, while the pronounced crease running from front to back along the car’s flanks – called a ‘tornado line’ by Audi designers – will be a feature of all A3 variants.

Audi’s most recent models, such as the A6 and A1, have been praised for their class-leading interior build quality, and the firm plans to continue this trend with the A3. Chunky heater controls and eyeball-style air vents will be lifted from the A1, and a soft-touch dashboard and high-quality materials will be used throughout.

Hi-tech gadgets include a sat-nav system which displays directions on to satellite images taken from Google Maps, and an Internet connection. The engine line-up will comprise 1.2, 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0-litre turbo petrol units delivering between 105bhp and 210bhp. Diesel options will use 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI engines with the most powerful producing around 170bhp. A frugal TDIe model producing around 100bhp but capable of more than 80mpg is also set to appear.

Audi will also offer all-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, which are expected to arrive late in 2013. No powertrain details have been released yet, but the A3 saloon concept used a 211bhp 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine and 27bhp electric motor. The electric version will borrow technology from the A3 e-tron concept.

Audi’s new hatch will have better handling and more comfort than the current generation, too. It rides on the Volkswagen Group’s new MQB chassis, but will have more aluminium parts than the next-generation Golf – which will use the same chassis – to reduce weight and help improve agility in both two and four-wheel-drive models. Audi Drive Select and adaptive dampers will also be offered as options.

The three-door and saloon models arrive first early next year, while the five-door Sportback and Cabriolet – which is expected to be based on the longer wheelbase saloon, rather than the hatch – will follow late in 2013.

Source: Auto Express UK