A3/S3/RS3 Officially official: 2013 Audi A3
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- Start date
The Audi A3 is a small family car (C-segment) manufactured and marketed by Audi AG since September 1996. The first two generations of the Audi A3 were based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, while the third and fourth generations use the Volkswagen Group MQB platform.
donkeykong
Track Technician
Intel Report: New Audi A3, More Body Styles for USA
Last month in Geneva Audi revealed the new 3-door A3. Not surprisingly, and just as with the last-generation car, there’s little potential for a 3-door configuration in the USA. Further, previous viewpoints on the A3 suggested only the sedan would come to America. Fortunately for fans who prefer something other than four doors, we’re now hearing even that more could be bound for the States.
While in Geneva we spoke at length with Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen and Audi AG board member for Marketing Peter Schwarzenbauer about the car’s stance in America. Here’s some of what we found.
A3 Sportback
Last year de Nysschen paid a visit to the Fourtitude discussion forums and, at that time, expressed the unlikelihood of the A3 Sportback making it to the States. This was a major cause of concern for Avant friendly enthusiasts and loyal owners of the current car. Chatting privately with de Nysschen in Geneva, he seems to have changed his mind though there’s a twist. Audi of America is currently pushing to bring the Sportback to the American market though as a specialty model only,
de Nysschen did stress that none of this is confirmed nor finalized, but that Audi may use the Sportback body style exclusively for alternative fuel configurations – possibly a hybrid, plug-in hybrid e-tron or even a full electric e-tron… maybe even multiple choices from this mix.
The theory here is simple. A unique body style dedicated to hybrid or alternative fuel drivetrains makes a statement. de Nysschen didn’t reference it but an obvious parallel can be drawn to the Toyota Prius. There’s no mistaking the Prius for any other Toyota and it makes a visual statement. Audi is thinking it may have a similar opportunity in the States with the Sportback. Such a move likely won’t make performance-minded A3 owners happy but it is in intriguing proposition just the same.
The A3 Sportback e-tron you see above is a render that we have created. Fourtitude has no basis for this specific design nor indication that the new Sportback will bear more resemblance to cars like the A7 Sportback and A5 Sportback, but it looks good. Credit to the German Audi blog QARSI.de for creating a similar render (albeit not e-tron) that inspired this one.
More recently we showed this render to a source at Audi who found it interesting. Still, our source indicated that this won’t be what the A3 Sportback looks like. If not then we’re guessing the A3 will remain more on the Avant side and less on the four-door coupe side of the Sportback schema.
A3 Sedan
Of course it’s already been known that the A3 model most targeted toward the USA is the sedan. American tastes seem to prefer it. Shown as a concept at Geneva in 2011, the production sedan will be key in Audi’s plans for growth in the segment. On the sedan Schwarzenbauer stated that sales would grow 20% or more though de Nysschen was bolder. Audi’s President in America suggested that he thinks the USA can sell 30,000 units in a year, roughly three times the peak years of the current A3 Sportback.
Why so aggressive? de Nysschen was one of the key proponents of the new sedan body style for the new A3 – a push made by both gut instinct and an understanding of the success and significance of the B5 A4, something the American model lineup could use now that the A4 has grown to a size more akin to the C5 A6.
The A3 sedan is also being targeted at China, and we hear this model may see its auto show debut there. Independent of that, the A3 sedan will definitely be built in China for that local market and it’s also a very likely target for manufacture in North America as well.
A3 Cabriolet
Rather than basis on the A3 3-door, the next generation A3 Cabriolet will be based more on the sedan configuration and with a pronounced trunk. Sources who’ve seen the car tell us it is a lot more handsome in appearance and de Nysschen confirmed again as he did on our forums last year that he is lobbying for the Cabriolet to come to America.
Intel Report: New Audi A3, More Body Styles for USA
Last month in Geneva Audi revealed the new 3-door A3. Not surprisingly, and just as with the last-generation car, there’s little potential for a 3-door configuration in the USA. Further, previous viewpoints on the A3 suggested only the sedan would come to America. Fortunately for fans who prefer something other than four doors, we’re now hearing even that more could be bound for the States.
While in Geneva we spoke at length with Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen and Audi AG board member for Marketing Peter Schwarzenbauer about the car’s stance in America. Here’s some of what we found.
A3 Sportback
Last year de Nysschen paid a visit to the Fourtitude discussion forums and, at that time, expressed the unlikelihood of the A3 Sportback making it to the States. This was a major cause of concern for Avant friendly enthusiasts and loyal owners of the current car. Chatting privately with de Nysschen in Geneva, he seems to have changed his mind though there’s a twist. Audi of America is currently pushing to bring the Sportback to the American market though as a specialty model only,
de Nysschen did stress that none of this is confirmed nor finalized, but that Audi may use the Sportback body style exclusively for alternative fuel configurations – possibly a hybrid, plug-in hybrid e-tron or even a full electric e-tron… maybe even multiple choices from this mix.
The theory here is simple. A unique body style dedicated to hybrid or alternative fuel drivetrains makes a statement. de Nysschen didn’t reference it but an obvious parallel can be drawn to the Toyota Prius. There’s no mistaking the Prius for any other Toyota and it makes a visual statement. Audi is thinking it may have a similar opportunity in the States with the Sportback. Such a move likely won’t make performance-minded A3 owners happy but it is in intriguing proposition just the same.
The A3 Sportback e-tron you see above is a render that we have created. Fourtitude has no basis for this specific design nor indication that the new Sportback will bear more resemblance to cars like the A7 Sportback and A5 Sportback, but it looks good. Credit to the German Audi blog QARSI.de for creating a similar render (albeit not e-tron) that inspired this one.
More recently we showed this render to a source at Audi who found it interesting. Still, our source indicated that this won’t be what the A3 Sportback looks like. If not then we’re guessing the A3 will remain more on the Avant side and less on the four-door coupe side of the Sportback schema.
A3 Sedan
Of course it’s already been known that the A3 model most targeted toward the USA is the sedan. American tastes seem to prefer it. Shown as a concept at Geneva in 2011, the production sedan will be key in Audi’s plans for growth in the segment. On the sedan Schwarzenbauer stated that sales would grow 20% or more though de Nysschen was bolder. Audi’s President in America suggested that he thinks the USA can sell 30,000 units in a year, roughly three times the peak years of the current A3 Sportback.
Why so aggressive? de Nysschen was one of the key proponents of the new sedan body style for the new A3 – a push made by both gut instinct and an understanding of the success and significance of the B5 A4, something the American model lineup could use now that the A4 has grown to a size more akin to the C5 A6.
The A3 sedan is also being targeted at China, and we hear this model may see its auto show debut there. Independent of that, the A3 sedan will definitely be built in China for that local market and it’s also a very likely target for manufacture in North America as well.
A3 Cabriolet
Rather than basis on the A3 3-door, the next generation A3 Cabriolet will be based more on the sedan configuration and with a pronounced trunk. Sources who’ve seen the car tell us it is a lot more handsome in appearance and de Nysschen confirmed again as he did on our forums last year that he is lobbying for the Cabriolet to come to America.
Intel Report: New Audi A3, More Body Styles for USA
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High-Rev Hero
We just attended a thorough workshop covering the tech inside the next Audi A3, the new compact from Ingolstadt that the U.S. gets in October 2013 as a five-door Sportback model, as well as a new four-door small sedan. A concept version of the four-door was shown at the Geneva Motor Show last year, while deliveries of this European hatchback start this July.
Our first drive of the three-door premium hatchback model that will be available at launch happens later this month, though it's sort of a shame we won't be getting this three-door here in the States. The five-door Sportback model that will be sold in the U.S. will be shown this October at the Paris Motor Show and will be available in Western European in January of next year. The premium hatch segment is fillling up fast now with this Audi, then the Volvo V40, to be followed then by the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
This completely new version of the A3 – now in its third generation having sold 2.7 million units worldwide since 1996 – is using the new VW Group MQB architecture, or "tranverse modular system" platform. Audi is finally in a position to make the A3/S3 a much larger sales volume car thanks to this universal architecture. Up until now, the various engine setups sharing the existing compact architecture required many variations, particularly in the forward or backward angle of incline of its transverse gas and diesel engines. With this new design, all engines will be inclined rearward at 12 degrees, which leans it naturally more toward the exhaust side facing the bulkhead, and helps reduce front overhang by two inches while creating more front passenger legroom as the front axle can move forward now by 1.6 inches.
Engines available at the first drive event this next month will include a totally revamped 121-horsepower 1.4-liter TFSI four-cylinder gas engine (right), plus an upgraded 177-hp 1.8-liter. Diesel engines – or TDI units – will start with just the 148 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque in the latest 2.0-liter TDI. Later, with the launch of the five-door Sportback, a new 2.0-liter TFSI gas engine joins the group in the next S3, and an ultra-efficient 1.6-liter TDI. In the future, the 2.5-liter TFSI five-cylinder will go into an RS3, which the U.S. should eventually get in the four-door body.
Besides that distant RS3, the U.S. will start out in later 2013 with both the 1.8- and 2.0-liter TFSI powerplants, which have been made lighter and more efficient than they are today. In addition, we will continue to get the 2.0-liter TDI, most likely in both the Sportback and sedan configurations. All of our future A3s will come with a newly developed multi-link rear axle, whereas any engine trims below 134 hp (i.e. 100 kW) are set to have a solid rear axle.
A primary operative in this A3's development has been to lower the overall weight. In this regard, the 1.4-liter TFSI trim in particular drops a significant 176 pounds due in part to the new aluminum crankcase for the engine. All other engine versions of the lineup will drop at least 130 pounds versus the current models. Chassis-wise, the Audi spaceframe aluminum-steel construction now makes its way into the compact segment as well with much of the front end components being made in aluminum.
Practically every option available for the big A6, A7 and A8 will now be available on the wee A3, including a much better new compact design for the Audi MMI interface with MMI Touch integrated onto the top of the mouse-rheostat on the console. We tried this and it finally works really well. All safety and convenience systems will also trickle down into the MMI system with each of them able to be calibrated differently instead of adopting a single default threshold. Sounds like added complexity, but this new Audi Connect setup makes sense quickly. Audi's front pre-sense technology is also seen here, with the car being able to halt itself while traveling at slower speeds if it senses no reaction from the driver when a collision is imminent.
All onboard connectivity systems are no longer Windows based, but use a QNX proprietary system developed with German group Harman Becker, the logic being to avoid viruses and other security risks from the outside. And the latest pop-up MMI screen's thickness is now down to 11 millimeters – about the width of a smart phone. Speaking of Bluetooth connectivity, there will no longer be a cable needed to access everything on your phone. You'll just place the phone in the Audi console phone box and all is executed via a near-field planar system.
Audi intends to redefine the compact premium segment with the new A3 and it sort of needs to approach things with such ambition, seeing as the premium hatch segment is soon to be chock full of heady competition. It's just sort of a shame that we need to wait this long to get our A3s.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/new-details-on-the-next-audi-a3/
Our first drive of the three-door premium hatchback model that will be available at launch happens later this month, though it's sort of a shame we won't be getting this three-door here in the States. The five-door Sportback model that will be sold in the U.S. will be shown this October at the Paris Motor Show and will be available in Western European in January of next year. The premium hatch segment is fillling up fast now with this Audi, then the Volvo V40, to be followed then by the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
This completely new version of the A3 – now in its third generation having sold 2.7 million units worldwide since 1996 – is using the new VW Group MQB architecture, or "tranverse modular system" platform. Audi is finally in a position to make the A3/S3 a much larger sales volume car thanks to this universal architecture. Up until now, the various engine setups sharing the existing compact architecture required many variations, particularly in the forward or backward angle of incline of its transverse gas and diesel engines. With this new design, all engines will be inclined rearward at 12 degrees, which leans it naturally more toward the exhaust side facing the bulkhead, and helps reduce front overhang by two inches while creating more front passenger legroom as the front axle can move forward now by 1.6 inches.
Engines available at the first drive event this next month will include a totally revamped 121-horsepower 1.4-liter TFSI four-cylinder gas engine (right), plus an upgraded 177-hp 1.8-liter. Diesel engines – or TDI units – will start with just the 148 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque in the latest 2.0-liter TDI. Later, with the launch of the five-door Sportback, a new 2.0-liter TFSI gas engine joins the group in the next S3, and an ultra-efficient 1.6-liter TDI. In the future, the 2.5-liter TFSI five-cylinder will go into an RS3, which the U.S. should eventually get in the four-door body.
Besides that distant RS3, the U.S. will start out in later 2013 with both the 1.8- and 2.0-liter TFSI powerplants, which have been made lighter and more efficient than they are today. In addition, we will continue to get the 2.0-liter TDI, most likely in both the Sportback and sedan configurations. All of our future A3s will come with a newly developed multi-link rear axle, whereas any engine trims below 134 hp (i.e. 100 kW) are set to have a solid rear axle.
A primary operative in this A3's development has been to lower the overall weight. In this regard, the 1.4-liter TFSI trim in particular drops a significant 176 pounds due in part to the new aluminum crankcase for the engine. All other engine versions of the lineup will drop at least 130 pounds versus the current models. Chassis-wise, the Audi spaceframe aluminum-steel construction now makes its way into the compact segment as well with much of the front end components being made in aluminum.
Practically every option available for the big A6, A7 and A8 will now be available on the wee A3, including a much better new compact design for the Audi MMI interface with MMI Touch integrated onto the top of the mouse-rheostat on the console. We tried this and it finally works really well. All safety and convenience systems will also trickle down into the MMI system with each of them able to be calibrated differently instead of adopting a single default threshold. Sounds like added complexity, but this new Audi Connect setup makes sense quickly. Audi's front pre-sense technology is also seen here, with the car being able to halt itself while traveling at slower speeds if it senses no reaction from the driver when a collision is imminent.
All onboard connectivity systems are no longer Windows based, but use a QNX proprietary system developed with German group Harman Becker, the logic being to avoid viruses and other security risks from the outside. And the latest pop-up MMI screen's thickness is now down to 11 millimeters – about the width of a smart phone. Speaking of Bluetooth connectivity, there will no longer be a cable needed to access everything on your phone. You'll just place the phone in the Audi console phone box and all is executed via a near-field planar system.
Audi intends to redefine the compact premium segment with the new A3 and it sort of needs to approach things with such ambition, seeing as the premium hatch segment is soon to be chock full of heady competition. It's just sort of a shame that we need to wait this long to get our A3s.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/new-details-on-the-next-audi-a3/
Giannis
Staff member
Horse-carriage technology for the win
Ι am not happy for the above statement. This is what Audi's press release says about the A3 Chassis:
Audi said:
It doesn't say anywhere anything about a live axle rear suspension being offered...
Centurion
Apex Apex Predator
Don't the S3, RS3 and Quattro models come with multilink at the rear? If not then it's stingy of Audi.
Giannis
Staff member
I don't know about the NA market, but the Euro 1.4TSI Beattle comes with a torsion beam rear suspension, not a live axle one
speed_kills
Diesel Dynamiker
The Megane RS is thriving with a torsen beam.
martinbo
Staff member
Well of course any quattro model couldn't have a twist beam rear axle because of the need to place the rear differential and driveshafts. All of the previous generation A3 have the multi-link arrangement first pioneered on the Golf 5 platform and then further refined for, predominantly, manufacturing efficiency. So in this case, it's unlikely that European markets will see anything other than multi-link rear suspension A3s.
Yes it is indeed. somehow the French have always had a knack for making the most of hot hatches equipped the poor man's choice of rear axle. Oh, and for your edification it's a torsion beam axle (not TORSEN which is a made up word joining TORque and SENsing for a very special limited slip differential).
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Audi
Audi AG is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles
headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. A subsidiary of the
Volkswagen Group, the company’s origins date back to the early 20th
century and the initial enterprises (Horch and the Audiwerke) founded
by engineer August Horch (1868–1951). Two other manufacturers (DKW
and Wanderer) also contributed to the foundation of Auto Union in 1932.
The modern Audi era began in the 1960s, when Volkswagen acquired Auto
Union from Daimler-Benz, and merged it with NSU Motorenwerke in 1969.
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
