FRESH LOOK FOR A3
Next-generation sedan will be heavy on the tech, including a stronger mild-hybrid system
Audi says it pioneered the premium compact segment when it first presented the A3 in 1996. Fast forward to today, and the latest A3 is now entering its fourth generation.
This time around, the sedan — sadly, Canada will once again miss out on the smart hatchback variant — gets a bolder look, a smarter cabin with more technology, and a new powertrain with a stronger mild-hybrid system.
The fresh look has bolder fender “blisters” that flank a large honeycomb grille with active elements and built-in ducts for brake cooling. It also features LED headlights and slick daytime running lights that change their appearance based on the model, the S-line naturally getting the most expressive interpretation.
Through the side, a strong shoulder line links the headlights to the tail lights. However, it’s the Coke bottle-like treatment through the doors that gives the new sedan its personality. It’s a marked departure for a company that traditionally used a more slab-sided approach to design. At the back end, a discreet lip spoiler sits atop a foot-operated trunk lid that’s now underscored by thin wedgeshaped LED tail lights and the trapezoidal tailpipes. Overall, the new A3 is attractive and a big step forward visually.
Inside, the cabin is now more cockpit-like and comes with Audi’s full digital treatment. The base 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster is augmented by an optional 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus display with three different looks. To the right is a new 10.1-inch touch screen for the infotainment system that works with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. This setup does away with the dial on the centre console used in the previous model, replacing it with large icons to access the various functions.
The infotainment system also takes a big step forward. The third-generation platform has a processor with 10 times the computing power of the previous system. It can also hold up to six driver profiles, each storing the seat position and climate control settings, along with frequent navigation destinations and media choices, such as radio station presets.
The reworked cabin even takes a green turn. The seat fabric is made from a recycled material made from 1.5-L plastic bottles, 45 of them to be exact. At the other end, there are some high-end options, including Nappa leather, a new head-up display, advanced Matrix LED headlights, and a 680watt Bang & Olufsen sound system with 15 speakers.
The new A3 also has more safety equipment. Audi Pre-safe front, collision-avoidance assist, and lane-departure warning are now standard. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, park assist and exit warning are available.
In Europe, the A3 gets turbocharged three- and four-cylinder engines, as well as two diesels, but Canadian-spec models will arrive with a 2.0-litre turbo four that produces 201 horsepower. This is down slightly from the current A3 sedan, but that shouldn’t matter because the new engine now works with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The alternator/starter-based system not only captures energy to charge the battery when decelerating, it also supports the engine by adding up to 12 hp and 37 poundfeet of torque at slow speeds.
The other bonus, according to Audi, is that the mild-hybrid system can shave up to 0.4 L/100 kilometres off the fuel consumption rate. Supplying a boost in power and cutting the current A3’s run from zero to 100 km/h to around six seconds (down by one second) while saving gas is a win-win situation by any standard.
The new engine works with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Audi’s Quattro all-wheeldrive system. The torque split is fully variable between the front and rear axles, and during normal conditions most of the power is fed through the front wheels to maximize fuel economy. However, the clutch can send power rearward when needed. If necessary, all of that kick can go rearward.
As for the suspension, there’s a base setup, along with two optional adaptive systems. The adaptive dampers drop the ride height by 10 millimetres in the base A3 and 15 mm for S-line models. Both have comfort, auto, and dynamic settings. The steering is also new, now boasting a variable ratio; on-centre feel is precise, but when turned off centre, it cuts the lock-to-lock rotation required to 2.5 turns.
Its third-quarter launch in Canada next year makes it a safe bet the new A3 will be a 2022 model when it lands here. Full Canadian specifications and pricing will be released closer to its launch. Expect an electrified A3 and a sportier S3 as well.