Characterised by the sporting elegance of a coupé and the versatility of a five-door vehicle, the A3 Sportback bristles with sophisticated technology and well-defined driving dynamics.

With four- and six-cylinder engines developing up to 184 kW, front-wheel or quattro permanent four-wheel drive and – as an option – the revolutionary DSG transmission, the engine, drivetrain and chassis live up to the expectations raised by the sporty exterior of this five-door vehicle – driving pleasure in a new guise.

Australian-specification vehicles are expected to be introduced to the market in the first quarter of 2005. Engine range, pricing and equipment for Australia have not been defined.

Audi’s new 2.0T FSI engine makes its world premiere in the new Sportback. This extremely dynamic representative of the FSI engine family boasts a four-cylinder unit with turbocharger, delivering 147 kW. Maximum torque of 280 Nm is available across a wide speed range from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm. As a result, the A3 2.0T FSI (with 6-speed manual gearbox) sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.1 seconds, with a top speed of 234 km/h.

The Audi A3 Sportback deliberately carves its own niche in the compact class. It offers the emphatically sporty qualities and the athletic styling of the three-door A3 with which it shares its drivetrain, dynamic suspension and wheelbase.

At the same time – as well as the addition of two rear doors – it offers even more space and flexibility thanks to its tail end which is 68 millimetres longer than its three-door counterpart.

The A3 Sportback is immediately recognisable at first glance, proudly featuring Audi’s striking single-frame radiator grille which – after the 12-cylinder A8 and the new A6 – is the distinctive mark of the next vehicle in Audi’s evolutionary shift. The marked tapering of the sides and the dynamic shape of the clear-glass headlights give the face of the car a self-confident and assertive character.

The silhouette, viewed from the side of the vehicle, shows the design flattening towards the rear in typical coupé fashion – a feature this model shares with the styling of its three-door counterpart. The gently sloping roof line incorporates the 68mm-longer tail end harmoniously into the powerful overall proportions of the car as it sits low on the road. The optional roof rails also emphasise the coupé-like silhouette of the A3 Sportback.

Powerfully contoured, the round wheel arches appear to be resting on the foundations of the sill area which is separated from the dynamic line. Large wheels of between 16 and 18 inches in size underline the impression of masculine athleticism and make the dynamic potential of the new Audi A3 Sportback clearly visible even whilst stationary.

The visual centre of gravity of the A3 Sportback is found at its powerful rear end, creating the impression that the entire car is about to leap forward. With its economical use of lines and graphically-divided surfaces, the rear-end styling is as discreet as it is impressive.

A large glass sunroof known as “open sky” has been developed specifically for the Sportback, giving occupants a clear view of the sky, and which can be opened wide if required.

As on the three-door model, the visible tailpipes extending out of the single or double-chamber exhaust system – depending on engine version – are an indication of the car’s dynamism. And the rear lights high up at the back of the car accentuate the trapezoidal design of the rear end particularly at night, giving the new Audi A3 Sportback its powerful appearance from behind.

370 litres (1,120 litres with the rear seat back folded down) of space are available for transporting all kinds of sports and leisure equipment and anything else that might be needed. Two golf bags can even be stowed sideways in the luggage compartment. The asymmetrically-folding rear seat, a standard feature, and the optional luggage compartment and storage package provides plentiful scope for using this space exactly to suit the personal requirements of every driver.