Audi A3 sedan for 2014
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31st March, 2013
- Audi enters the premium compact sedan class with the new A3 sedan
- S3 sedan is the top model of the series, with 221 kW: 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds
- A3 sedan to arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2014
With the launch of the A3 Sedan, Audi is entering the world’s largest market segment, the class of compact sedans. The
dynamic four-door car offers all of the strengths of the A3 model series – with low weight thanks to lightweight design,
powerful and highly efficient engines and numerous high-end solutions for infotainment as well as driver assistance
systems. The top model of the series is the S3 Sedan with 221 kW.
Exterior design
The Audi A3 Sedan has a sporty stance on the road, and it is precise and highly expressive in every detail. The
“tornado line” design element forms a distinct light-refracting edge that runs over the entire side. The overhangs are
short. The four-door car has a 2.64 metre long wheelbase and an overall length of 4.46 metres.
Above the side sills, the dynamic line rises more sharply than on the other two A3 models. The side surfaces are more
intensively curved, and the wheel arches are slightly more flared. With a width of 1.80 metres, the A3 Sedan is 11 mm
wider than the A3 Sportback; its height (1.42 metres) is still 9 mm lower than that of the Sportback.
The four-door car also expresses independent lines in the contour of its bonnet, in the bumpers, air intakes and its
implementation of the single frame grille. At the rear, the spoiler is integrated in the boot lid, and the lights
emphasise the car’s horizontal lines with their broad and low cuts. LED technology is available as an option. Audi will
also be offering full-LED headlights right at market launch – their innovative technology and distinctive appearance
underscore the market positioning of the A3 Sedan.
Body
With a 1.4 TFSI engine, the sedan has a curb weight of just 1,205 kg (provisional data). Audi uses many hot-shaped
steel parts in the passenger compartment for low weight and maximum strength, while the bonnet is made of aluminium. The
body is very rigid, crash-safe and quiet.
The strict dictate of lightweight design carries over into the interior and the engines as well. The four-cylinder
engine weighs just over 100 kg.
Powertrain (all data provisional)
When the Audi A3 Sedan launches in Europe, the engine line-up will consist of three four-cylinder engines. Completely
redesigned, the engines bring together efficiency technologies from Audi – direct fuel injection, turbocharging,
innovative thermal management and the start/stop-system. The line-up of engines and transmissions will grow further, and
will include two new basic engines.
The 2.0 TDI produces 110 kW and develops 320 Nm of torque. It accelerates the A3 Sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.4
seconds and takes it to a top speed of 213 km/h. Its combined fuel consumption is 4.2 litres per 100 km – for a
CO2 equivalent of 108 grammes per km.
Key performance parametres of the 1.4 TFSI are 103 kW and 250 Nm. At low engine load, the COD (cylinder on demand)
system deactivates two cylinders. The 1.4-litre engine gives the car a combined fuel consumption of just 4.7 litres
fuel per 100 km; its CO2 emissions are 109 grammes per km. It takes just 8.4 seconds to accelerate from 0
to 100 km/h, and the car’s top speed with this engine is 213 km/h.
The 1.8 TFSI produces 132 kW and 250 Nm of torque. It utilises an extensive package of high-end technologies,
including dual injection into the combustion chambers and the induction manifold. It enables sporty performance, taking
7.3 seconds for the standard sprint to 100 km/h and reaching a top speed of 232 km/h. Its combined fuel consumption is
5.7 litres per 100 km, equivalent to 135 grammes CO2 per km.
Depending on the engine, either a manual six-speed transmission or the S tronic is used. The dual-clutch transmission
shifts the gears without any noticeable break in propulsive power. It is controlled by either the selector lever or
paddles on the steering wheel. The D shifting map is laid out for maximum fuel efficiency, while the rev levels are
somewhat higher in the sporty S mode. In cooperation with the Audi drive select vehicle dynamics system, the S tronic
offers a free-wheeling function in its efficiency mode which further reduces fuel consumption.
Chassis
Providing the foundation here is a finely balanced axle load distribution (60 per cent front and 40 per cent rear,
varies somewhat for different engines). All engines are tilted twelve degrees towards the rear, while the front wheel
suspensions are placed far forward.
The front suspension is a MacPherson design with A-arms and aluminium pivot bearings. It is joined to an aluminium
sub-frame. The electromechanically assisted steering system operates sensitively and efficiently together with various
assistance systems. In the four-link rear suspension, which utilises a steel crossmember, the springs and shock
absorbers are mounted separately. The sport suspensions for the Ambition line and S line lower the body by up to 25
mm.
The Audi A3 Sedan has 16- to 18-inch-wheels; quattro GmbH can also deliver wheels up to 19 inches in diameter. The
front brake discs are internally ventilated.
Electronic stabilisation control or ESC also includes an electronic differential lock. In fast driving through curves,
it brakes the inside front wheel very slightly to minimise understeering and improve traction.
Interior
The interior of the Audi A3 Sedan is characterised by attention to detail. The lines and surfaces are cleanly
designed, and a long arc spans the width of the windshield. The instrument panel with its curved front is slender, and
the centre console is slightly turned towards the driver. The optional colour display of the driver information system
(DIS) shows images in highly detailed 3D graphics.
Starting with the MMI Radio system, the MMI operating system has an electrically extending screen. Its terminal is
housed in the console of the centre tunnel. The electromechanical parking brake is activated by a push-button. The
steering wheel has either three or four spokes, depending on the version. The customer can also order the steering wheel
with a flat bottom, multifunction keys and shift paddles. Audi offer sport seats in the front as an option. They are
standard in the Ambition line, where S sport seats with integrated head restraints are available as an option.
The interior colours – black, titan grey, pashmina beige and chestnut brown – are based on the specific equipment
line. The two-tone Audi design selection lasso brown provides an exclusive colour world. The S line sport package,
which can be ordered for the A3 Sedan Ambition, immerses the interior space entirely in black. Available upholstery
materials include fabric covers, a mix of fabric and artificial leather, Milano leather and a combination of Pearl
nappa leather and Alcantara.
Thanks to the long wheelbase, rear passengers also enjoy reasonable space and comfortable entry. The cargo capacity
of the boot measures 425 litres. This capacity can be increased by folding down the rear seatbacks which come with a
load-through hatch as an option. The boot lid automatically swings upward after it is unlocked.
Infotainment and Audi connect
Like others in the model series, the A3 Sedan makes use of the new modular infotainment system (MIB). The top system
is MMI Navigation plus with an SSD hard drive offering 64 GB of storage, a DVD drive and whole-word voice control. A
high-resolution 7-inch-screen shows the map image in detailed 3D graphics. The MMI Navigation plus system interfaces to
mobile phones and mobile players via Bluetooth. The user terminal has a turn/push control designed as a “touchwheel”
with MMI touch – the touchwheel’s top surface is a touch-sensitive pad for inputting letters, symbols and numbers.
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Other infotainment components include a module for digital radio reception (DAB+), the Audi phone box for conveniently
coupling a cell phone to the car antenna and the Bang & Olufsen sound system. Its 705 watt amplifier drives 14
loud-speakers in 5.1 surround sound, and LED light guides illuminate the woofer grilles in the front doors.
Audi connect covers all technologies that network the driver with the car, the Internet, infrastructure and other
vehicles. Audi has made the system even more appealing – whenever possible the connection to the Internet is run over the
super-fast LTE standard. The LTE telephone module replaces the previous UMTS module here, which enables a download rate
of up to 100 MBit/s in the car.
Audi connect lets passengers conveniently surf and e-mail via an integrated WLAN hotspot. For the driver, it brings
customised Internet services from Audi into the car. They range from navigation using images from Google Earth and Google
Street View to Audi traffic information online and the smartphone app Audi music stream. News and information services
complete the line-up. The on-line community services Facebook and Twitter are integrated in a vehicle-friendly way; along
with a text-to-speech function, a practical text function is provided with prepared text units.
A new Audi connect service that is making its debut in the A3 Sedan is parking space information. It shows information
on parking spaces, parking garages and underground garages near a destination selected by the driver. Whenever possible,
the service indicates the number of available spaces and parking fees. The street address of the parking space can be
used as a navigation destination.
Features
The new Audi A3 Sedan is launching with a generous set of standard features. The package of restraint systems includes
a knee airbag for the driver. The DIS with colour display in the Ambition and Ambiente lines includes an efficiency
programme, gearshift indicator and rest recommendation feature.
In addition, the Ambition line has a sport suspension, 17-inch-alloy wheels, sport seats and the Audi drive select
system. The Ambiente line adds a cruise control system, interior LED lighting package and rear parking assistant. In
addition to these standard features, Audi also offers other individual comfort and convenience options – such as a
panoramic glass sunroof, convenience key, auxiliary heating and xenon-based adaptive lights. In conjunction with MMI
Navigation plus, the lighting system utilises route data to optimally illuminate the roadway depending on the driving
situation.
Optional driver assistance systems also come from the premium class. The adaptive cruise control (ACC) maintains a
desired distance between the A3 Sedan and the vehicle in front of it up to a speed of 150 km/h; with the assistance
package, which combines multiple systems, the control range is extended up to 200 km/h. When combined with S tronic, ACC
also offers a stop&go function for low speeds.
The rear radar sensor Audi side assist monitors lane changes, while Audi active lane assist helps the driver to keep
within the lane by making slight corrections to the electromechanical steering as necessary. The video camera of Audi
active lane assist is also used for traffic sign recognition. A high-end solution for convenient parking is park assist
with display of the surroundings – it relieves the driver of steering work in parallel and perpendicular parking
maneuvres.
Another high-end option is the safety system Audi pre sense basic. Pre sense front is integrated in the adaptive
cruise control system. In case of an imminent rear-end collision, the system warns the driver using a staged reaction
strategy; if necessary, it can even initiate hard braking. In an emergency situation at speeds under 30 km/h, Audi pre
sense front can brake the A3 Sedan with nearly full braking power. If a crash occurs, the brake assist system avoids
secondary collisions by ensuring that the car does not travel further in an uncontrolled manner.
Audi S3 Sedan
Just a few months after the launch of the new sedan model series, Audi will introduce the top model – the S3 Sedan.
The 2.0 TFSI produces 221 kW and 380 Nm of torque. Its high-performance four-cylinder engine combines highly advanced
efficiency technologies – dual fuel injection, exhaust manifold integrated in the cylinder head, the Audi valvelift
system and a rotary valve module for thermal management.
This version of the Audi S3 Sedan, paired with the S tronic, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds; with the
manual transmission it takes 5.3 seconds. The car’s top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. The four-cylinder
turbo has a combined fuel consumption of just 6.9 litres per 100 km or 7.0 litres (with S tronic or manual transmission),
respectively – for a CO2 equivalent of 159 or 162 grammes per km. A fast-operating multi-plate clutch in
the quattro drivetrain distributes forces to the front and rear axles (provisional data).
The suspension lowers the body 25 mm. Large brakes are at work behind the standard 18-inch-wheels; the front discs are
340 mm in diameter. The electrically assisted progressive steering varies the steering gear ratio – it is somewhat more
indirect in the middle position, but very direct when large turns of the steering wheel are made. The Audi drive select
vehicle dynamics system is standard, and the Audi magnetic ride damper control system is available as an option.
Visually, the top model is distinguished by modifications to the bumpers, the single frame grille, air intakes,
exterior mirror housings, side sills and rear spoiler. The four oval tailpipes of the exhaust system are embedded in the
diffuser with chrome trim. In the interior, the S3 Sedan offers sport seats (optional S sport seats), instruments with
grey dials and trim strips in black 3D look.
Australian availability
The Audi A3 sedan will come to Australia. It is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2014. The exact engine
line-up and full specification and pricing details will be announced closer to launch.
E&OE.
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