RE: Audi A3 and S3 saloons revealed
Wednesday 27th March 2013
Audi has taken the wraps off its new A3 saloon at the New York Motor Show. And as you’d expect, it’s pretty much ‘business as usual’.
S3 version will get same drivetrain as hatchThe new model will have the Mercedes CLA and upcoming BMW 1 Series saloon square in its sights. It'll be the first three-box A3, and will be based around the same underpinnings as the hatch and Sportback iterations. We’ll get a choice of turbocharged engines in petrol and diesel flavours, the former in either 1.4-litre 140hp or 1.8-litre 180hp form, and the latter as 2.0-litre 150hp unit. But of perhaps more interest to PHers will be the new S3 saloon, which will feature the same 300hp, 280lb ft 2.0-litre TFSI engine as the hatch.
Interior also shared with stock A3/S3Externally, the S3 will be differentiated from the rest of the saloon range by deeper front and rear bumpers, the former of which losing the hatch's "implied" vents, and the latter home to quad tailpipes. Side skirts and a smattering of tweaked grillage complete the picture. Interestingly, the new model will measure 4.46 metres in length, making it just 6cm shy of the length of Audi’s first A4. Inside, meanwhile, sports seats with snazzy quilted upholstery, light grey dials and some slivers of gloss black trim will be all you’ll get to tell you you’ve bought the quick one.
Audi A3 and S3 saloons revealed
Booted version of A3 and S3 is... well... a booted version of the A3 and S3
S3 version will get same drivetrain as hatch
More tales of the expected in the transmission department: the saloon will get the same choice of two six-speed gearboxes – manual or S Tronic, the latter being the older six-speed VW Group DSG unit rather than the newer seven-speed. Four-wheel-drive is, of course, standard, and as with the S3 hatch, sports suspension with a 25mm drop will come as standard, with Audi’s magnetic damper system being an optional extra. Performance stats, too, are similar to the hatch's - 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds for the S Tronic or 5.3 seconds for the manual, with an electronically-goverened 155mph maximum.
Interior also shared with stock A3/S3
Both S3 and A3 saloons will be available to order in summer, with deliveries of the A3 starting in autumn and the S3 following in early 2014.
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Discussion
ZOLLAR said:
Audi interiors really are quite nice.
Entirely subjective, though.I sat in the new A3 last week and thought it was trying so hard it was like a gypsy's caravan inside. Far too much bling nonsense and much preferred the approach of BMW.
Absolutely a personal opinion, of course.
10 Pence Short said:
Entirely subjective, though.
I sat in the new A3 last week and thought it was trying so hard it was like a gypsy's caravan inside. Far too much bling nonsense and much preferred the approach of BMW.
Absolutely a personal opinion, of course.
I have to agree. I don't think I'll ever understand why people believe they're nice interiors. I find them gloomy and sterile; perhaps what I imagine the interior of Steve Jobs coffin to look like.I sat in the new A3 last week and thought it was trying so hard it was like a gypsy's caravan inside. Far too much bling nonsense and much preferred the approach of BMW.
Absolutely a personal opinion, of course.
Rawwr said:
10 Pence Short said:
Entirely subjective, though.
I sat in the new A3 last week and thought it was trying so hard it was like a gypsy's caravan inside. Far too much bling nonsense and much preferred the approach of BMW.
Absolutely a personal opinion, of course.
I have to agree. I don't think I'll ever understand why people believe they're nice interiors. I find them gloomy and sterile; perhaps what I imagine the interior of Steve Jobs coffin to look like.I sat in the new A3 last week and thought it was trying so hard it was like a gypsy's caravan inside. Far too much bling nonsense and much preferred the approach of BMW.
Absolutely a personal opinion, of course.
Krikkit said:
Is this going to get longitudinal engines to have non-Haldex quattro? Looks quite nice, although I'm not sure what's wrong with the A4...
Apart from the fact its become a huge 5 series almost in size monstrosity, the A3 will make for a nice compact and nimble saloon, I'd go this way rather than a bloated A4 ..... if you want and A4 sized car the A5 looks better .. imho ...pilchardthecat said:
It looks exactly like an A4, which looks exactly like the A6.....
They should stop giving their cars different numbers and offer them in sizes instead.... Small, Medium and Large
Like BMW?They should stop giving their cars different numbers and offer them in sizes instead.... Small, Medium and Large
When I see a BMW in my rear view mirror it's hard to tell if its a 1er or even 7er as it approaches, much like the A1 to A8.
pilchardthecat said:
y2blade said:
pilchardthecat said:
It looks exactly like an A4, which looks exactly like the A6.....
They should stop giving their cars different numbers and offer them in sizes instead.... Small, Medium and Large
Much the same with BMW of late is it not? They should stop giving their cars different numbers and offer them in sizes instead.... Small, Medium and Large
tbh same with many brands these days, not restricted to car design either.
y2blade said:
pilchardthecat said:
y2blade said:
pilchardthecat said:
It looks exactly like an A4, which looks exactly like the A6.....
They should stop giving their cars different numbers and offer them in sizes instead.... Small, Medium and Large
Much the same with BMW of late is it not? They should stop giving their cars different numbers and offer them in sizes instead.... Small, Medium and Large
tbh same with many brands these days, not restricted to car design either.
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