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Audi A3, A3 Sportback and A3 Limousine

By - September 12, 2013

Standaufnahme Farbe: Gletscherweiss

Ingolstadt – Audi demonstrates its technical competence in all aspects of carmaking with the Audi A3. Lightweight construction technology helps the premium contact to a groundbreakingly low weight. The A3 1.4 TFSI has a curb weight of just 1,175 kilograms (2,590.43 lb). Curb weight has been reduced by up to 80 kilograms (176.37 lb). In the body, the primary factors for this weight reduction are the hot-shaped steels in the occupant cell and the aluminum bolt-on parts (engine hood and fenders).

Design and interior
Measuring 4.24 meters (13.91 ft) in length, the three-door model has a powerful road stance. It has a wheelbase of 2.60 meters (8.53 ft), and the C-pillar slopes like that of a coupe. As an option, Audi offers headlights in xenon plus technology together with LED daytime running lights; in this case, the tail lights also feature LEDs. The optional all-LED headlights underscore the special position the A3 occupies in the compact segment.

The interior impresses with the visually lightweight instrument panel, the groundbreaking quality of the materials and workmanship, and the intuitively easy ergonomics. Particular highlights include the four round air vents, the elegant control panel for the standard air-conditioning system and the finely rendered instruments and displays. Cargo capacity is 365 liters (12.89 cu ft) and can be expanded to 1,100 liters (38.85 cu ft) by folding down the rear seats.

One highlight in the Audi A3 is the power-retracting, 5.8 or 7-inch MMI monitor, which is just eleven millimeters (0.43 in) thick. The new electromechanical parking brake creates room on the center tunnel console for the terminal of the optional MMI operating system. The top-of-the-line version MMI navigation plus with MMI touch features another innovation – the top of the round rotary pushbutton is a touchpad. Drivers can enter letters and digits with their finger, just like in the Audi full-size class.

Powertrain
The engine lineup comprises eight four-cylinder units. They combine potent efficiency technologies – direct injection, turbocharging, innovative thermal management and the start-stop-system. Fuel consumption has been reduced by roughly 12 percent compared with the previous model.

Paired with the six-speed manual transmission, the 1.6 TDI consumes on average just 3.8 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (61.90 US mpg), corresponding to CO2 emissions of 99 grams per kilometer (159.33 g/mile). Other highly efficient, low-emissions variants include the 1.2 TFSI with 77 kW (105 hp), the 1.4 TFSI with groundbreaking cylinder on demand (COD) technology and the 2.0 TDI clean diesel.

Engine lineup:

  • 1.2 TFSI with 77 kW (105 hp)
  • 1.4 TFSI with 90 kW (122 hp)
  • 1.4 TFSI COD with 103 kW (140 hp)
  • 1.8 TFSI and 1.8 TFSI quattro with 132 kW (180 hp)
  • 1.6 TDI with 77 kW (105 hp)
  • 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TDI quattro with 110 kW (150 hp)
  • 2.0 TDI clean diesel with 110 kW (150 hp)
  • 2.0 TDI clean diesel and 2.0 TDI clean diesel quattro with 135 kW (184 hp)

Audi always pairs the TFSI engines with front-wheel drive with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed S tronic. The 1.8 TFSI quattro comes standard with the six-speed S tronic. The 2.0 TDI and the 2.0 TDI clean diesel with front-wheel drive are available with a six-speed manual or the six-speed S tronic. The 2.0 TDI quattro is equipped with a manual gearbox, and the six-speed S tronic is used in the 2.0 TDI clean diesel quattro.

In combination with Audi drive select, the highly efficient S tronic dual-clutch transmission also includes a free-wheel function (except with 1.2 TFSI). The heart of the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system is the hydraulic multi-plate clutch. If necessary, it can quickly distribute the power between the front and rear axles as needed.

Chassis
The chassis of the Audi A3 provides for sporty driving pleasure with good comfort and supreme stability. The sensitive power-steering system features a highly efficient electromechanical drive. In front-wheel drive models, the electronic stabilization control (ESC) includes the electronic limited slip differential to make handling even smoother and safer at the vehicle’s cornering limit.

With the optional Audi drive select system (standard with the Ambition trim line), the driver can vary steering boost and the characteristics for the accelerator and the S tronic in multiple stages. The system can also be expanded to include the optional adaptive shock absorbers. Wheel sizes range from 16 to 18 inches, and a sport suspension is available in two different versions.

Equipment
Audi offers the A3 in the trim lines Attraction, Ambition and Ambiente. In addition, many sporty and convenience options are offered, including adaptive light and a panoramic glass sunroof. The A3 also documents its leading role when it comes to the driver assistance systems. Technologies include the radar-supported adaptive cruise control, Audi side assist, Audi active lane assist, traffic sign recognition, the park assist system, the Audi pre sense basic safety system and the rest recommendation system.

Audi connect
The Audi A3 offers optional solutions in the area of mobile infotainment never before available in this segment. Audi offers its customers a broad choice of online services under the name Audi connect. These network drivers with their surroundings and supply them with tailored information. Facebook and Twitter applications are also available.

The MMI navigation plus with MMI touch works in conjunction with the Bluetooth car phone online to provide the new services that in the A3 are referred to as Audi connect. A data module for the fast LTE transmission standard will be available shortly. The Audi phone box connects cell phones to the car in a convenient way; the sound system from Bang & Olufsen offers pure hi-fi enjoyment.

Audi A3 Sportback
The body of the Audi A3 Sportback has been stretched for a sporty wheelbase of 2,636 millimeters (103.78 in). The compact five-door model offers a generous luggage capacity of between 380 and 1,220 liters (13.42 and 43.08 cu ft).

The engine lineup for the Audi A3 Sportback includes a wide range of highly efficient TFSI and TDI units. Displacements range from 1.2 to 2.0 liters; power from 77 kW (105 hp) to 135 kW (184 hp). The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system is available for a number of engine variants. Production of the new A3 Sportback g-tron is scheduled to begin toward the end of the year, and the A3 Sportback e-tron with a high-performance plug-in hybrid drive will debut in 2014.

Engine lineup:

  • 1.2 TFSI with 77 kW (105 hp)
  • 1.4 TFSI with 90 kW (122 hp)
  • 1.4 TFSI COD with 103 kW (140 hp)
  • 1.8 TFSI and 1.8 TFSI quattro with 132 kW (180 hp)
  • 1.6 TDI with 77 kW (105 hp)
  • 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TDI quattro with 110 kW (150 hp)
  • 2.0 TDI clean diesel with 110 kW (150 hp)
  • 2.0 TDI clean diesel and 2.0 TDI clean diesel quattro with 135 kW (184 hp)

The Audi A3 Sportback features a comprehensive list of standard equipment. The package of restraint systems, which also includes a knee airbag for the driver, can be supplemented with side airbags in the back. The sophisticated chassis, the high-performance assistance systems and the advanced multimedia technologies underscore the special position the five-door model occupies in the premium compact segment.

Audi A3 Sportback g-tron
Audi is taking a large step towards sustainable future mobility with the A3 Sportback g-tron. The five-door premium compact model can use climate-friendly Audi e-gas in addition to fossil natural gas.

Its two tanks under the luggage compartment floor each hold roughly seven kilograms (15.43 lb) of gas at 200 bar of pressure. They reduce luggage capacity only slightly and are some 70 percent lighter than conventional steel cylinders.

Equipped with a 1.4 TFSI engine producing 81 kW (110 hp), the A3 Sportback g-tron sets standards with respect to efficiency and economy. Fuel costs to the customer are roughly four euros per 100 kilometers (62.14 miles). With its bivalent design, it has a range in the NEDC of over 400 kilometers (248.55 miles) on gas and an additional 900 kilometers (559.23 miles) on gasoline. Over 100 kilometers (62.14 miles), it uses on average less than 3.5 kilograms (7.72 lb) of natural gas or Audi e-gas – the fuel that Audi produces as part of its Audi e-gas project in Werlte, Germany, from CO2 and water using renewable power. Customers can refuel using an e-gas card, which serves as an accounting instrument.

Audi A3 Sedan
Audi is bringing a sporty sedan to the compact segment for the first time. It owes its sportiness to the low weight. Thanks to Audi’s lightweight construction technology, the four-door model equipped with the 1.4 TFSI and S tronic has a curb weight of just 1,250 kilograms (2,755.78 lb). The engines and chassis also set standards with their low weight.

The design of the 446 centimeter-long (14.63 ft) Audi A3 Sedan combines the classic three-box concept with the dynamics of a coupe. The flat roof ends in C-pillar that flows smoothly into the shoulder of the body. The tornado line forms a stark shadow contour, and the fenders are strongly flared. The large, 425-liter (19.07 cu ft) trunk can be expanded by folding down the rear seatbacks.

Audi offers the A3 Sedan with powerful, strong-pulling TFSI and TDI engines. They displace 1.4, 1.8 or 2.0 liters and produce between 92 kW (125 hp) and 132 kW (180 hp). The cylinder on demand (COD) technology in the 1.4 TFSI with 103 kW (140 hp) deactivates two cylinders at low load.

Engine lineup:

  • 1.4 TFSI with 92 kW (125 hp)
  • 1.4 TFSI COD with 103 kW (140 hp)
  • 1.8 TFSI and 1.8 TFSI quattro with 132 kW (180 hp)
  • 1.6 TDI with 77 kW (105 hp)
  • 2.0 TDI clean diesel (150 hp)

The engine’s power is delivered to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual gearbox or the S tronic. quattro all-wheel drive will follow shortly. In terms of its chassis with the optional 19-inch wheels, assistance systems, multimedia and networking with its surroundings, the Audi S3 Sedan is state-of-the-art. The extensive list of optional equipment also includes the innovative LED headlights.


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