Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Design/Style

.

Audi may have accidentally let slip the exterior design of its upcoming 2013 A3.The German automaker set about showing off the hatchback's cabin with a static display at Las Vegas' CES ahead of the vehicle's expected unveiling at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The display gives the world a sense of what to expect from the luxury compact's front seats, center console and dash, which features a stand-alone LCD display that rises out from above the instrument panel's center air vents. Like other Audi displays, the screen features various vehicle menus, including two that show off the full exterior of the three-door model.

Judging from these two quick glimpses at the hatchback, the three-door will feature a new, more aggressive face. From the looks of things, buyers can expect to continue to find a large, signature Audi single-frame grille flanked by more purposeful headlights and sporty air intakes set low int he front fascia. Head over to Audiboost.com for a closer look at the vehicle inside and out. Don't get too attached to what you see, however. Past reports have suggested the vehicle will only debut as a sedan here in the States.

Audi accidentally(?) previews 2013 A3 design at CES originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Audi

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler slipped up while talking to Bloomberg, telling the financial pub that in addition to the 2013 A4 and A4 AllRoad, a small crossover concept will debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week.

Stadler didn't give up anything in the way of details, but the concept will be dubbed the "Vail" and could be a way to gauge reception of a smaller Audi CUV in the States.

If we had to guess, the Vail will feature an Allroad-like treatment on the Euro-only Q3, likely involving a higher ride height, plastic body treatments and a more go-anywhere attitude. We'll know for sure in a few days, but we hope that's not all Audi has planned.

Audi to unveil Vail CUV concept in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Audi, Volkswagen, Diesel

Volkswagen has officially announced a recall of 168,275 Jetta TDI and Golf TDI models as well as certain Audi A3 TDI vehicles after a recent stop sale. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the problem stems from the fuel line that feeds injector number two. Over time, the resonance from the injector could cause the line to fail, potentially leading to an engine fire. Volkswagen will replace the line with an improved piece and fit each injector with a vibration damper to prevent the failure from occurring in the future free of charge.

The recall covers certain 2010-2012 Volkswagen Golf TDI and Audi A3 TDI models as well as certain 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and Jetta Sporwagen TDI models. Volkswagen will notify owners affected by the issue and work is expected to begin in November. Hit the jump for a look at the recall notice.

Continue reading VW and Audi recall nearly 170,000 TDI diesel models

VW and Audi recall nearly 170,000 TDI diesel models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The A3 is Audi’s entry-level car here in North America, but as such, the car unfortunately does not get much promotion or media attention. Which is understandable-Audi is going to spend its advertising budget pushing the A4 and Q5, which compete in white hot markets. The A3, on the other hand is unique in the entry-level luxury car market. Americans continue to be aloof when it comes to hatchbacks, especially when a premium price tag is part of the deal. But does the entry-level Audi retain all the goodness its larger and pricier siblings offer, or is the A3 a ploy just to get people to buy into a premium brand with a less than premium car? Read on…

For anyone who has honestly thought that hatchbacks look cheaper compared to a traditional four door sedan, I’m showing them the A3. The car oozes class, and is every inch an Audi, regardless of being a hatchback or the entry-level car. Understated, serious, and sporty. Our test car was finished in the optional Deep Sea Blue pearl effect which was positively gorgeous, not to mention one of the highest quality paint jobs I’ve seen. It really makes the car, and the sporty but elegant 17″ wheels was icing on the cake. Further proof that the A3 was built to a standard, not a price, come when you shut the door, which gives a solid “whump”. Solid.

Audi has a well-earned reputation for being the gold standard when it comes to interior design and quality, and the A3 is no exception. Fit and finish and quality of materials are exceptional. Gauges are large and easy to read. The beefy steering wheel and comfortable, supportive seats are subtle hints that the A3 is fun to drive. I’ve done seat time in an A3 before in a car with a black interior, which was austere to the point of being drab. Our test car’s Luxor Beige interior went a long way to cheer things up, and is worth it, even if it may be harder to keep clean. Navigation and audio were controlled by Audi’s MMI (multi-media interface), a knob mounted just to the right of the screen. You get used to it, but I desperately wished it was just a touch screen so I could quit the knob. Again, sitting in the driver’s seat there is no mistaking you are enjoying an Audi interior.

The A3 is available with two engines: a 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder rated at 200hp, or a 2.0L TDI diesel rated at 140hp (in August 2011, nearly 70% of A3 buyers chose the diesel). Both engines can be teamed to either a six-speed manual or a 6-speed S Tronic dual clutch auto. Quattro all-wheel drive is available with the gas engine only, and S Tronic is the only transmission choice. Our test car was a front-wheel drive gasser with the S Tronic. We’ve sampled this engine in several VW’s, and have grown quite fond of it. Today 200hp does not sound like much, but the A3 is quick from a standstill and you’re never wanting for power when you need to make a quick pass. The S Tronic shifted quickly, and is obviously far superior than any torque converter automatic, and did nothing to take away from the A3′s inherit driving pleasure. And the A3 is fun. The A3 is a gleaming example of why people respect German engineering, and how Audi continues to walk the line in providing drivers a sporty yet comfortable ride.

In addition to choosing between gas or diesel, manual or automated manual, front or all-wheel drive, the A3 is offered in Premium and Premium Plus trim levels. The base A3 starts at $27,270USD. Our test car, with the optional paint, S Tronic transmission, Navigation, panoramic sunroof and Premium Plus (includes xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth, multifunction steering wheel, power drivers seat, aluminum trim, and 17″ wheels) for an as-delivered price of $35,250. If you go full out with options, you can top out an A3 for over $40,000, which seems ridiculous, but such is the case with most premium German cars when you start checking every option box in sight.

The Audi A3 may be the entry-level car to the brand, but it isn’t the ‘everyman’ Audi-leave that for the A4. In spite of its ‘entry’ status in the Audi family, the company has successfully instilled all the ingredients that make people admire, and aspire to own an Audi. I applaud Audi for resisting the temptation to go cheap with this car when they so easily could have. In doing so the A3 is a no compromise Audi.

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Audi

Audi is in the midst of reshaping its entire family. The new look starts at the top with the redesigned A8, has shown itself on the A7 and A6, and will now filter its way down through the rest of the lineup. Next in line to get the updated look is the A3, and spy photographers managed to capture a cladding-covered prototype on vacation down in Argentina.

We don't yet have a clear shot at the front end, but you can expect a large gaping maw paired with bright LED daytime running lamps, similar in shape to what we see on the A6, no doubt. The real family resemblance, however, can be seen in the character line running down the length of the car. That sharp accent is now a family trademark, and lets the world know you're looking at an Audi (as if the LED-everything didn't tell you already).

Don't get too used to this three-door shape, though. When the next-generation A3 goes on sale in the United States, it will be a four-door sedan, as Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen recently confirmed. The five-door configuration will still be available in other markets, but Stateside, Audi believes a proper four-door will be what makes customers swoon.

Next-gen Audi A3 shows its new face originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi has taken an interesting approach forecasting the next-generation A3 with a sedan concept at the Geneva Motor Show - even though the current model is principally a hatchback. When it does hit showrooms sometime next year, however, the next-gen A3 is expected to be offered first with a tailgate before a trunked version comes along - the three-door model leading the five-door, then the sedan and finally the soft-top convertible.

The news comes along with a trio of sketches released by Audi to the British motor press alongside those of the R8 GT Spyder. The renderings depict the three-door hatchback, the four-door sedan and the cabin of the next-gen A3 production model, which is tipped to be even more diverse in its engine offerings than it is in its bodystyles: expect gasoline, diesel, natural gas, hybrid and full electric versions to be rolled out in succession.

The cabin, meanwhile, is tipped to feature the latest technologies, including Audi's MMI controller and a pop-up infotainment screen. Look for the production 2013 A3 - in one body form or another - to debut in Geneva next March, a year after the sedan concept we saw there last month.



[Source: Audi via Autocar]

Audi previews next-generation A3 hatchback originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments