Cars & Autos | Monday 6 February, 2017 4:30 am |

 

The success model from Audi has become even more attractive: The Audi A3 approaches the starting line with new driver assistance systems and engines as well as newly designed headlights and taillights. Also new on board is the innovative operating and display concept, the Audi virtual cockpit. The sport version of the Audi S3 comes with numerous innovations and has enhanced its dynamic potential even further. The A3 series offers the most versatile line of drive systems in the premium compact segment.The new Audi A3 and Audi S3 are available in showrooms around the Middle East, with a starting price of $25,900 for the Audi A3 and $44,700 for the Audi S3.

 

Driver assistance systems from the Audi full-size class

With numerous driver assistance systems the new Audi A3 raises the bar in the premium compact segment a bit higher. The further developed Audi active lane assist and Audi pre sense front, including predictive pedestrian protection, make town & country driving even safer.

 

The Audi adaptive cruise control (ACC)  is availabale as an option, while the Stop&Go feature is available as standard. Another new feature for the A3 family is the optional emergency assist. This system initiates braking down to a safe stop if despite warnings no steering activity by the driver is detected. The new cross traffic assist rear warns the driver about cross traffic when slowly backing out of a perpendicular parking space, for example.

 

Controls & displays and infotainment

The highlight in the interior of the new Audi A3 is the Audi virtual cockpit. The innovative operating concept is available for the first time in the compact class. The Audi virtual cockpit depicts the most important driving-relevant information in high resolution on a TFT screen with a 12.3-inch diagonal.

 

The driver can switch between two views by pressing the “View” button on the multifunction steering wheel. In classic mode, the instruments appear as large as the usual analog displays. In infotainment mode, on the other hand, a central window predominates that provides more space for the navigation map or shows clearly arranged lists for the phone, radio and audio sectors. Tachometer and speedometer appear as small round clocks.

The menu structure in the MMI system has been redesigned. Operation with its flat hierarchies is based on smartphones.

 

The central feature of the MMI terminal is the round rotary push-button control, whose ring is illuminated in white in the top version. On its surface is the touch-sensitive touchpad for entering characters and for multi-finger gestures, allowing the driver to zoom in and out of the map. Above and beside the rotary push-button control are rocker switches and buttons with which the driver can navigate through the newly designed menu structure. The further developed voice control for navigation, radio, media and phone now also understands many phrases from everyday language.

 

Cell phones with iOS and Android operating systems are integrated into the car via the Audi smartphone interface. The Audi phone box in the center armrest wirelessly connects the cell phone to the car antenna per near-field coupling and allows inductive charging.

 

Newly designed trim lines

Despite hardly any dimensional changes – 4.24 meters long and a wheelbase of 2.60 meters – the new Audi A3 appears even sportier and more expressive than before; its Singleframe grill is more sharply contoured and wider. The headlights are flatter with distinctive outside contours.

 

The rear accentuates the width of the new A3 – with the horizontal lighting graphics of the rear lights and the separation edge above the newly styled diffusor. The color range has been expanded. Twelve paint colors are available to choose from, including the five new colors Ara blue, cosmos blue, nano gray, tango red and Vegas yellow. For the S line exterior package, paintwork in Daytona gray, pearl effect has been reserved.

 

New for the A3 are the modular trim lines. They afford the customer even greater freedom of choice and for the first time also influence the details of the exterior. In addition to the base models, in the future there will be the two lines sport and design, through which the S line sport package and the design selection range.

 

Extensively overhauled: the engine lineup

The engine lineup for the Audi A3 comprises three gasoline engines: Their power output ranges from 115 hp to 190 hp. All A3 models meet the EU6 standard.

 

With the 1.0 TFSI, Audi for the first time offers a three-cylinder engine in the Audi A3 series. This compact engine provides 115 hp and delivers 200 Nm of torque from 2,000 to 3,500 rpm. Its NEDC consumption rate is limited to 4.4 liters per 100 kilometers – a CO2 emission level of 103 grams per kilometer. The new entry-level gasoline engine is efficient at no cost to driving pleasure. It accelerates the A3 Sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds, and presses forcefully ahead up to a top speed of 211 km/h.

 

The 1.4 TFSI COD ultra comes with cylinder-on-demand efficiency technology, switching off two cylinders when that power is not required. The engine with 1,395 cm3 displacement affords 150 hp of power and develops 250 Nm of torque. The average fuel consumption is just 4.7 liters per 100 kilometers  – corresponding to 109 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometer.

 

A technical highlight is the completely newly developed 2.0 TFSI with its innovative combustion method. From a displacement of 1,984 cm3 it generates 190 hp, and between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm it provides 320 Nm of torque. In just 6.8 seconds the A3 40 TFSI with the newly developed seven-speed S tronic sprints from 0 to 100 km/h, reaching a top speed of 250 km/h. The NEDC consumption is 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers, with a CO2 emission level of 125 grams per kilometer.

 

The 2.0 TFSI engine are accompanied by a totally new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with wet clutch. It supersedes the previous six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

 

The new Audi A3 distributes the engine power to the front wheels as standard. quattro all-wheel drive is available for the 2.0 TFSI. The Audi S3 is equipped with quattro all-wheel drive as standard.

 

The suspension of the new Audi A3 is tuned for impressively balanced sportiness. In the case of the optional sport suspension, the body lies 15 millimeters lower, and 25 millimeters lower with the S line sport suspension. The electromechanical power steering is both sensitive and efficient. On request, for many models Audi provides progressive steering, also electrically assisted and standard in the Audi S3.

 

The new Audi A3 comes with 16-inch wheels as a standard feature, with 17-inch wheels provided in the design and sport trim lines. The broad range of optional 17-, 18- and 19-inch wheels contains new designs. The lineup of tires has also been overhauled and offers improved performance with optimized roll resistance.

 

First time in the segment: Matrix LED headlights

The headlights of the Audi A3 Sedan form a striking new picture with their jagged bottom edges. Xenon plus units are standard, with Audi optionally offering LED headlights and for the first time Matrix LED headlights as well.

 

Systematic lightweight design has brought the curb weight (without driver) of the new Audi A3 with the 1.0 TFSI engine down to just 1,150 kg – the best value in its class. The body of the new Audi A3 is impact-resistant and rigid to a high extent. A sound-absorbing windshield is standard.

 

The interior offers the top quality typical of Audi. The newly designed three-spoke steering wheel is optionally available as a heated version. For more comfort on longer journeys, the new A3 Audi comes with a driver’s seat with massage function.

 

More power: the new Audi S3 - 4 hp more power, and in combination with the S tronic 20 Nm more torque – in the Audi S3, Audi has once again raised the bar. In addition, the engineers have integrated a S3-specific control system for the Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) system and multi-plate clutch. The result: even greater driving dynamics, driving pleasure and safety.

 

The 2.0 TFSI now generates 290 hp and with S tronic delivers 380 Nm in the wide range of 1,800 to 5,200 rpm. The Audi S3 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. Its NEDC fuel consumption is 7.3 liters per 100 kilometers, corresponding to 176 grams CO2 per kilometer. The S3 Sedan also profit from the extensive new features.

 

The new Audi A3 and Audi S3 are available in showrooms around the Middle East, with a starting price of $25,900 for the Audi A3 and $44,700 for the Audi S3.

 

At a glance

The new Audi A3 model series

Driver assistance systems

- Pioneering new systems: Emergency assist, Audi pre sense front with predictive pedestrian protection, cross traffic assist rear

- Optimized systems: Parking system plus, Audi active lane assist, Audi side assist, adaptive cruise control, park assist system (forwards perpendicular parking now possible)

 

Controls and displays

- Electrically extending MMI monitor with 7-inch diagonal as standard feature

- On request, Audi virtual cockpit and MMI navigation plus with MMI touch

- New MMI operating concept including free text search (MMI search) and handwriting recognition, natural language control

 

Drivetrain and chassis

- Three TFSI, from 115 hp to 190 hp

- New 1.0 TFSI: three-cylinder turbo with 115 hp

-1.4 TFSI 4 cylinder engine, with 150 hp

- New 2.0 TFSI with newly developed combustion process; fuel consumption is only 5.5 liters per 100 km, or 125 grams CO2 per km.

- Newly developed seven-speed S tronic for 2.0 TFSI engine

- Audi drive select driving dynamics system, Audi magnetic ride optional

 

Body and exterior design

- Audi A3 Sedan - Length 4,458 millimeters, wheelbase 2,637 millimeters, width 1,960 millimeters, height 1,416 millimeters

- Audi S3 Sedan - Length 4,466 millimeters, wheelbase 2,631 millimeters, width 1,960 millimeters, height 1,392 millimeters

- More sharply contoured and wider Singleframe grill, new headlight design

- Optional LED and Matrix LED headlights with dynamic turn signals, Traffic sign glare control and cornering lights

- New rear light design

- Innovative equipment concept with the sport and design lines – for the first time with exterior differentiation

 

Interior and equipment

- Driver’s seat with massage function optionally available

- Additional USB port below the instrument panel

- White backlit control knobs and switches in the cockpit

- More flexibility: optional rear seat backrests can be split in the ratio 40:20:40

- New options: illuminated decorative trims and illuminated door sill trims

- Swivelling trailer hitch, electrically released at the press of a button

 

Audi S3

- 290 hp, up to 20 Nm more torque, 2.0 TFSI now with 290 hp and 380 Nm

- New seven-speed S tronic with freewheeling function

- Firmer S sport suspension, Audi magnetic ride suspension optionally

available, specially tuned 18-inch Performance tires

- S3-specific control system for ESC and multi-plate clutch

- Expressive exterior design, exclusive paint finishes in Navarra blue metallic

and panther black, crystal effect