The newly minted A3 faces immediate challenge from box-fresh small premium sedans like the Mercedes-Benz CLA and the Acura ILX, as well as players like the Buick Verano and the Lexus CT200h.
Of course, the German automaker will be the first to tell you that this new A3 is more than up to the challenge. Audi's typically high-level of design is in effect here, with sheet metal that is attractive without looking like a clone of the larger A4. The A3 will have the option of full LED headlamps, of course, carrying on Audi's now famous positioning in the world of recognizable lighting. Wheels will range from 16-inches to 18-inches, we're told, which will also help to cement the sporty look and premium placement of the small sedan.
Inside, the A3 now offers a driver information display that uses 3D graphics, a revised MMI system (still operable via a column-mounted knob or steering wheel controls), the choice of three different steering wheels (depending on function), optional sport seating and a whole lot more. Interior colorways fall into the black, brown, gray or beige variety, and two-tone packages are also in the mix. Cloth seats, two kinds of leather and Alacantara all find themselves among the options, as well.
The A3 will launch in Europe before it comes Stateside, and will offer a three-engine lineup when it does. All three mills are of the four-cylinder variety, with a 2.0-liter TDI offering 150-horsepower and 236-pound-feet of torque, a 1.4-liter, 140-hp and 184-lb-ft TFSI, and a 1.8-liter, 180-hp and 184-lf-ft TFSI. The diesel motor is expected to return roughly 57 miles per gallon on the combined European cycle, the 1.4 and 1.8 engines will offer 50 mpg and 42 mpg, respectively. 0-62 mile per hour times will range from 7.3 seconds for the 1.8 TFSI, to 8.7 for the TDI.
