New Audi A3 due out in September

Tag: injection boot

COMING soon to a dealership near you – the new Audi A3 sedan and Sportback models in front-wheel and all-wheel-drive.

It will be arriving in South Africa in both standard and Sportback form around September this year, Audi SA has announced in an update on the car, previous models of which have sold 1,9-million units worldwide since introduction in 1996.

On styling, the Bavarian- based manufacturer says that the bumper and large single-frame radiator grille have been modified, while a curved trim element in the headlamps known as the “wing” accentuates the styling.

At the back, the three- door A3 has a modified tailgate with a new light edge. As a result of the design modifications, the A3 has grown 2,5cm in length to 4,24 metres, while the Sportback remains virtually unchanged at 4,29 metres in length.

Inside aluminium-look elements on the air vents, light switches and centre console accentuate the character of the Audi A3 and A3 Sportback, with the instruments having black dials and red needles.

Based on overseas specs, there should be a variety of options including a flat-bottomed leather sport steering wheel and leather sport seats.

On quattro versions the boot floor is a few centimetres higher, to accommodate the special rear axle.

Up to eight engines – five petrol and three diesel versions – are likely to be on offer during the introductory period.

Six of them are “pioneering” four-cylinder direct injection units with turbochargers, says the company.

The 1.8 TFSI develops 118kW and the 2.0 TFSI 147kW, while the 3.2 quattro with its six cylinders provides 184kW. The 1.9 TDI delivers 77kW and the 2.0 TDI 103kW or 125kW, depending on specification. Both two-litre diesel engines have been extensively re-engineered, with a new common rail injection system introduced.

The diesel, with an output of 77kW, is the power unit of the 1.9 TDI version which covers up to 100km on 4,5 litres of diesel, says Audi, adding that “most of the other engines likewise slash fuel consumption by as much as 15per cent”.

Audi says the range of transmissions has also been extended, with almost all engine versions supplied as standard with six-speed manual boxes.

Exceptions are the 1.9 TDI, fitted with five-speed manual transmission, and the 3.2 – available only with the S-tronic dual- clutch transmission, now also available optionally for all engine versions.

With the S-tronic, the driver can set it to operate in a fully automatic mode or change gears manually either at the selector lever or with the standard shift paddles on the leather sport steering wheel (from 103kW).

For the fast set, there is now a second top model on the market, with the S3 Sportback joining the three-door Audi S3.

Both versions are equipped with the 2.0 TFSI engine with an output of 195kW. With 350Nm of torque available from 2500rpm to 5000rpm, the direct-injection two- litre turbo powers the three- door model from 0 to 100km/h in 5,7 seconds (Sportback: 5,8 seconds). Top speed is limited electronically to 250km/h.