New Audi A3 - In Depth

Press Release

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New Audi A3 - In Depth

Article contents:
At a glance
The new Audi A3
Exterior design
Interior design
Drivetrain
Spark ignition engines
TDI engines
New DSG Direct Shift Gearbox
New six-speed tiptronic
quattro permanent four-wheel drive
Chassis and suspension
Body
Standard equipment
Optional equipment
The specifications, data and prices quoted relate to the model range available in Germany. Subject to change, subject to error. At a glance:

• Three-door body in new, very sporting design and with ample space inside.
• Dimensions: length 4203 mm (165.4"), width 1765 mm (69.5"), height 1421 mm (55.9"), wheelbase 2578 mm (101.5"). Luggage compartment capacity: 350 litres.
• Engines:
• 3.2-litre V6 developing 177 kW (241 bhp), 320 Nm (236 lb-ft). 0-100 km/h approx 6.6 sec; top speed approx 245 km/h (152 mph) (from mid- 2003)
• 2.0-litre FSI developing 110 kW (150 bhp), 200 Nm (147 lb-ft). 0-100 km/h 9.1 sec; top speed 211 km/h (131 mph)
• 1.6-litre developing 75 kW (102 bhp), 148 Nm (109 lb-ft). 0-100 km/h 11.9 sec; top speed 185 km/h (115 mph)
• 2.0-litre TDI developing 103 kW (140 bhp), 320 Nm (236 lb-ft). 0-100 km/h 9.5 sec; top speed 207 km/h (128 mph). New: four-valve cylinder head
• 1.9-litre TDI with increased power output now developing 77 kW (105 bhp), 250 Nm (184 lb-ft). 0-100 km/h 11.4 sec, top speed 187 km/h (116 mph)
• Manual five- and six-speed gearbox, as an alternative six-speed tiptronic
• Optional on the 3.2 quattro and 2.0 TDI: DSG Direct Shift Gearbox with double clutch (from mid-2003)
• Front-wheel drive; quattro permanent four-wheel drive standard on the 3.2 and optional on the 2.0 TDI
• Chassis and suspension: enhanced McPherson front axle with triangular wishbones and new four-link rear suspension for sporting and agile handling
• New servotronic electromechanical steering with speed-related power assistance
• 16- or 17-inch wheels
• Three equipment lines: Attraction, Ambition, Ambiente
• Standard equipment including, inter alia, easy entry function on the front seats, electric window lifts at the front, central locking with remote control, new front seats with active headrest, sideguard head airbag system, ESP.

Dynamic performance, appealing design, exclusive style The new premium athlete in the compact class is now set to enter the market: Audi proudly presents the second generation of the A3. Powerful four- and six-cylinder engines with up to 177 kW (241 bhp), quattro drive and the new, automatic DSG Direct Shift Gearbox team up with the highly dynamic suspension to provide exactly the driving pleasure you will sense at very first sight when admiring the sporting lines of the body. And the exclusivity of the car's features and materials once again conveys the supreme standard so typical of Audi's large models in the compact class. The new A3 is therefore entering the market with the clear intention as the most sporting car in its class to thrill not only the loyal A3 driver, but also many new purchasers in the market. And these new customers must be won over against competitors with a big name and a renowned image. Competitors, indeed, who themselves have followed the successful concept of the former Audi A3 in the still young compact premium segment. To reach this objective the engineers developing the successor to the Audi A3 gave themselves a very demanding brief from the start, focusing in particular on driving pleasure. Clearly defined concepts help to reach this objective, for example the emotional and dynamic exterior design together with the matching, sporting interior, a wide range of engines and transmissions for the first time including a six-cylinder version, and a chassis and suspension clearly setting the new benchmark in this class. A further objective was to outperform the high level of equipment and model features of the first A3 in order to successfully reach additional target groups. The new Audi A3 therefore has everything it takes to continue - and, indeed, enhance - its predecessor's unique story of success. The second generation stands out through its superior sportiness, highly developed technology and the most dynamic design in its class, giving the car the same pole position clinched by the first generation of the Audi A3 right from the start. The trendsetter: the first generation of the Audi A3 Audi A3 made its debut in the compact range as a three-door saloon in 1996. And it immediately established the benchmark in its market segment more than any other car at its time, the proverbial premium quality of the A3, its elegant body design and outstanding dynamic performance establishing a new trend for a new era. In a part of the market where common sense and economy had previously been the crucial purchasing motives, the A3 introduced new values and, indeed, a new philosophy. The strategy of success was based on Audi's self-imposed standards in terms of safety and quality, design and innovation carried over from the brand's large model series and transferred to the compact segment. With a wide range of equipment and an equally wide choice of accessories, the A3 allowed the customer to create his or her personal "dream" car more efficiently than ever before in the compact range. High-torque TDI and fast-revving spark ignition engines ranging initially from 66 kW (90 bhp) to 132 kW (180 bhp) offered every customer exactly what he - or she - wanted. Sporting quattro versions, the uncompromising S3 initially developing 154, then 165 kW (225 bhp) and the five-door models introduced in 1999 subsequently completed the model range. Almost 875,000 customers the world over, as well as motor journalists and other car experts, have confirmed the convincing concept of this car ever since the Audi A3 made its debut in the market. National and international awards such as the Golden Steering Wheel and Europe's Best Car as well as the German Federal Product Design Award and countless wins in comparative tests by the motoring press clearly prove the qualities of the Audi A3. This success has continued consistently over the years, the Audi A3 consistently ranking No 1 in its class in terms of stable value until shortly before the end of its production life: After two years the A3 still commands an average of 75 per cent of its original price in the German second-hand car market. Exterior design Emotion and precision: These two features characterise the exterior design of the new A3, making it stand out clearly as a fully-fledged representative of Audi's current design line. Wheelbase increased by 65 millimetres or 2.56", an increase in width by 30 millimetres or 1.18", and a reduction in height by 10 millimetres or 0.39" give the new A3 proportions reminiscent of a classic coupé. This impression is further enhanced by short front and rear overhangs, the much lower rake of the C-pillar, and the flatter window surrounds. Apart from aesthetic qualities, the most important results of this growth are the significant increase in interior dimensions both at the front and rear as well as a higher standard of spaciousness throughout. Firmer and more athletic: the silhouette The generation leap now borne out by the new model is confirmed not only by the car's dimensions and proportions, but also through its qualities and details: The entire body of the car is even firmer and more athletic in style thanks to the contribution of many redesigned features. The side view of the Audi A3 is characterised by two contour lines now acknowledged as the very foundation of Audi's new design language: the shoulder line and the dynamic line. Extending along the side-sill, the dynamic line forms a clear contour from one wheel arch to the other, accentuating the broad track of the car and its firm stance on the road. Particularly powerful in their contours, the round wheel arches would appear to literally rest on the side-sills and the foundation thus created, standing out from the dynamic line. Large 16- and 17-inch wheels underline this effect of masculine sportiness and make the dynamic potential of the new Audi A3 clearly visible even at a standstill. The shoulder line emphasizes the plasticity of the side section just as clearly and convincingly, continuing the upper horizontal border created by the headlights, moving along the top of the front wheel arch and sloping gently towards the rear before tapering out in an almost straight line on the wide C-pillar. Serving as a light-breaking edge, the shoulder line enhances the three-dimensional look of the car, distinguishing the side section of the new A3 from its predecessor. The angle opening up discreetly to the rear between the dynamic line and the shoulder line accentuates the gentle wedge shape of the car's athletic silhouette. This impression is further enhanced by the slightly rising baseline along the windows interacting with the coupé-like roofline. The visual centre of gravity of the new A3 is thus clearly moved towards the muscular-looking rear end of the A3, creating the impression that the entire car is about to leap forward. New lines, new face The front end of the A3 is characterised by the distinctive arrow shape and the dynamic look of the clear glass headlights. Pointing to the middle, the upper edges of the headlights give the face of the car with the double grille typical of Audi a self-confident, powerful character. The grille itself has gone through a significant process of evolution, the outer edges on the upper and lower segment being visibly connected to one another by two clear lines in the bumper. Together with the swept-back, arrow shape of the entire front end, this design significantly enhances the plasticity and, accordingly, the presence of the car's face. The flat air inlets beneath the headlights segmented by transverse bars accentuate the horizontal subdivision of the A3's face. Like the side and rear of the car, the front end is finished consistently in body colour even including the area beneath the bumper. This feature gives a very specific but nevertheless modest and unpretentious sign of exclusivity to the highly dynamic lines and design of the new Audi A3. Beautiful also from behind With the number of lines being significantly reduced and the individual surfaces split up graphically, the entire rear end is very clear and consistent in its look from every angle. Indeed, this evolution of the car's design language bears out a clear resemblance to the former model winning so many awards and prizes for its design. A striking feature clearly representing the dynamic character of the car is the visible tailpipes extending out of the single- or double-chamber exhaust system, depending on the car's engine. Another striking feature not only versus the former model is the shoulder line connecting the side and the rear of the car. Running parallel to the lower sill of the windows and next to the lower rear lid joint, this line subdivides the side areas horizontally, the dynamic line continuing along the lower end of the bumper and again creating a formal link to the side of the car. Extra-large and literally pushing to the outside, the rear-light covers are again an outstanding feature of the A3. Indeed, in their proportions they follow the overall design of the new car versus its predecessor: wider, lower, rising up from the side to the rear in a gentle, curved line. By comparison, the side lines extend down almost vertically, forming a clear division at exactly the right points. And the rear lights high up at the back of the car accentuate the trapezoidal design of the rear section particularly at night, giving the new Audi A3 its powerful, bullish appearance from behind. The result is a rear end particularly calm in design, characterised by gentle curves and only a few lines. Especially from a lower angle, the rear of the A3 is very muscular and powerful in its looks, again accentuating the width of the car. And the clearly contoured C-pillars smoothly inclined without any steps or inserts again serve to underline this superior impression of power and strength.