What you see here may or may not be part of the rear end of the next-generation Audi A3. The image is quite blurred so details are sketchy at best. What can be seen distinctly though are the four Audi rings, some Q5-like design cues and LEDs on the tail lamp. Of course the A3 wording on the registration plate tells us what car it is.
The next A3 should hit European showroom floors in 2010 since the current model has been in the market for six years now. Body styles will include a three-door hatch, a five-door Sportback, a cabriolet and a rumoured sedan for the US market which will be sold as a 2012 model.
The engines speculated to be in the lineup include the recently announced 1.2 TSI making 75kW (105hp), the 1.4 TSI producing 104kW (141hp) as well as a 1.8 TSI with 127kW (173hp). There will also be turbo diesels just as in the current model which will be topped by a rumoured 152kW (207hp) 2.0-litre TDI.
Sitting atop the pile for the first time will be an RS 3 model which has been spied during testing exercises. That car should run the same 250kW (340hp) 2.5-litre turbo found in the new TT RS. Mated with all these engines will be choice between a 6-speed manual or a new 7-speed DSG double-clutch transmission.
