Audi Announces 2010 A3 TDI Clean Diesel Pricing for US

The A3 has been around for a while now, so if it was an image killer, Audi would have no image now.

With a name like yours, one could expect nothing more of you.

Aside from the bad rap that diesels earned in the 80s, there really is more going on with this than the superficial perceptions suggested here. It has only been in the last two years that low sulfur diesel has been available. Shell is the only fuel supplier that consistently sells diesel. The higher price of diesel comes close to offsetting the mileage improvement of diesels. New diesel cars can't be used with biodiesel, etc. If diesel cars were to really become popular, the proportions of diesel fuel refined would need to be increased or diesel fuel would need to be imported. Shifting the proportion is not as easy a matter as it may sound and is not accomplished by flipping a switch. Right now when gasoline demand increases during the summer months, there is excess diesel fuel in the US. Where do you think that gets shipped to stabilize diesel fuel prices? As for hatchbacks, I suppose there are a number of reasons why they aren't popular. People find security having things separately locked in a trunk. Years ago, all hatchbacks were economy cars; hatchbacks are still equated with the bottom of the market. For years too, hatchbacks were regarded as less safe. (Mercedes used to not have fold-down rear seats in sedans because it didn't meet their safety requirements.) It all adds up to lower resale value. One of my three cars is a VW hatchback. They are versatile. Personally, I don't know why sedans are popular, I'd rather have a wagon or a coupe. As for SUVs ... the mileage is often comparable to their similarly equipped wagon rivals (except for possibly the new A4 Avant quattro). The higher visibility is popular; the taller box has more utility, etc. Wagons seat fewer adult passengers and that doesn't lend itself to "tribing" (trips with more than one's family). Your preferences may not regard these as valid reasons, but now you have other factors to consider.

Hatchbacks? IMO the A3 is too small for the US market anyway. I have trouble fitting in it, the back seats are tiny!

Lay off the Whoppers then