Audi A3 News

Spearheading the big comeback will be the A3 Sportback launched last week and the new A4 which is due to hit the deck in March.The medium-sized A4 accounts for 50 per cent of sales and is by far and away the German carmaker's most important model here.However, the company spent some face to face time last week extolling the virtues of its sexier, chopped- look A3 Sportback.The Sportback follows close on the heels of the more traditional A3 hatch which was released in June last year.Audi says the A3 Sportback is the first five-door in this segment with the sportiness of a coupe.Audi managing director Joerg Hoffman says the car combines functionality with sportiness."It's exactly the right combination we need for this market," he said.Audi has called on the services of swimmer Ian Thorpe to promote the new A3 Sportback who will feature heavily in advertising.Thorpe is the owner of one of 50 super high performance RS4s sold in Australia.Apart from styling the main difference between the two models is that the hatch is available with only three doors while the Sportback receives a full complement of five doors.Under the skin, however, the two cars share the same engines and running gear, that is apart from the yet to be released 2.0-litre FSi turbo which may not find its way into the hatch.This model does not arrive until the end of the month.The Sportback looks remarkably different from the three-door hatch with its stylish, plunging roofline, high waisted sides, narrow window glass and a larger, dominant A6 style grille.It has a 65mm longer wheelbase and is 10mm lower than the hatch and is also slightly longer and wider.This translates to 40mm more leg room for rear passengers, but in reality the elevated rear seat is just adequate.Scooped out sections in the rear of the front seats provide some breathing space for the cramped knees.Engines range from an entry level 75kW 1.6-litre four cylinder to a 184kW 3.2-litre V6 screamer, the same engine as in the recently released TT V6.There's also a 110kW 2.0-litre petrol, 147kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and 103kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine.The 2.0-litre FSi model is expected to account for the majority of sales.Transmissions range from a six-speed tiptronic change in the 1.6, to either a six-speed manual or six- speed tiptronic in the 2.0-litre car, to a the new DSG double clutch tranny in the turbo, diesel and V6.It is claimed to be faster than the manual change, taking just 0.2 seconds between changes with no loss of power.Standard equipment includes dual climate air, six airbags, front seats with active head restraint, electronic stability program and 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 profile tyres, plus a 140-watt sound system.A double "open sky" glass sunroof system is optional.We had the opportunity to sample the entire Sportback range and can report the cars are of the usual high quality that we have come to associated with Audi.The finish is first class and dynamically they are also very good, with the feel and ride of a much larger vehicle.All models except the 1.6 are fitted with sports suspension which lowers ride height 15mm.It provides a firm but fun ride that is at times choppy.The brakes are also excellent.However, at the end of the day, price could be the deciding factor.Not only does the A3 Sportback command a premium over the hatch, but is considerably more expensive than the Volkswagen Golf which is essentially the same car.Of the cars we drove, the manual 2.0-litre FSi delivered the most fun and was cheapest of the bunch at $40,850, without sacrificing performance for the 1.6.The same engine and transmission combination in the Golf equivalent will set you back $29,990 – $10,860 less.Sure, the all-wheel drive 184kW V6 is an exciting car to drive but at $73,990, it is almost $11,000 more than the R32 Golf.The A3 Sportback is priced from $36,800 before on- road costs.

The Sportback is the first of the A3 range with Audi's single-frame grille and the first with a 2.0-litre turbo under the bonnet. It comes in both four and six-cylinder engines, front-wheel or quattro (permanent four-wheel-drive) and either a six-speed manual, six-speed tiptronic or Audi's Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). It shares the drivetrain, suspension and wheelbase with the 3-door A3 but is 68mm longer and the wheelbase has been extended by 83mm. The Sportback's new face, aggressive V design bonnet, different headlights and roof-line spoiler distinguish it from its cousin. From the front, the Sportback appears to be ready to pounce. Its high doors, low-profile windows, small third windows and coupe-like rear end give it a more sporty look.The Sportback has crisp and clear lines, which almost make it look like it has been shrink-wrapped from the side. The boot space increases to 370L, 20L more than the three-door and grows to 1120L when the back seats are folded. The 1.6-litre Attraction tiptronic starts the Sportback range at $36,800 with 75kW of power and 148Nm of torque. The 2.0-litre FSI is the only model that comes in manual ($40,850) and is also available in tiptronic ($43,300). It develops 110kW of power and 200Nm of torque. The new addition to the A3 range is the $49,950 2.0-litre TFSI, a turbocharged version of the FSI engine which is mated to the DSG box and produces 147kW of power and 280Nm of torque that is spread from 1800rpm to 5000rpm. The $47,650 2.0-litre TDI is Audi's diesel powerplant of the range which has 103kW of power and 320Nm of torque and is also mated to the DSG gearbox. The range is topped by the all-wheel-drive 3.2-litre V6 with DSG gearbox which has a not too shabby 184kW of power and 320Nm of torque, but comes with a hefty tag of $73,990. All Sportbacks sit on 17-inch wheels and come with ESP, front seats with head restraints, front and side driver and passenger airbags, and a sideguard head airbag system. The 3.2-litre adds Xenon headlights and rain and light sensors. The Sportback comes in 15 exterior and three interior colours. The option list is, however, long and expensive. Extras include: sports suspension, roof rails ($650), Xenon headlights ($1900), light and rain sensor ($650), open sky roof system ($2950), burr walnut trim ($950), sun blinds ($350), electric front seats ($2100), BOSE sound system and Navigation. Aimed at outdoor-loving customers, the Sportback is expected to appeal to the 25-39 year age group and Audi expects 60 per cent of buyers will be male. With this group in mind, Audi has announced swimming star Ian Thorpe will be the face of the new car. "To have Ian align himself with our brand and this sporty vehicle is of great benefit," says Audi Australia boss Joerg Hofmann. The Sportback will be available from the end of the month. FIRST DRIVE On the road, Audi's new A3 Sportback models are smooth and quiet. The 1.6-litre lacks the punch of its bigger-engined siblings. It required feathering of the throttle to stay up to speed, even on the open road. But the lack of sports suspension meant it gave a more comfortable ride. The models with sports suspension felt a little bouncy at times, but the difference was seen at high speed, where they felt more sure-footed. The pick of the 2.0-litre models is the manual. Despite the only difference being the box, the manual felt more engaging. With no turbo models in the country yet, we were not treated to sampling that engine. Having just stepped out of Audi's TT, with the 3.2L V6 stonker under the bonnet, it was refreshing to see that despite the extra kilos, the A3 Sportback, with the same engine and quattro all-wheel-drive, had similar get up and go and did not lose too much in handling. The 3.2 seems to be the only model with DSG that lets the driver down shift at high speed, the smaller engined models refusing to budge. With lightening fast gear changes, the option to use paddles in automatic, sports and sequential manual the DSG box is extremely clever and a great option for those who want to be able to drive both auto and manual. Having not driven Audi's diesel variant for some time, I was once gain pleasantly surprised at the punch this little engine puts out. With miserly fuel economy and heaps of torque the diesel is also a favourite. Inside, the Sportback has a fair amount of rear leg room, with an average person sitting in front, and a reasonable amount of head room despite the sloping roof-line. The boot is also quite large. The material quality is high, even in the base 1.6-litre and there is a fair amount of storage. It was, however, a little puzzling why a car that is pitched at energetic, outgoing types only has the facility to hold one drink bottle in the centre console area. The new Sportback provides customers with a mountain of choice for engines, gearboxes and even colours. But, starting at $12,000 more than a new five-door VW Golf, a car with which it shares a lot, will force buyers to make the choice between brand or value for money.