MOTORING
The new
Audi A3
When you have a vehicle within your stable that has been one of the most successful cars that you have produced, it is difficult to evolve without changing the concept, and the old cliche, if it isn’ t broken don’ t mend it, must apply.
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This applies to the Audi A3, it is over 20 years since it was introduced and it has been hugely popular and one of the best selling vehicles within the Audi stable, writes Bob Hickman.
The styling has gradually changed over the years and the engine choices have grown from minuscule diminutive 1-litre to fire breathing 310 bhp version beast in the sports category.
The new A3 range is continuing with the traditional 3-door, 5-door and Sportback saloon and cabriolet, the styling has been slightly been tweaked. A wider front grille, a slightly redesigned rear diffuser, zenon headlights, and LED headlamps are the most obvious. However unless you are a purist you would find it difficult to notice the changes.
From an engine point of view, there are now 6 on offer. First is a diminutive 3-cylinder 1-litre TFSi, but astoundingly this delivers 115ps and sips fuel like it it’ s going out of fashion, the performance is quite remarkable for this diminutive engine. There is a new 2-litre TFSi producing 190ps and the old favourite 1.6 TDi and the 2-litre TDi remain as options.
The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual that has a slick, positive action, I had the opportunity to try out the magnificent 7 speed auto box in the 1.4 litre A3 cabrio.
The top of the A3 range is the mighty S3, this has had its performance upped to a staggering 310ps, this really is the ubiquitous wolf in sheep’ s clothing. It can sprint from 0-60 in marginally over 4 seconds and its performance especially with quattro is absolutely amazing, an electronically restricted top speed of 155mph could be possible.
Audi has introduced technology in abundance and an option is the Audi virtual cock-pit, you can specify this if you wish to replace the traditional analogue system, to be seated behind this new cockpit really is an amazing experience, the satellite navigation in itself is worth the extra money. The satellite is based on a Google Earth system and it gives brilliantly pictures where you are at any given time and it is quite a spooky sensation.
One particular feature I was impressed with, is that it will be possible for the first time to connect 2 mobile phones simultaneously, via the Blue Tooth system, in itself a small feature but it has been an annoyance to me as an A3 owner that if my wife and I travel only one of our phones will connect to the system, so this is a little bonus feature. I also loved the ambient lighting that is contained within the doors when driving at night, check it out at your dealers.