Audi A3 Sportback



Audi revives hatchback body style, as sold in Europe

Audi enthusiasts in Europe know all about the A3, but that model has never made it to U.S. dealerships. Until now, that is. Nearly a decade after its original launch, a redesigned A3 is headed for the North American market.

Smaller than Audi's compact A4 sedan and wagon, the A3 is a five-door hatchback-a body style that, in recent years, has failed to attract large numbers of customers on this side of the Atlantic. "We sometimes had the feeling that we were designing this car for ourselves," said chief designer Gary Telaak, who describes the front-wheel-drive A3's "self-confident look".

Telaak points out the A3's dramatically reduced rear overhang, along with its "two-and-a-half" side windows. In his view, the headlights help create a "very, very awake look," augmented by an extra-low air intake. There's a "lot of 3-dimensional modeling in the rear end of the car," Telaak added, plus "a lot of the genetic codes of the TT" sport coupe inside. According to Marc Trahan, director of aftersales, the A3 fits into "somewhat of a new segment." Intended to appeal to customers who are new to Audi, the hatchback is "made for people with an active lifestyle" Its chief competitors are the BMW 2 Series and Mercedes B-Class, neither of which is sold in the U.S. "It's a real Audi," Trahan affirmed. "This isn't a cheap Audi."

Seats are excellent, offering good support and equipped with bottoms long enough for true comfort. On the down side, the windowsill is too high to rest an elbow, for those who are inclined toward that style of driving. Up-front snugness is a fact, but headroom is great and elbow space okay. More down-to-business than some premium models, the interior is short on luxury touches. Rear cargo space is ample, helped by a folding seat, though it's not fully flat.

Side Guard airbags are standard, along with side-impact airbags that protect front occupants. Side-impact airbags for the rear seat are optional. Audi's Electronic Stabilization Program also is standard. With the electro-mechanical steering system, which is speed-dependent, the electric motor only runs when assist is needed.

For its $24,750 sticker price, the A3 also includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a CD player, dual-zone climate control, an alarm, active head restraints, cruise control, dual sun sensors, and a smog sensor. Sport and Premium Packages are available.

Rather than a traditional sunroof, the A3 can be equipped with an Open Sky System that consists of twin sunroofs. An optional Nav Plus navigation system includes a glovebox-mounted six-CD changer.

Initially, only Audi's 2.0 T FSI four-cylinder engine is available, producing 200 horsepower at 5,100 to 6,000 rpm, and 207 pound-feet of torque as low as 1800 rpm. It's Audi's first direct injection turbocharged gasoline engine. Either a six-speed manual transmission or a new Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) may be installed. Operating like a conventional automatic, the DSG changes gears by opening one clutch and closing the other, at the same time. Audi claims that the A3 can accelerate to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds with manual shift, and a fraction faster with the automatic.

Handling is the A3's chief attribute. Steering is undeniably light, yet enjoyably precise, and the A3's maneuverability factor is youthful and joyful. Tires hang on well enough in curves, and the hatchback's overall feel is satisfying.

The Direct Shift Gearbox works surprisingly well; shifting at appropriate times and quite smoothly. No, it's not as imperceptible as a superior conventional automatic, because you can feel it moving between gears like a manual, with a little engine-speed lift in between. But it delivers the goods when you push hard on the pedal.

Audi's six-speed manual gearbox is reasonably smooth, too, but the clutch doesn't quite cooperate for the gentlest takeoffs-close, but not quite. Between higher gears, the stick shift works better; but there's no compelling reason to take a manual over DSG. Performance isn't that different, though a manual gearbox is better for coming out of curves, so you don't have to wait a second for appropriate downshifts, which could be followed by a jerk if you tromp the gas really hard. With a regular suspension, you can expect a satisfying ride. Bumps will be felt, but not sharply.

In its first full year of production, Audi expects to sell 10,000 A3's in the U.S. and Canada, though a spokesperson acknowledged that this estimate is on the low side. Later in 2005, an A3 with a 3.2-liter V-6 engine, Direct Shift Gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive will be available. A new S-Line is expected to join the group during 2006.

More light with the open sky system in the Audi A3 Sportback: the panorama glass sunroof, with an area of more than half a square metre, lets in twice as much daylight as a conventional sunroof. The roof is of glazed appearance all the way from the windscreen to the rear window, emphasising the sporty looks of the Audi A3 Sportback. The open sky system can now be ordered at a price of EUR 1,250.

The open sky system gives the occupants a new, heightened sense of spaciousness. The large glass roof lets more light into the car, and as much fresh air as is desired. The divided glass panel allows the car's occupants to open it in various constellations. If the front panel is raised at the rear, the passenger compartment is supplied with draught-free fresh air even when the car is travelling at high speeds. The comfort position involves sliding the roof partly to the rear. And when opened fully and slid back, the open sky system affords new perspectives on the outside world. The roof can be opened conveniently at the press of a switch. The first two configurations, the raised roof and the comfort position, are pre-programmed and can be selected by briefly pressing the switch.

There is also ample flexibility for screening out the sun: two roller blinds, which are colour-coordinated with the interior, can be operated from both the front and rear seats, to adjust the interior conditions as preferred individually. The roller blinds can even be closed with the roof fully open, thus complementing the wind deflector by providing additional protection against draughts.

The glass roof gives the already sporty Audi A3 Sportback an extra shot of dynamism. The use of toughened safety glass and a cross-member in the roof between the front and rear seats ensures that driving pleasure goes hand in hand with optimum safety.

Driving pleasure in a new guise

A major new model is about to appear in the premium compact class. The A3 Sportback is characterised by the sporting elegance of a coupe and the versatility of a five-door vehicle, sophisticated technology and well-defined driving dynamics. With four and six-cylinder engines developing up to 184 kW (250 bhp), front-wheel or quattro permanent four-wheel drive and - as an option - the revolutionary Direct Shift Gearbox DSG transmission, the technology lives up to the expectations raised by the sporty exterior of this special five-door vehicle - driving pleasure in a new guise.

A major new model in the compact class also means that the Audi A3 Sportback is consciously striking out along a new path of its own defining. It offers the emphatically sporty qualities and the athleticism of the three-door version with which it shares its drive train, dynamic suspension and wheelbase. At the same time - as well as two rear doors - it offers even more space and variability thanks to the fact that its body is a total of 83 millimetres longer than that of its three-door counterpart.

The luggage compartment conceals 370 litres of space (1120 litres with the rear seat back folded down) for transporting all kinds of sports and leisure equipment and anything else the family might need: even two golf bags can be stowed sideways in the luggage compartment. The asymmetrically folding rear seat back, a standard feature, and the optional luggage compartment and storage packages provide plentiful scope for using this space precisely according to the personal requirements of every driver.

Even when glanced fleetingly in the rearview mirror, the A3 Sportback is unmistakable: its front end is dominated by the striking single-frame radiator grille. The marked tapering of the sides and the dynamic shape of the clear-glass headlights give the face of the car that self-confident and thoroughly forceful character for which Audi is famous.

The falling line of the silhouette towards the rear of the A3 Sportback, reminiscent of a coupe, picks up on the styling of its three-door counterpart. The roof arching gently to the rear binds the redesigned tail end neatly into the dynamic, road-oriented overall proportions.

As well as the expansive additional rear door, the third side window is a characteristic feature of the new side view. This is where the lower and upper horizontal lines draw closer together, accentuating the coupe-like proportions. The optional roof rails, both subtle and striking, accentuate the styling highly effectively.

The new Audi generation of steering wheels is moving into the compact class for the first time with the Sportback. These three or four-spoke steering wheels can be recognised by their trapezoidal central element, the lines of which allude to the design of the single-frame radiator grille.

The attractive appearance of the interior surfaces and of each individual detail is the result of select material quality and a perfect finish of the highest standard. This high standard by no means benefits the passengers alone, but is also reflected in the quality appearance of the luggage compartment.

The occupants benefit not only from the excellent interior quality that is typical of the Audi A3, but also from the substantially more amount of space. The tail end, 68 millimetres longer than on the three-door version, results in both more leg room and more headroom. The wide opening angle of the rear doors and the outstanding amount of leg room for a car in the compact class make access to the rear compartment a straightforward affair.

A basic comparison with the previous five-door A3 highlights the fact that the 65 millimetre longer wheelbase is translated almost in entirety into extra interior length (+55 millimetres). And the greater width of the car (+30 millimetres) results in a significant improvement in interior comfort.

Compared with the previous five-door A3, the rear passengers in particular benefit from substantially more knee room (+40 millimetres) in the Sportback. And both rows of seats enjoy significantly more shoulder room (rear +29, front +35 millimetres).

The engine and transmission A six-cylinder engine, FSI petrol direct injection versions, the world's only turbocharged FSI and high-torque TDI engines with high-pressure pump-injector fuel injection, Direct Shift Gearbox DSG with twin clutch, 5 and 6-speed manual gearboxes, an innovative 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission and quattro permanent four-wheel drive:

Offering a wide range of choice but dedicated throughout to sporting performance - this philosophy characterises the range of engines and transmissions offered for the Audi A3 Sportback at launch. All engines have a further quality in common: they all undercut the limit values laid down in the EU4 standard.

A new, extremely dynamic representative of the FSI engine family is experiencing its world premiere in the A3 Sportback: the 2.0 TFSI, a four-cylinder unit with turbocharger and intercooler, delivers 147 kW (200 bhp). Its tremendous torque of 280 Nm is available across a wide speed range from 1800 to 5000 rpm. A peak value that is emulated by the existing Audi S3, but is reached significantly sooner. This new engine is also the first production unit worldwide to combine FSI petrol direct injection with a turbocharger. This technology - which is also used in the Le Mans winner, the Audi R8 - permits a unique blend of free-revving, high performance and impressive efficiency.

The range of engines at a glance: 3.2 six-cylinder engine developing 184 kW (250 bhp), 320 Nm 2.0 TFSI developing 147 kW (200 bhp), 280 Nm (new) 2.0 FSI developing 110 kW (150 bhp), 200 Nm 1.6 FSI developing 85 kW (115 bhp), 155 Nm 1.6 developing 75 kW (102 bhp), 148 Nm 2.0 TDI developing 103 kW (140 bhp), 320 Nm 1.9 TDI developing 77 kW (105 bhp), 250 Nm

Depending on the chosen engine, a 5 or 6-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard.

The sporty Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) is a unique alternative. This pioneering form of power transmission - inspired by motor racing technology - permits lightning-fast gear changes with uninterrupted traction thanks to its electro-hydraulically controlled twin clutch, and thus sheer driving pleasure in true sports car style.

The DSG combines the advantages of a conventional 6-speed manual gearbox with the qualities of a modern automatic, resulting in a superior drive concept. The driver benefits from enormous agility and driving enjoyment, with acceleration that is as dynamic as it is smooth, characterised by uninterrupted traction. The DSG can be ordered for the most powerful versions of the A3 Sportback: the 3.2 quattro, the 2.0 TFSI and the 2.0 TDI.

The innovative 6-speed tiptronic is available as an option for the A3 Sportback 2.0 FSI and the 1.6.

Still with no equivalent in the premium compact class: quattro permanent four-wheel drive, which converts even the power developed by the highest-performance versions of the new A3 Sportback ideally into traction and forward motion. At the same time quattro thus provides a basis for impressively dynamic driving and active safety.

The dynamic suspension is designed for sporty and agile handling coupled with a high standard of stability, and producing an excellent cornering performance and a high level of comfort in conjunction with both front-wheel and quattro drive.

Like the Audi A3, the Sportback too is fitted with electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance, a system praised unanimously by the trade press. This combines optimum feedback from steering movements with a low level of sensitivity to vibration from the road and cross-winds, and also consumes far less energy than a conventional system.

The A3 Sportback's standard specification includes electric windows at the front and rear, as well as central locking with radio remote control. The A3 Sportback naturally includes safety features such as the Electronic Stabilisation Program ESP, the front seats with active head restraints, optical and acoustic belt fastening reminders, front and side airbags for the front occupants and the sideguard head-level airbag system, which protects the front and outer rear passengers in equal measure.

Particular features within the premium compact segment, which the A3 pioneered, include optional equipment such as DVD navigation with monitor, side airbags for rear passengers, electric seat adjustment, the large-area open sky glass roof, and independent heating.

At a glance: Audi A3 Sportback Newly designed five-door body with decidedly sporty, coupe-like design and generous amount of space for all occupants Dimensions: Length 4286 mm, width 1765 mm, height 1423 mm, wheelbase 2578 mm. Luggage compartment 370 litres/1120 litres (front-wheel drive) Engines: 3.2 litre six-cylinder engine developing 184 kW (250 bhp), 320 Nm torque. 0-100 km/h: 6.3 s; top speed 250 km/h (governed) 2.0-litre TFSI developing 147 kW (200 bhp), 280 Nm torque. 0-100 km/h: 7.0 s; top speed 236 km/h 2.0-litre FSI developing 110 kW (150 bhp), 200 Nm torque. 0-100 km/h: 9.1 s; top speed 214 km/h 1.6-litre FSI developing 85 kW (115 bhp), 155 Nm torque. 0-100 km/h: 11.1 s; top speed 196 km/h 1.6-litre engine developing 75 kW (102 bhp), 148 Nm torque. 0-100 km/h: 12.2 s; top speed 185 km/h 2.0-litre TDI developing 103 kW (140 bhp), 320 Nm torque. 0-100 km/h: 9.2 s; top speed 207 km/h. 1.9-litre TDI developing 77 kW (105 bhp), 250 Nm torque. 0-100 km/h: 11.7 s; top speed 187 km/h Manual 5 and 6-speed gearboxes, alternatively 6-speed tiptronic Direct Shift Gearbox DSG with twin clutch for 3.2 quattro, 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI as optional extra: Front-wheel drive; quattro permanent four-wheel drive as standard on 3.2 quattro; also available as optional extra for 2.0 TFSI Suspension: McPherson front axle with triangular wishbones and four- link rear axle for sportily agile handling Electromechanical steering with speed-dependent steering assistance 16 or 17-inch wheels as standard Three equipment lines: Attraction, Ambition, Ambiente Standard equipment: including electric windows at front and rear, front seats with active head restraints, sideguard head-level airbag system, ESP