[karan561]

Mod Note: Team-BHP's Audi A3 Review has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the review thread.



Audi A3 sedan caught testing in Mumbai





^ Image Source

When launched (Early 2014 ?) should be priced around 25L ex-showroom.

Competition to the likes of upcoming Mercedes CLA

Dimensions - 4.46 meters (14.63 ft) long and has a 2.64-meter (8.66 ft) wheelbase.

Engine options (globally);

- 1.4 TFSI develops 138hp and 250 Nm
- 2.0 TDI develops 148hp and 320 Nm
- 1.8 TFSI develops 177hp and 250 Nm

Lets see what options are offered in India

[amit]

Nice catch!

Indianautoblogs says the 2.0 TDI 150bhp unit is only available with a 6 speed M/T. That's going to be interesting! And I hope they offer a 6 speed M/T in the 1.8 TSi 177bhp unit as well.

[KINI]

Originally Posted by amit

Nice catch!

Indianautoblogs says the 2.0 TDI 150bhp unit is only available with a 6 speed M/T. That's going to be interesting! And I hope they offer a 6 speed M/T in the 1.8 TSi 177bhp unit as well.

I sincerely wish it were true and I wouldn't be surprised if it happens. Audi is bringing in a 6-speed manual for the upcoming cut-price version of the Q3. I think this is a good trend. Not everybody needs an automatic. The chauffeur driven owner wouldn't mind a manual transmission if it saves him a couple of lakhs.

But I am more intrigued by this car's impact on the A4 and A6. Audi will definitely have to up the power the in the A4 to 170bhp to maintain differentiation. If they do that,they will also have to up the power in the A6 2.0TDI.Is there a higher state of tune for the 2L TDI engine abroad?

To sum up,this is very good news for the car industry. Kudos to Audi for taking the initiative. My eyes are peeled to this segment, my Cruze will be up for replacement in a couple of years.

PS:I was talking only about the diesel engine

[///RMan]

I too have 5-6 shots of the car clicked at Chembur
Shall post em soon

[9thsphinx]

I hope they offer all the 3 variants!

What'll be interesting is the lower variant A3 may be priced almost at par with the 2013 Octavia top end. Buyers will suddenly find owning a reputed German make affordable. IMO, the A3 looks much more proportionate than its immediate competitor and the funkier CLA.

[karan561]

Originally Posted by ///RMan

I too have 5-6 shots of the car clicked at Chembur
Shall post em soon

That'l be great, looking forward to it

Originally Posted by 9thsphinx

What'll be interesting is the lower variant A3 may be priced almost at par with the 2013 Octavia top end. Buyers will suddenly find owning a reputed German make affordable.

^ Such a valid point there, the decision making for Indian customers would always sway in favor of the AUDI brand no doubt, but say a VRS vs a base Audi A3 then the BHPians would surely opt for the VRS

[Omtoatom]

Fantastic scoop buddy!

I too remember reading that the 2.0 TDI will only be available in a MT guise. Much has been written about the same engine + sluggish CVT combo found under the hood of the A4 and I would've thought Audi might want to do something about that.

We'll have to wait and watch.

Originally Posted by ///RMan

I too have 5-6 shots of the car clicked at Chembur
Shall post em soon

Super RMan. Were they this same car?

Hoping to see them soon.

[///RMan]

Originally Posted by Omtoatom

Super RMan. Were they this same car?

Hoping to see them soon.

Yes it was the same car.
The front , side and half a dozen rear shots clicked by my over zealous younger brother while i drove.
The driver sped away on seeing cameras out

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Omtoatom

I too remember reading that the 2.0 TDI will only be available in a MT guise. Much has been written about the same engine + sluggish CVT combo found under the hood of the A4 and I would've thought Audi might want to do something about that.

I don’t think so. Infact I remember reading in the Autocar UK review that the gearbox options are either the 6-speed MT or the 7-speed S-tronic DSG. Also, Audi have introduced a 181bhp version of its 2.0-litre TDI engine to its A3 and A3 Sportback models. This one may filter into the A3 sedan as well (not sure if it will come to India).

I believe the CVT will soon become history in the Audi line-up. Current A4 should be the last model to carry that.

[Omtoatom]

Originally Posted by vb-san

I don’t think so. Infact I remember reading in the Autocar UK review that the gearbox options are either the 6-speed MT or the 7-speed S-tronic DSG. Also, Audi have introduced a 181bhp version of its 2.0-litre TDI engine to its A3 and A3 Sportback models. This one may filter into the A3 sedan as well (not sure if it will come to India).

I believe the CVT will soon become history in the Audi line-up. Current A4 should be the last model to carry that.

That's precisely the point I was trying to make vb-san. With enthusiasts dismissing the lazy CVT autobox and the subsequent indifference to and bad PR around it, you would think Audi might have long wanted to make those history. Let's hope for everyone's sake that they now finally do. Both the car and the engine scream for a DSG.

[nik_kapur]

I remember watching the car and bike show a little while back and SVP mentioned that Audi may put the Vento's 1.6 with a Manual Box in the A3 to make it super affordable. I own a Vento 1.6 and the engine is class. The excessive noise levels of the engine can be taken care of by audi as there cars have more insulation all around.

I also feel that Audi may not want us to compare an A3 to a Skoda Octavia. The A3 is being brought into India to get them volumes that will help them beat Mercedes and BMW in terms of sales numbers. If they start to think about what this car would do to a Skoda or a VW, they may lose the plot and price the car too high, thereby beating the whole purpose of bringing in this car.

[karan561]

Spotted again;



Source

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Omtoatom

That's precisely the point I was trying to make vb-san. With enthusiasts dismissing the lazy CVT autobox and the subsequent indifference to and bad PR around it, you would think Audi might have long wanted to make those history. Let's hope for everyone's sake that they now finally do. Both the car and the engine scream for a DSG.

Probably they continued with it because it does not really make sense to make major updates to a model which is its last leg.

Originally Posted by nik_kapur

I remember watching the car and bike show a little while back and SVP mentioned that Audi may put the Vento's 1.6 with a Manual Box in the A3 to make it super affordable.

I also feel that Audi may not want us to compare an A3 to a Skoda Octavia. The A3 is being brought into India to get them volumes that will help them beat Mercedes and BMW in terms of sales numbers. If they start to think about what this car would do to a Skoda or a VW, they may lose the plot and price the car too high, thereby beating the whole purpose of bringing in this car.

Audi may not want that to happen, but I am not sure if they are doing much about it. I read that the entry-level variant with 1.6 TDI engine will get a cheaper rear suspension setup (similar to the one in the upcoming Octavia TDI).

[karan561]

Guys just spotted the A3 heading towards Powai.

Dimensionally definitely smaller than A4, but quite a looker on the streets.

Also the car seemed to be having the DRLs missing ? (Like the cut price Q3)

PS - sorry couldnt manage a pic as was heading in the opposite direction.

[karan561]

Spotted the A3 sedan again, this time on the EE Hwy;



I think this is the 1st time the front of the car has been clicked



Note DRL's were missing