[Omkar]

Mod Note: Our Audi A3 Facelift Report has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks!

Audi has revealed a facelifted version of the A3. The car will be available in 3-door hatchback, Sportback, sedan and cabriolet body styles. Deliveries are scheduled to commence during summer in the European market.

The refreshed A3 gets sharper headlamps with jagged bottom edges (similar to the ones on the new R8). Xenon Plus headlamps are a part of standard equipment, while matrix LEDs are available as an option. The car features a broader single frame front grille and at the rear, it gets a redesigned diffuser. The A3 measures 4.24 metres in length and has a wheelbase of 2.6 metres.

On the inside, the A3 gets a new multi-function steering wheel, and Audi virtual cockpit, which displays driving related information on a 12.3-inch TFT screen. The MMI system has been redesigned and the MMI radio plus with the electrically extended 7-inch diagonal monitor is standard with navigation available as an option.

Driver assistance systems include active lane assist, predictive pedestrian protection, cross traffic assist and traffic jam assist, which work together with the adaptive cruise control and stop and go feature.

The A3 is available with six engine options - three petrol and three diesel units. The entry level petrol engine is a 1.0-litre TFSI motor. It is a 3-cylinder unit that produces 114 BHP and 200 Nm of torque. The second engine is a 1.4-litre TFSI power plant that comes with cylinder-on-demand technology and produces 148 BHP and 250 Nm. The largest petrol engine on offer is a 2.0-litre TFSI unit producing 188 BHP and 320 Nm of torque. It is mated to a new seven-speed S-tronic transmission with wet clutch.

The entry level diesel engine is a 1.6-litre TDI that develops 109 BHP. It is available with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed, dual clutch S-tronic transmission. The 2.0-litre TDI comes in two states of tune - 148 BHP & 340 Nm and 181 BHP & 380 Nm. While the A3 is available in front-wheel drive configuration by default, the 2.0-litre TFSI with 190 BHP is available with a Quattro all-wheel drive system.

The refreshed A3 sedan and cabriolet are expected to come to India later this year. Though the European line-up consists of the S3, A3 Sportback e-tron (plug-in hybrid) and the A3 Sportback g-tron (uses Audi e-gas as fuel in addition to fossil based natural gas), these cars are not likely to make it to the Indian market.

[karan561]

That is one good looking car, Oh and that front bumper is so sharp

The rims also look delicious & good to see the Virtual cockpit being offered in the A3, Well Done Audi

[nakul0888]

Is anybody even buying this car anymore? I hardly get to see this thing on the roads.

With cars like the superb 1.8 tsi starting at 23 lakhs with all the goodies like sunroof, bi xenon headlights and of course acres more space, Audi definitely needs to cut down the price for this car to be even considered by buyers anymore.

Smaller engines like 1.6 tdi and 1.4 tsi with manual option should be introduced to bring down the price at least to 18 lakhs ex showroom.

[johannskaria]

Originally Posted by nakul0888

Smaller engines like 1.6 tdi and 1.4 tsi with manual option should be introduced to bring down the price at least to 18 lakhs ex showroom.

Eventhough I agree with the price point , instead of downsizing engines IMO they should go with more localisation and reduce premiums to compete more.

They are so rare than even an Audi R8 in the streets of Mumbai.

[VeyronSuperSprt]

The A3 is currently the best drivers car available in India even though it has a slightly lifeless steering. This is in complete contrast to the A4 and A6 which are anything but drivers cars. The reason it doesn't sell is that it isn't big enough to be considered a status symbol - the primary reason for majority of Audi entry level purchases.

[reignofchaos]

Originally Posted by VeyronSuperSprt

The A3 is currently the best drivers car available in India even though it has a slightly lifeless steering. This is in complete contrast to the A4 and A6 which are anything but drivers cars. The reason it doesn't sell is that it isn't big enough to be considered a status symbol - the primary reason for majority of Audi entry level purchases.

The A3 is good but far from the best drivers car thanks to the softening of the suspension done for Indian roads. I test drove everything from audi a3/merc a/merc cla/bmw 1/bmw3/volvo v40 and s60.

Funnily enough the volvos were the best to drive by a country mile simply because they are low and have the same stiff EU suspension in india. This is strange since they are nowhere near the top of the charts anywhere else in the world. However it is a very different situation here in india as pretty much everything has been softened and raised here.

Anyways coming to the point - if this audi still has the dq200, I would not touch it with a bargepole.

Edit: looks like they have replaced it with a 7 speed wet clutch. Maybe this is exactly what the doctor ordered.

[ashishskapoor]

Spotted the New Audi A3 in Mumbai on WEH.
Notice the cladding on tail lights and Bonnet.
It didn't carry any Audi Monogram though.

[hybridpetrol]

1.0L 3 cylinder Petrol Engine on an Audi, seems very small for a luxury car, even though it is turbo-charged and above 100 bhp.
After all, A3 is a small car - it is not a luxury sedan where the car owner would like to be chauffeured around. Given that the owner would drive the car by himself on most cases, the engine should have more than enough pep to justify the price tag.
Current A3 with 1.8L TFSI petrol is available at around 34L OTR. Going by the spec of the new A3, it is going to be around 200mm shorter than the outgoing model.
Hope it is priced around 20L ex-showroom or less.

Mod Note: Our Audi A3 Facelift Report has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks!