Autoblog

Audi A3 E-Tron plug-in hybrid set to whiz into Geneva

Zach Bowman — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Audi

The Audi A3 E-tron, which we drove in prototype form last year, is headed to the 2013 Geneva Motor Show next month. The plug-in hybrid will feature a total of 204 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque from the combination of a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine and a 75-kW electric motor. That motor itself is positioned between the internal combustion engine and the machine's six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The setup is good enough to scoot the A3 E-tron to 62 miles per hour in 7.6 seconds and crank out a top speed of 138 mph. Perhaps more impressively, the hatch can whir its way to 80 mph on all-electric power with an EV range of 31 miles.

Audi claims the A3 E-tron gives the world a "realistic glimpse into the future of mobility," so it's a bit unclear if the model will see production. We're encouraged by the specificity of Audi's press release (which is full of stats) and the fact that they don't label this vehicle a concept. You can check out the full press release below and judge for yourself.

Continue reading Audi A3 E-Tron plug-in hybrid set to whiz into Geneva

Audi A3 E-Tron plug-in hybrid set to whiz into Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Audi A3 Sportback e-Gas Project shows off carbon-neutral fuel

Zach Bowman — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi has revealed its 2013 A3 Sportback in Munich ahead of the model's official debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show later this week, and Autoblog was on hand for the early unveiling. Like its three-door cousin, the third-generation five-door wears subtly evolved styling inside and out as well as a longer wheelbase, more interior room and a commendable weight savings of around 198 pounds over its predecessor. This particular model wears the line's optional LED headlamps and features a bi-fuel powertrain as part of the Audi e-Gas project. The exercise uses electrolysis to generate hydrogen, which is then combined with carbon dioxide to create methane, or natural gas. The result is what Audi is calling a "carbon-neutral" fuel.

Since compressed natural gas stations can be few and far between, however, the A3 also makes use of a 13-gallon gasoline tank to help give the machine an effective range of around 745 miles. The 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine features injectors for both natural gas and gasoline and can seamlessly switch between the two fuels while driving. After perusing our high-res image gallery, you can take a look at the full press release on the 2013 Audi A3 Sportback below.

Continue reading 2013 Audi A3 Sportback e-Gas Project shows off carbon-neutral fuel

2013 Audi A3 Sportback e-Gas Project shows off carbon-neutral fuel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Audi A3

Matt Davis — Thu, 31 May 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Audi, First Drives, Luxury

An Old Vanguard Gets Ready For a New War

In 1996, the first Audi A3 essentially established the premium compact segment, but that distinction really only carried significance in Europe. Gradually, and especially in its two most recent generations, its corporate sibling, the Volkswagen Golf, has become something of a true premium hatch without the badge, leaving more and more people to wonder if there was a point to splurging for the costlier Audi. Then the new Mini Cooper came along to effectively steal the thunder in the new century's compact premium market. In the past few years, Audi's A3 lineup has been scrambling around in search of redefinition. It has continued selling in alright numbers in Europe (and it currently accounts for 20 percent of annual Audi sales worldwide), but officials acknowledge the car could do much better elsewhere.

The first two generations of the A3 - 1996 and then 2003 - were only offered in hatchback form. But now that Audi has its sights on expanding the range's appeal globally, when the U.S. begins taking delivery of the third generation in the autumn of 2013, there will be a new sedan bodystyle to accompany the five-door Sportback. That means a new A3 is still over a year away for us, but we couldn't wait to drive it, so we headed to the hatchback-loving Spanish island of Mallorca to sample it for you.

Continue reading 2013 Audi A3

2013 Audi A3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 May 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New details on the next Audi A3

Matt Davis — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:43:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

We just attended a thorough workshop covering the tech inside the next Audi A3, the new compact from Ingolstadt that the U.S. gets in October 2013 as a five-door Sportback model, as well as a new four-door small sedan. A concept version of the four-door was shown at the Geneva Motor Show last year, while deliveries of this European hatchback start this July.

Our first drive of the three-door premium hatchback model that will be available at launch happens later this month, though it's sort of a shame we won't be getting this three-door here in the States. The five-door Sportback model that will be sold in the U.S. will be shown this October at the Paris Motor Show and will be available in Western European in January of next year. The premium hatch segment is fillling up fast now with this Audi, then the Volvo V40, to be followed then by the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Continue reading New details on the next Audi A3

New details on the next Audi A3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 May 2012 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Audi A3 is Ingolstadt's new baby

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:21:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Although the 2013 A3 made its unofficial Internet appearance a couple of weeks ago, we're now seeing the fruits of Audi's labor for the first time here at Geneva Motor Show. With 42 models in its lineup, the Ingolstadt brand didn't want its stalwart and next-smallest car to get lost in the traffic, so it's thrown quite a bit of goodness into the mix.

The overall size is just about the same, but the wheelbase and interior dimensions have grown. Even so, the new A3 has lost weight to the tune of 176 pounds, meaning the 1.4 TFSI model weighs just 2,590 pounds. That 122-horsepower 1.4-liter engine will be one of three offered at launch, along with a 180-hp 1.8-liter TFSI and a 2.0-liter TDI with 150 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque, all driven through the front wheels. Quattro versions come later "for more powerful engines," as will alternative-fuel powerplants. Shifting will come in either five-speed manual or six-speed S-tronic forms.

Technological conveniences once found only in major-league sedans have made their way to the thick end, with the A3 offering adaptive cruise control, an evolution of park assist and a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.

See below for all the details you might ever want on the new A3, and have a gander at it in the huge galleries of both stock and live images.

Continue reading 2013 Audi A3 is Ingolstadt's new baby

2013 Audi A3 is Ingolstadt's new baby originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More pictures of the 2013 Audi A3 say hello to the Internet

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi

The 2013 Audi A3 will be rolling into the Geneva Motor Show next month, but first it went to Russia to get leaked all over the Internet. We saw one angle of it a few days ago, and now we see more of what looks to be a very handsome car. The move to the new MQB platform hasn't altered anything drastically, but revisions in the hatchback's details have made for a more concentrated bearing, with very A1-like appearance.

The interior is practically a throwback to the original Audi TT, with a cleaned-up, minimalist IP sporting a screen atop the dash, the expanse below broken up only by two round vents and HVAC controls below.

The three-door is expected to be followed by variants that include a convertible, five-door and sedan. According to Google's translation of Russian, engine options will include TSFI engines with 122 and 180 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission alongside a seven-speed dual-clutch option.

More pictures of the 2013 Audi A3 say hello to the Internet originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Is this the 2012 Audi A3?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi is expected to unveil its new A3 at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show next month, but when it does, we'll already have a pretty good idea of what to expect. And not just because the German automaker's entire range pretty much boils down (for better or worse) to a single design applied to a variety of shapes, but because it apparently has more leaks than a kid who wets his bed.

First, the overall shape of the car was leaked from every angle when Audi presented its new Connect infotainment system at CES, and now - following hot on the heels of the unexpected early reveal of the RS4 Avant - this solitary image has found its way onto the interwebs.

It shows what appears to be the production-ready A3 three-door hatch we're expecting to see in just a couple of weeks on the floor of the Geneva Palexpo, and while it could be a rendering, you can count us among the fooled if it is.

Is this the 2012 Audi A3? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi accidentally(?) previews 2013 A3 design at CES

Zach Bowman — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Design/Style

.

Audi may have accidentally let slip the exterior design of its upcoming 2013 A3.The German automaker set about showing off the hatchback's cabin with a static display at Las Vegas' CES ahead of the vehicle's expected unveiling at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The display gives the world a sense of what to expect from the luxury compact's front seats, center console and dash, which features a stand-alone LCD display that rises out from above the instrument panel's center air vents. Like other Audi displays, the screen features various vehicle menus, including two that show off the full exterior of the three-door model.

Judging from these two quick glimpses at the hatchback, the three-door will feature a new, more aggressive face. From the looks of things, buyers can expect to continue to find a large, signature Audi single-frame grille flanked by more purposeful headlights and sporty air intakes set low int he front fascia. Head over to Audiboost.com for a closer look at the vehicle inside and out. Don't get too attached to what you see, however. Past reports have suggested the vehicle will only debut as a sedan here in the States.

Audi accidentally(?) previews 2013 A3 design at CES originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi's Johan De Nysschen talks future product at Fourtitude

Steven J. Ewing — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Audi

Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen recently went on the record about future product plans via the forums at enthusiast site Fourtitude. In addition to clarifying the big news regarding Audi's diesel initiative in the United States, de Nysschen let some other product plans slip out.

First, he confirmed that the next-generation A3 will be sold as a sedan in the United States. The sportback will be discontinued, but the A3 Cabriolet may join the U.S. lineup. The new A3 will be a 2013 model, but might not be available right at the beginning of the model year. All we can say is, we hope it looks exactly like the stunning concept car that bowed in Geneva.

As for performance models, de Nysschen says that an S variant of every car in the automaker's lineup is likely, and hinted at the S7 being offered here. The RS5 is still slated to arrive next year, though it will benefit from the A5/S5 facelift that'll introduced in the U.S. over the winter.

Fourtitude's interview re-confirmed that clean diesel versions of the Q5, A6 and A8 are in the cards, presumably with the 3.0-liter TDI V6. The A4 is also expected to gain a TDI variant, though it will likely be powered by a 2.0-liter four. The Q5 crossover will also spawn a hybrid variant, which will be on sale sometime in 2012.

Head over to Fourtitude's forums to read the whole interview.

Audi's Johan De Nysschen talks future product at Fourtitude originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi previews next-generation A3 hatchback

Noah Joseph — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

2013 Audi A3 preview rendering - Click above for image gallery

Audi has taken an interesting approach forecasting the next-generation A3 with a sedan concept at the Geneva Motor Show - even though the current model is principally a hatchback. When it does hit showrooms sometime next year, however, the next-gen A3 is expected to be offered first with a tailgate before a trunked version comes along - the three-door model leading the five-door, then the sedan and finally the soft-top convertible.

The news comes along with a trio of sketches released by Audi to the British motor press alongside those of the R8 GT Spyder. The renderings depict the three-door hatchback, the four-door sedan and the cabin of the next-gen A3 production model, which is tipped to be even more diverse in its engine offerings than it is in its bodystyles: expect gasoline, diesel, natural gas, hybrid and full electric versions to be rolled out in succession.

The cabin, meanwhile, is tipped to feature the latest technologies, including Audi's MMI controller and a pop-up infotainment screen. Look for the production 2013 A3 - in one body form or another - to debut in Geneva next March, a year after the sedan concept we saw there last month.

Gallery: 2013 Audi A3 preview renderings

[Source: Audi via Autocar]

Audi previews next-generation A3 hatchback originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

CES 2011: Next generation MMI, Touch debuting on Audi A3

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: CES, Technology, Audi

Click above to enlarge

Take a close look at the photo above. You're looking at Audi's next generation MMI system being demoed during this morning's keynote at CES. The circuit board to the left is packing NVIDIA's Tegra chipset - the same processor powering a range of tablets and netbooks - and to the right is Audi's new scroll wheel, which has grown considerably. The reason for the added girth? Audi is incorporating the much-lauded MMI Touch interface directly into the scroll wheel. MMI Touch - which originally debuted on the A8 and is making its way to the A7 and all-new A6 - will continue to move down through the ranks of Audi's line-up and will debut on the next generation A3, likely to arrive within the next two years.

The revised MMI Touch will continue to include handwriting recognition, but will also handle scrolling and possibly gestures for panning, zooming and other functions. If you've used an iPhone, iPad or MacBook touchpad, you'll be right at home.

We also got a sneak preview of the Tegra's performance as it seamlessly rendered Google Earth, a new circular navigation menu and full 3D graphics. Audi claims to have over 100 engineers and user interface experts working on its infotainment software, and from what we've seen today, we believe them.

CES 2011: Next generation MMI, Touch debuting on Audi A3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Volkswagen Golf MkVII to get 'Net-connected 8-inch touchscreen

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Volkswagen

Car and Driver has begun assembling pieces of fact and hypothesis to come up with a picture of the next-generation MkVII Volkswagen Golf. Word is that a larger, edgier, lower and wider evolution of the bread-and-butter hatch will show up earlier than planned in order to make a better case for itself against an upmarket Polo and to take advantage of cost savings.

The savings will come from the use of VW Group's new modular platform, which could eventually be a workhorse for 60 different models throughout the company's various brands. That would eliminate 16 of the current platforms it needs to use. Sixty might seem like a large number at first, but the new Golf is being prepped to fit new powerplants including electric and Twin Drive, and that will quickly add branches to the family tree.

The interior will be replete with tech as well, with "higher-quality materials" joining an eight-inch touchscreen with iPad-like operability that controls navigation, audio, and Internet access. We've seen a prototype of VW's GLORIA touchscreen system and it should be impressive. A note of caution, though: C/D starts the piece off with the note that VW CEO Martin Winterkorn wants to make VW bigger than Toyota. All we'll say is we know what happened when Toyota wanted the top spot, so please, VW be careful.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Volkswagen Golf MkVII to get 'Net-connected 8-inch touchscreen originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 May 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments