Autoblog

US-bound Audi A3 Sedan spied testing

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:45:00 EST

As the Audi A3 sedan gets closer to its debut, Audi has camouflaged prototypes to take it on the streets for final testing. Last time we saw the A3, it was testing almost in the buff, but it was on a closed track so our spy shooters were kept at quite a distance.

Now that the newest Audi sedan is testing on public roads, our latest batch of spy shots gives us a more detailed look at the entry-level luxury player despite the swirly camo. Except for the oversized wheels and the fancy exhaust outlets and door mirrors, the production version of the car should look almost identical to the A3 sedan concept we saw in Geneva a couple years ago. Some of the details we can see include a good-sized panoramic roof that stretches almost halfway into the rear passenger space and signature Audi LED-accented headlights and taillights.

US-bound Audi A3 Sedan spied testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi A3 sedan caught nearly naked

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Audi, Luxury

It's been almost two years since we first saw the Audi A3 Sedan Concept under the lights of the Geneva Motor Show, but it looks like we won't have to wait much longer to see this small Audi four-door on the open road. Our spy shooters have caught Audi testing the sedan version of the next-generation A3 that is expected to go on sale in the US later next year.

From what we can tell from this test mule, Audi has kept the overall styling of the A3 Sedan very similar to the 2011 concept car. The long-lensed shots don't give us too much detail of the car's body or any interior shots, but we do see that the concept's roofline and side window shape carries over almost identically. As expected, the massive carbon fiber and aluminum wheels have been replaced with more appropriately sized wheels, and the door mirrors are befitting a production car. The concept had a four-passenger seating layout, but we would be surprised if this configuration makes it to production.

No definitive word on what will power the next A3, but don't hold your breath for the same five-cylinder used on the A3 Sedan Concept. With a stated 408 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, this engine's output seems rather high even for a next-gen RS3.

Audi A3 sedan caught nearly naked originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. not getting new A3 Wagon, separate sedan being developed

Zach Bowman — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

While we adore sexy three-door hatchbacks in the same way that our lungs crave oxygen, our fellow countrymen don't quite seem to feel the same way. Three-doors simply don't sell in America, and that's exactly why the delicious 2013 Audi A3 Wagon isn't headed to the states, according to The Detroit Bureau.

Instead, American buyers can look forward to a market-specific sedan version that Johan de Nysschen, CEO of Audi of America, says won't share so much as a single body panel with the longroof you see above. While that's a crying shame by our eyes, de Nysschen says the U.S.-spec 2013 Audi A3 will likely be successful enough to boost model sales to 30,000 per year.

The A3 Sedan is expected to bow with a more upscale, refined interior and more passenger volume as well. We wouldn't be surprised to see an abundance of available technology options as well. The Detroit Bureau says the new model may even bow with the same touch pad control system found on the Audi A8 and a larger LCD screen mounted in the dash.

U.S. not getting new A3 Wagon, separate sedan being developed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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Report: Audi A3 sedan likely for U.S., Q3 crossover not in the cards (right now)

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Crossover, Audi

Audi A3 Sedan Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Audi A3 Sedan Concept may not have been the Volkswagen Group's biggest show-stopper at the Geneva Motor Show, but it still garnered a lot of high praise from those in attendance. Automotive News reports that if produced, the A3 sedan would likely be sold here in the United States - a no-brainer, really, especially since the German automaker has long considered offering a four-door bodystyle of the A3 here in America.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi AG board member for sales and marketing, tells Automotive News that, "If you look at this specific segment around the world, you come to the conclusion that this car is designed - but it is not yet decided - with the U.S. and China in mind." Schwarzenbauer further states that these are two markets where "the [sedan] segment is quite big." The A3 sedan could come to the U.S. as early as 2013.

However, when it comes to the smaller Q3 crossover that's currently being developed, Audi has not yet decided whether it will be sold in the CUV-hungry U.S. Automotive News reports that if the Q3 is given the green light, it would not arrive for another 12 to 15 months - even though the European-spec crossover is scheduled to go on sale this year.

Gallery: Audi A3 sedan concept: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Audi A3 sedan likely for U.S., Q3 crossover not in the cards (right now) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Audi A3 sedan concept opens the show in style

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:20:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Audi

Audi A3 sedan concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

As promised, Audi trotted out its A3 sedan concept at the Geneva Motor Show, and it's a lovely bit of compact, Teutonic hotness. A ton of carbon fiber bits and pieces litter the shapely sheetmetal, all enclosing a very Germanic four-seat interior.

Naturally, we're just as interested in the five-cylinder engine that uses turbocharging and FSI to pump out 408 horsepower. Peak torque measures 368 pound feet, and all that power is available between 1,600 and 5,300 rpm. Audi claims its A3 concept can hit 62 mph in 4.1 seconds and is electronically governed to a top speed of 155 mph. Impressively fuel mileage is estimated at 25.85 U.S. miles per gallon.

A seven-speed dual clutch gearbox handles shifting duties, and naturally, is naturally sent to all four wheels via Quattro all-wheel-drive. We're rather intrigued by the 20-inch wheels that are molded from carbon fiber and aluminum, which should save weight in the most crucial area. Full details can be found in the press release after the break, and you can check out live images from the floor in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Audi A3 sedan concept: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Audi A3 sedan concept

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Audi A3 sedan concept opens the show in style

Geneva 2011: Audi A3 sedan concept opens the show in style originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi A3 sedan still in the cards, but needs a little help

Chris Paukert — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hatchback, Audi, Diesel

2010 Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi's A3 has been something of a quiet entry point for the German automaker in the North American market, selling in modest volumes compared to its more upscale A4 and A6 brethren. According to Audi of North America president, Johan de Nysschen, those low volumes have been supply constrained for some time. The A3 has been performing so well in the European market that capacity remains in short supply. The supply constraint is so acute that Audi hasn't been offering any incentives or leasing plans to help boost the model's numbers.

Another reason for the A3's low take-rate, de Nysschen admits, is its five-door hatchback bodystyle, a configuration that is at odds with traditional expectations for premium cars among U.S. consumers. But help may be on the way.

As we first reported back in January, Audi may build a sedan version of the A3 to better appeal to this market's consumer tastes. However, the company is reluctant to undertake the cost of developing a new bodystyle for the North American market alone, and Audi of Europe apparently isn't terribly interested in offering one to its customers. The potential solution de Nysschen is pursuing hinges upon lobbying Audi's other international arms to see if they are interested in offering an A3 sedan. Of those divisions, Audi's Asian outposts would seem to be the most likely candidate, as countries like South Korea and China are very accepting of cars with trucks, and both are seen as strong growth markets.

Interestingly, de Nysschen reminded Autoblog that the A3's sales volume has actually more than doubled in the States this year. That's partly because Audi is earning more consideration from car buyers, and partly because demand for the model has fallen in Europe where it is approaching the end of its lifecycle. With less product needed to keep EU dealers happy, Audi has been able to secure more units to sell in the States. Through August, Audi sold 4,012 A3 five-doors in the States. That represents a whopping 74.8 percent year-over-year increase - a remarkable feat for a car that has been on sale since 2006. By this time last year, Audi had only managed to shift 2,295 units. Just as interesting is word that sales of the TDI diesel A3 account for around 50 percent of the model's sales - a percentage that Audi says holds true for its other TDI offering, the Q7.

The next-generation A3 is expected in 2012, but with plans for a sedan still up in the air, it seems unlikely that a four-door variant will accompany its initial rollout. Either way, the second-generation model is expected to continue sharing quite a bit with its Volkswagen counterparts, including offering a derivative of automaker's ubiquitous 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder and Quattro all-wheel drive.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI

Audi A3 sedan still in the cards, but needs a little help originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi planning A3 sedan for U.S. market

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Audi, Rumormill

2010 Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ever so slowly, the United States is getting over its prejudice against hatchbacks. The subcompact segment is booming more than ever and the vast majority of vehicles in this range have a five-door configuration. Take the new Ford Fiesta, for example - the hatch is easily outselling the sedan. This may be well and good for cars living in the sub-$25,000 segment, but Americans still haven't quite grasped the idea of a premium hatchback like the Audi A3.

To try and boost sales, Audi is reportedly working on an A3 sedan for the U.S. market, which would give the automaker another vehicle to offer below the larger A4. No details have been released about the upcoming four-door A3, but we can see how this move makes sense for Audi considering how much the A4 has grown in size over the years.

If Audi is indeed working on an A3 sedan, it will be one of a kind amongst its competitors. The BMW 1 Series is only available as a coupe and convertible in the U.S., and Mercedes-Benz doesn't have any small offerings, though the next-generation B-Class hatch is being considered for U.S. consumption. Assuming all goes well, expect to see the A3 sedan sometime around 2013.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Financial Times (translated)]

Report: Audi planning A3 sedan for U.S. market originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi A3 sedan being developed for U.S. only

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Audi

Audi A3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Europeans go crazy for the Volkwagen Golf, but not so much for the Jetta. Like, not crazy at all. Americans, on the other hand, will give props to a hatchback, but what we really love is ~~big butts and we cannot lie~~ a trunk in which to put our junk. According to Inside Line, Audi has decided to stop letting its A3 hatchback be a whipping boy while trying to sway American tastes and instead it has committed to bringing us an A3 sedan.

The small sedan is already in the development pipeline and will arrive in the U.S. - its only intended market - in 2012. It is reportedly going be the size of the first-generation Audi A4, the B5 model. That sedan was 178 inches long and 68.2 inches wide, whereas the current A3 hatch is 169 inches long and 69.5 inches wide.

The question is whether the A3 only needs a trunk in order to lure more buyers. The current hatch starts at $27,270. If the Golf and Jetta are taken as examples, there is just $135 difference between the two cars, the Jetta being more expensive. This plan could theoretically work if the A3 sedan is similarly close to the hatch, but somewhere along the way we feel like it will need to shed its image as a gussied-up Golf for sales to really fly.

Gallery: 2009 Audi A3

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Audi A3 sedan being developed for U.S. only originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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