All posts tagged audi a3
Audi Quattro sales in 2010: best for 4WD?
In releasing its 2010 sales results, Audi has decided to focus on an interesting figure: revealing that of all vehicles produced, a total of 437,792 were fitted with all-wheel drive. That gives Audi Quattro models 38 percent of total Audi sales, and clearly the company is happy to indicate that its world-famous 4WD technology gives it an edge over other premium models.
Still, the most models sold with Quattro tech are the Audi Q5 SUVs which makes sense in terms of the type of vehicle. No figures were released as to the other models sold with Quattro so we’re not suprised to find that an SUV takes the title - we’d be more interested to know how many coupé or sedans Audi sells with all-wheel drive tech. Equally unsuprising is the fact that Germany is the number one market for 4WD Audi’s.
Still, the famous Quattro technology is a strong selling point for Audi such that it will expand to other models in the future including the Audi A1, A6, Q3 and the new A3. The latter could prove to be a very interesting model for Audi in terms of commercial significance and we’ll be keeping an eye on how it sells.
New Audi A3 renderings: Sportback and sedan
New renderings for the Audi A3 Sportback and Sedan models have been produced by Theophilus Chin, who has done another nice job. He has tried his hand at both models and we like what we see on the Sportback. The Audi A3 Concept revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show should be exactly what we can expect from the new A3 sedan when it gets to production.
While the A3 sedan will position itself below the Audi A4, and is designed to charm the American public, the European market will get another restyling of the A3 Sportback, which could borrow from the new sedan. In these pics it gets a more slanted rear in a coupé style which should give it a more modern design than the traditional boxy hatchback look.
Audi A3 renderings: sportback and sedan
Continue reading: New Audi A3 renderings: Sportback and sedan
Audi A3 Concept video
This video of the Audi A3 Concept from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show is one of the company’s steady and very thorough videos. We get a look at the A3 sedan concept from all angles. No driving footage is provided so we don’t get to see the 2.5-litre engine in action with its 408 hp. We do however, get to see the A3 Concept interior. While it’s still a showcar interior, there’s certainly some lovely quality finishes that Audi will be using to get its interior to the luxurious level required to compete with the other big German brands on the American market. We’ll be bringing you more this week.
Audi A3 concept pics and details
The 2011 Geneva Motor Show saw the debut of the Audi A3 Concept. The model previews what will be a new compact sedan for the company, providing another model in the C segment that will go to Audi assaulting the US car market further. With the new Audi A4 growing to 470 cm in length, the A3 sedan would be placed under that model, taking the role of smaller sedan in the Audi range.
The A3 Concept measures 4.44 metres long (with a wheel base of 2.63 m), 1.84 m wide and 1.39 m tall. The boot space is 410 litres and overall the vehicle weighs 1,540 kg. From the point of view of style, the A3 Concept design won’t be noted for its originality and while this might work for a model based on the success of the A3 hatchback, Audi might need to produce something more interesting in the near future to keep itself relevant in the world of car design.
The interior of the A3 Concept is more interesting from a design point of view, although it’s hard to know what are show car touches and what will be carried across to the production version. Circular shapes feature, the central console houses the MMI multimedia system with touchpad and MMI monitor. The latter is housed in dash and is electronically controlled - at the touch of a button, it comes out of the dash and folds back into it again when not being used. The usual features we’re seeing in all luxury sedans these days are provided including wireless navigation and iPad compatibility for the rear passengers.
Audi A3 Concept live pics from 2011 Geneva Motor Show
The Audi A3 Concept shown live at Geneva shows the new compact sedan model developed by the company. It’s appearing at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show together with the Audi RS3 series model and the Q5 Hybrid. The A3 Concept has the difficult task of updating the Audi image and refreshing the A3 range which has long relied on its hatchback model.
The new A3 sedan is 4.44 metres long and sports the usual sloping roof line we’re seeing on all sedan models to give them that coupé look. The difficulty will be to continue the improved design phase Audi is currently enjoying, but to distinguish between the various models which are slowly taking on an awfully homogeneous look.
The A3 Concept gets a renewed front end but still in keeping with Audi tradition, and we can see new elements being experimented with including new door handles and striking pillars. The interior has gone pared back, providing a minimalist and essential environment. Audi is concentrating on the new focus in lightweight models and the A3 Concept weighs a total of 1,540 kg. It is equipped with a five-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbo TFSI engine with 300 kW and 530 Nm of torque. The transmission is a seven-speed S Tronic and Quattro all-wheel drive is also included on the prototype.
Audi A3 Concept live at 2011 Geneva Motor Show
Continue reading: Audi A3 Concept live pics from 2011 Geneva Motor Show
Audi A3 renderings: Geneva concept
This Audi A3 Concept will show at Geneva and is the latest in the coupé-sedan trend. The A3 sedan is strictly concept at the moment and it will be interesting to see in the future how it might fit in with the rest of the four-door, sedan models in the Audi range. It will be a four-seater model that Audi describes as “notchback” and if it makes production, it could be headed for the Chinese market, or even the US market due its aversion to hatchbacks.
The A3 Concept measures 4.44 metres long, 1.84 wide and 1.39 high with the now classic sloping roof line giving the sedan the must-have coupé look. It will introduce the future VAG platform: the MQB which will go to developing the Volkswagen Group’s future B, C and D segment models.
The concept is equipped with a five-cylinder, turbocharged engine with 408 hp and has all-wheel drive technology and DSG gearbox. While no production plans have been released, the tone of the press release suggests that the company has market plans for the Audi A3 sedan in the future.
It is described as being based on the next generation A3 hatchback and will contribute to the expansion of this model’s line-up. If it looks as good as these drawings suggest, it could just about steal the hearts of those for whom the A4 and A6 have been a little disappointing.
Audi A3 sedan concept renderings
What they really wanted was the Audi R8 V12 TDI
Is diesel becoming more popular on the US car market? Audi seems to think so and its sales results would prove the hypothesis. According to Automotive News, 50 percent of Audi A3 sales in the US are diesel and about 40 percent of Audi Q7 sales are, too. Given that, the rest of the models in the Audi range will offer a diesel in the line-up from 2015 including the A8, A6, A4 and Q5.
While here in Europe we’re already very familiar with these models, Audi’s bet is they will become more popular in the US as stricter fuel economy laws come into play in coming years. The drive is also coming from dealers who are demanding more diesel models as stocks run out.
BMW and Mercedes also have limited diesel offerings on the US market but if Audi gets its plan underway, it could have a head start and sales targets for diesels in the future could be up from the current 5.5 percent of the range to 20 percent. As the guys at Autoblog.com point out though, what we’d really love to see would be the Audi R8 V12 TDI go into production.
Audi A3 sedan planned for US?
According to rumours Audi could be planning an A3 sedan for the US market which, although slowly changing, still hasn’t displayed a big appetite for hatchbacks. An Audi A3 sedan would enable Audi to provide a smaller model than the Audi A4 while avoiding trying to convince Americans that hatches can be premium, too.
Americans are increasingly attracted by more compact models and vehicles such as the new Ford Fiesta hatch is doing better in sales than its sedan sibling. The A3 would be able to play the compact segment while retaining its premium image, and would complement the larger A4 by expanding the range downwards in size.
This report adds to what we published yesterday with BMW considering its new 1 Series for the US market (currently available only in coupé and cabriolet versions). The new BMW 1 Series, at the moment wearing its factory name of the F20, will be a slightly larger model and reports are that the new Mercedes B-Class hatch might make an appearance stateside, as well. It will be curious to see the big German brands battling with smaller models on the US market.
Source | Autoblog.com
2012 Audi A3 renderings
These renderings of the future Audi A3 show the 2012 model which will debut a few months before the new Volkswagen Golf 7. The two new cars from the VAG group will share about 70 percent of the same components, from the so-called MQB platform. The new Audi Q3 compact SUV in turn will anticipate the A3 and its new components in a model which will debut in 2011.
The third generation A3 will be availale in a three-door coupe version and a five-door Sportback version with a similar look around the doors to the Q5 and the Q7. The new Audi A3 has a planned production schedule of 200,000 units a year and with the shared Golf platform, we could see hybrid and electric versions emerge.
Standard versions of the A3 will appear with the three-cylinder, 1.2-litre TDI engine with 75 hp, which has CO2 emissions of just 89 g/km. The top of the range Audi S3 will have the 2.0-litre TFSI twin turbo with 300 hp. A new engine to appear will be the 2.0 TDI with increased power to 184 hp and the whole engine range will be Euro 6 compliant.
Source | Auto Motor und Sport
Audi A3 facelift pics and details
Here are the first pics of the Audi A3 facelift in the sportback version. The A3 restyling will occur across the whole range, including the three-door model, the A3 cabriolet and the S3 versions. On the latter, a new 1.2-litre TFSI version with 105 hp and 175 Nm will debut, which replaces the old 1.6-litre aspirated engine with 102 hp. This new entry level version has an average ful consumption of about 5.5 litres per 100 km, thanks to the Start&Stop system.
The Audi A3 facelift is both inside and out, with a single frame front grille and chrome air intakes. The rear vision mirrors have been redesigned and the three-door version gets some new elements at the rear. New body tints and alloy wheels for the Ambition kit are available, while on the inside we get new aluminium surfaces and a sports steering wheel in leather.
The Audi A3 engine range will include most of the fuel and diesel options in the Audi line-up, including the 1.4 TFSI with 125 hp, the 1.8-litre TFSI with 160 hp and the 2.0-litre TFSI with 200 hp. The latter also comes in a 265 hp version for the S3 range. The other engines available are the 1.6 TDI with 90 or 105 hp, the 2.0-litre TDI with 140 or 170 hp and the 1.6 TDIe with a mere 3.8 l/100 km of fuel consumption and 99 g/km of CO2 emissions. The Audi A3 facelift will be available on the market from summer this year.
Alfa Giulietta first impressions: lining up the Giulietta competitors
The new Alfa Giulietta has been released and first impressions from the world’s press are starting to come through. We’ve gathered some of those impressions in one place so we can check out just what the Giulietta promises and whether it might deliver.
As is the fate of many an Alfa Romeo, the focus is on style - how good does it look? I don’t know whether that means there’s nothing special to bother about under the bonnet, or whether the presence of the best Fiat technology is taken for granted. To be fair, the new Giulietta will get Fiat’s Multiair engines, Alfa DNA and dual-clutch transmission so it’s no slack on the technology front. And it will have between 120 and 170 hp, before the Quadrifoglio Verde version turns up with 230 hp.
So far, the new Giulietta is a very nice looking car. Yesterday I said I appreciated the sloping, elegant rear and overall there is plenty of classic Alfa sports style. It’s managed to keep its Alfa Romeo class without falling into mediocrity or appearing like just another, bigger 147. Given the brand image and style of Alfa, I also think it stands apart from other offerings in the Fiat Group range.
Continue reading: Alfa Giulietta first impressions: lining up the Giulietta competitors
Audi A3 spy shot: the definitive rear look?
This unfocused image could by the concrete spy shot of the Audi A3, expected for 2011. The origin of the shot is still unknown, but the elements to consider it genuine are not missing, especially the design, which shows an evolution on the Audi Q5.
The rear lights show LED technology, and the lines around the boot look to be derived from the Q5. The overall form of the rear however, is faithful to the current generation, with some added aerodynamics. We eagerly await some new Audi A3 pics to see whether this image is definite or not.
Source | Audiblog.nl
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