New Audi A3 S3 Facelift more detail

Audi news has been coming in thick and fast the past few days with the extravagant A3 TDI Clubsport quattro concept and that Audi will indeed put the TT Clubsport quattro Concept into production too. The A3 TDI Clubsport quattro will make its debut at the upcoming Wörthersee Tour in Austria, the place where the TT Clubsport quattro made a shock entrance last year.

The facelifted Audi A3 and S3 fit into the crowd (or should we say traffic jam) a bit better. In conjunction with the in depth press release in the following pages Audi released the first driving footage of their freshened A3.

The A3 comes with a nice array of engine choice ranging from 102 hp 1.6 liter petrol engine and a 105 hp 1.9 liter TDI to the range topping 265 hp 2.0 liter TFSI petrol engine in the S3. New to the range is the S3 Sportback with its 1,100 liter trunk and three doors in addition to the 5-door S3 hatchback.

Audi offers a five-speed manual transmission in its entry level models, a six-speed manual for the remainder of the model range while the 3.2 liter quattro six-cylinder is hooked up to a (semi)-automatic S tronic dual clutch transmission.

Press Release
Equipment

Their equipment also underlines the Audi A3 and the A3 Sportback's character as compact premium vehicles. The extensive range of standard and optional features underpins their outstanding position.

Even in the Attraction line, which is itself full of character, both body variants leave the assembly line with two or four electric windows (3-door A3/A3 Sportback), a stowage compartment beneath the passenger seat and daylight driving lights. An easy-entry function for the front seats (3-door A3), radio remote control for the central locking system, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors with turn signal indicators plus a vertically adjustable driver's seat round off the comfort equipment. The chorus radio system with four speakers is fitted as standard.

The standard range of restraint systems is comprehensive. It encompasses airbags for the driver and passenger, front airbags which protect the chest area and the pelvis plus a curtain airbag system. Added to these are five head restraints, five three-point seat belts – with tensioners and belt force limiters in front – and the integral head restraint system on the front seats. The front bumper and the engine hood are designed to minimize the effect of collisions with pedestrians as far as possible.

For sports fans: The Ambition line

The sporty Ambition line can be clearly recognized even from the exterior – thanks to 17-inch aluminum wheels, fog lamps and a sports suspension. Its interior offers two height-adjustable sports seats. Specially designed sill strips and inlays plus a leather-covered sports steering wheel in 3-spoke design refine the interior. A driver information system, a radio clock and a manual sunscreen for the rear window, which is integrated into the luggage compartment cover, are particularly practical features.

The Ambiente equipment line represents luxury, externally documented by 16-inch aluminum wheels in an elegant 7-arm design. Its interior offers a wealth of equipment – inlays in amber-coloured Vavona wood, a four-spoke leather-covered steering wheel, a storage compartment package, an outside temperature indicator, a cruise control system, a center armrest in front, an interior light package, an interior mirror with automatic anti-dazzle function, a light and rain sensor and a windshield which dampens external noise using a special acoustic film.

Audi offers further equipment lines for pronounced individualists. This involves the S line, which contains an exterior package and a sports package, the luxurious Audi exclusive line and the refined options from the Audi exclusive range.

The regular range of optional extras already includes numerous attractive convenience features. These encompass electrically heated and folding exterior mirrors, a windshield with acoustic glazing, a cruise control system with improved operation, multifunctional steering wheels for operating the telephone, audio and navigation systems, sun blinds and assistance systems for making parking more comfortable: Rear parking aid or front and rear parking aid and the Park Assist system.

The deluxe automatic air conditioning system with sun sensor enables the driver and passenger to control the temperature individually. The options available for the seats are also extensive: A vertically adjustable passenger seat, electric lumbar supports, heating for two or four seats, sports seats and electrically adjustable front seats (A3 Sportback) – no desire is left unfulfilled.

Park Assist system: The A3 steers itself into the parking space

The Park Assist system is a brand new, particularly comfortable high-tech system. It operates using ultrasonic sensors which register longitudinal parking spaces at the side of the road when the vehicle is traveling at speeds below 30 km/h (18.64 mph). If a space is sufficiently large to reverse into, a corresponding indication is provided in the driver information system.

If the driver now engages reverse gear and accelerates, the Park Assist system takes over the electromechanical steering – it automatically steers the A3 and the A3 Sportback into the space in one maneuver. The driver only has to operate the accelerator, the clutch and the brake due to reasons of safety.

In the field of safety, Audi offers an anti-theft alarm system, fog lamps, a tire pressure monitoring system, Isofix anchors for child seats and rear side airbags (in the A3 Sportback). Xenon plus headlamps and the cornering light system, adaptive light, turn night into day.

The A3 also offers many intelligent solutions in terms of practicality. Storage compartment packages are available for the interior and the luggage compartment, plus a load-through aperture with center armrest plus a ski and snowboard bag for the rear bench seat.

A luggage compartment mat and a reversible load floor make the luggage compartment extremely versatile. An electrically driven glass roof is optionally available for the three-door model, whilst the A3 Sportback offers the optional panoramic sunroof – a very large glass roof which enables the interior to be flooded with light. A further option for the Sportback are the roof rails, available in anodized aluminum or in black.

Audi offers a wide selection of multimedia devices for optimal entertainment. The standard chorus CD radio, which comes equipped with four speakers, forms the basis of the range. This continues with the MP3-capable concert radio (six speakers) and the symphony radio with CD changer up to the Bose sound system, whose amplifier contains an integrated digital sound processor. This has an output of 195 W and controls eight or ten speakers (3-door A3/A3 Sportback) via six channels. As of the concert radio, AUX-in jacks on the transmission tunnel are fitted as standard. The Audi exclusive range offers preparation for iPod installation in the glove compartment.

Navigation: The A3 knows the way

The A3 and the A3 Sportback optionally show the driver the way. The smaller solution is a navigation system with a monochromatic 6-inch screen, which reads its data from a CD. The large navigation system plus operates with a DVD player, and is equipped with a 6.5-inch color monitor which optionally shows the route as a 3D image. It contains a radio with dual tuner, slots for reading SD cards and an AUX connection: It can be further upgraded with a speech dialog system. A TV module is also available.

Both navigation devices are located in the center console; their operating logic is oriented towards the highly-praised MMI system fitted in the large Audi model series. For mobile telephony, Audi offers an optional Bluetooth link for the mobile phone plus a hands-free system; this link also supports UMTS-capable mobile phones.

Sale of the new-look Audi A3 and A3 Sportback will be getting off to a start in the next few days, with delivery scheduled to commence in the summer. With only marginally adjusted prices, this means a much improved A3 at an attractive starting price of €20,350.
Source: Audi