Upcoming Audi A3 To Weigh Nearly As Much As First-Gen Car
Audi claims to have broken the dreaded “weight spiral” with their next upcoming A3. The new car will weigh nearly as much as the first-generation car did in 1997, despite being faster, safer and more luxurious.
The new car should closely match the old car’s curb weight of 2658 lbs. The new MQB platform is lighter in every respect, from the materials used in the car, to the new generation of turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines. Despite the weight loss (as much as 176 lbs on some models), the vehicle’s size will remain the same as the portly second generation car.
The notion of continuously advancing technology, powertrains and safety while fighting curb weight and increasing vehicle sizes is one that has TTAC quite pleased. The upcoming VW Golf, which will be a close relative to the A3, should be even more significant, in that it can bring this kind of technology to a much wider customer base.
More by Derek Kreindler
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It's great that automakers are trying to put their cars on diets. First Subaru tried it with the Impreza, but the car lost some power as a result, and now there's the new A3. Hopefully there isn't much sacrificed here.
Audi has made it pretty clear that their goal is weight reduction - hence a lot of the engine downsizing that's really coming into play with the new 1.8T engine and the third generation 2.0TFSI. About a year or so ago Audi held a technology day with a lightweight but fully equipped, production-ready A5 with a 2.0T that ran circles around the beefy 350hp V8 powered S5. The value of weight reduction is significant and while a small first step I definitely believe they're on the right track. The MQB vehicles will make a significant dent in weight and provide a high level of flexibility to the brands. Case in point: the new A3 allows Audi to use an aluminum hood, aluminum suspension and front end and additional composites throughout the vehicle. All things the MQB Golf will not have due to cost considerations.
I like the old one better.
No hatchback means probably no likey...:-(