Audi A3 Sportback Begs The Question; Would An MQB By Any Other Name Smell As Sweet?

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Are you longing to drive something on the MQB platform but too insecure to drive a Volkswagen Golf? Have we got something for you!

The Audi A3 Sportback, seen here, won’t be available in the USA; instead we’ll get a sedan variant that will be closer in spirit to the now iconic B5 Audi A4. With the 1.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the A3 weighs just 2,657 lbs, down roughly 200 lbs from its predecessor.


Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Bkmurph Bkmurph on Sep 20, 2012

    One more abused semicolon and I'm gonna puke.

  • ZekeToronto ZekeToronto on Sep 22, 2012

    Put me down as another very satisfied owner (2009) who is disappointed the MQB-based replacement won't be offered (at least initially) as a sportback. The sedan that Audi has shown looks great, but the 4-door hatch/mini-wagon has been the most practical vehicle I've ever owned. In 3.5 years of ownership it's also been 100% trouble-free, so I'm definitely game for another A3. The question is whether I'm willing to wait.

  • Formula m Same as Ford, withholding billions in development because they want to rearrange the furniture.
  • EV-Guy I would care more about the Detroit downtown core. Who else would possibly be able to occupy this space? GM bought this complex - correct? If they can't fill it, how do they find tenants that can? Is the plan to just tear it down and sell to developers?
  • EBFlex Demand is so high for EVs they are having to lay people off. Layoffs are the ultimate sign of an rapidly expanding market.
  • Thomas I thought about buying an EV, but the more I learned about them, the less I wanted one. Maybe I'll reconsider in 5 or 10 years if technology improves. I don't think EVs are good enough yet for my use case. Pricing and infrastructure needs to improve too.
  • Thomas My quattro Audi came with summer tires from the factory. I'd never put anything but summer tires on it because of the incredible performance. All seasons are a compromise tire and I'm not a compromise kind of guy.
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