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Audi showed its A3 Sedan in concept form at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. The real thing will be shown in Audi’s most important market, at the Shanghai Auto Show, end of April. The car will be sold in early 2014 in the United States and China, Reuters says.
In the U.S. , the car will be sold as a 2015 model, and will compete with the Mercedes CLA in the entry premium segment.
Like the Volkswagen Golf and the Audi A3, the A3 sedan will be built using the MQB kit architecture.
27 Comments on “Audi A3 Sedan To Be Launched in China...”
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Interesting that most of the automags are quoting the Reuters article: The Wall Street Journal had an article on this yesterday stating that the A3 would arrive at US dealerships “Later this year” as a 2014 model.
They could build it as a 2015 model and sell it in 2014. I think that is allowed.
It is. They could sell it on January 1st 2014 as a 2015 model. Mazda did the same with their 2014 Mazda 6 being available very early in January 2013.
Looks like 75% of an A4 – how original.
Those door-handles look totally different! This is another styling revolution for Audi, almost as exciting as putting a strip of Christmas lights under the headlights. That being said, they have a good look and they’re sticking with it. The other German car companies should be so lucky.
Aren’t all Audi cars pretty much 75% of the model above, A3 = 75% A4 = 75% A6 = 75% A8?
I think the current Audi design has jumped the shark. The A5 and A7 are simply caricatures, while the bulbous Q5/Q7 don’t have any distinctive design quality at all.
If the A5 is a caricature, what do you call the Camaro, Challenger and 300? Really, the A5 and A7 are more stylish versions of their sedan brethren. Whether any given buyer is willing to pay the premium for that style is another question.
SUVs … yeah, especially the Q7 doesn’t do anything for me. Q5 is a bit better, and the Q3 is the tidiest but also least SUV-like of the bunch. I think Audi has not yet quite figured out how to adapt their design language to the SUV/CUV world.
The A7’s derriere is a mess. A5 is little better, but it screams “I am trying too hard here”.
Are you kidding? A5s and A7s are among the best looking 4 doors in the world.
The A7 is brilliant looking and don’t you dare criticize it! The A7 is their ONLY good looking 4-door model at this time.
….. been driving an S5 for a while now. have only gotten compliments by complete strangers and even the “I’m just doing my job – don’t bother me” gas station attendants chat me up & ask about the ride. But hey, what do I know
Still as a owner of 2007 A3 I like that my 6 year old car looks like the new ones.
Totally agree. That’s the genesis of the current generation of “good looking” Audi’s, but I think they’ve gone too far.
Actually, the A4 is only 66% of the A6.
“The A5 and A7 are simply caricatures, while the bulbous Q5/Q7 don’t have any distinctive design quality at all.”
The market seems to disagree with you.
+1 corntrollio
You shouldn’t hate on the A3 because it’s exactly the same size as the a4 was a decade ago or so :P yay model bloat :)
In profile, this car looks a lot to me like the 1st-gen A4. Especially aft of the B pillar. It’s very nearly the same size, too – 2″ shorter, 1″ wider, less than 1″ difference in height.
Plus ça change…
And that’s not a bad thing. The original A4 is still a very good-looking car.
I agree – I owned one. Great car!
Keep in mind that photo is of the A3 Concept shown in 2011. The production car has a slightly taller greenhouse, does away with the fancy door handles, carbon fiber trim and will have the current MQB side mirrors instead of the very nice ones you see here.
Otherwise, and according to Audi themselves, the production car should carry over about 90% of what you see on the concept car’s exterior design language.
Private reveal in New York in two weeks.
Does not look like A4B5 to me, not one little bit. Looks like A4B9. I can’t wait. Want to see the wagon and hope for small diesel 6mt.
I quite agree – I owned one. Great car!
“Would you like an A4?”
“Heck no, that’s too big for me. And I’m kinda poor.”
“Oh well here, A3 then.”
I see a conspicuous similarity between this “new” A3 and that vehicle for India in Faisal´s article above this one on the main page.
The same silhouette, about the same wheelbase…..hhhhmmmmm……
I doubt it it’s not even the same silhouette.
The A3 is longer than 4 meters. The Indian Vento is designed to be less then 4 meters long. Furthermore, the A3 has a wheelbase of about 104 inches, whereas the pre-chopping Vento is about 100 inches. After shortening, I’m not sure if the Vento’s wheelbase will be above 100.
However, they might be both based on MQB, unless the Indian Vento is based on an older VW platform.
The Indian-market Vento is based on the older PQ25 Polo platform.