Audi has pulled the plug on the BS4-spec A3 sedan and cabriolet in India and you will have to wait till mid-2021 for the next-gen car to arrive before you can buy an A3 in Inda.
Audi has already taken the A3 sedan off its Indian website as the BS6 norms became effective and to buy a new A3, you will have to wait until the next-gen sedan arrives in India. Audi has now introduced the next-gen A3 sedan internationally and you can finally lay your eyes on what the new A3 is going to look like in India. Its launch in India is still sometime away though, only expected by mid-2021.
In terms of styling, the new Audi A3 looks much sleeker, sharper and more coupe-like than its predecessor. It’s also longer, taller, and wider than before which will also open up more space on the inside as well. The new A3 sits on an updated MQB platform that also underpins the likes of the Volkswagen Golf. The new platform is lighter and yet more rigid than the one it replaces.
The headlamp unit has digital DRLs that’s made up of 15 individual LEDs and some trims even have individual light signatures to set them apart. The bumpers and the entire bodywork in general is much more chiseled and more contoured that before and it really gives the car a sporty stance. The new A3 also has better aerodynamic with a drag co-efficient of 0.25, thanks a higher rear end and a larger diffuser. There’s also a controllable cooling air-inlet with two electrically actuated louvre modules behind the grille that regulates the flow of air.
Under the hood, the standout engine for the new A3 is a 150hp 1.5L TFSI engine with a 48V mild-hybrid technology. This engine comes paired only to Audi’s S Tronic 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The mild-hybrid technology helps recover up to 16bhp during deceleration and assists the engine with 50Nm of extra torque when driving off. It can also coast with its engine off for up to 40 seconds and that improves fuel efficiency by 10%.
Other than that, the other two engine options at launch will be the 1.4L, four-cylinder, 35 TFSI engine with 150hp and it will come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. There will also be a 2.0L TDI diesel engine with 150hp, mated to the 7-speed S Tronic gearbox. At a later stage, there will also be a 115hp, 2.0L TDI diesel engine and a 110hp, 1.0L 30 TFSI three-cylinder petrol engine as well. The 1.0L petrol engine will also come a 48V mild-hybrid system along with a dual-clutch gearbox. Further down the line, Audi will also introduce two plug-in hybrid variants as well.
Audi claims the new sedan has been tuned to be sporty and “a touch more precise” than the first-generation model. This is largely attributed to a new, centralised dynamic handling system that ensures optimal interaction between all components. Audi will also give you the option of a sports suspension along with one with adaptive dampers as well that should provide a good balance between a highly comfortable roll motion and agile handling.
The biggest change for the new A3 is however on the interiors. There is a lot less use of physical buttons and the rotary controller on the center console is also gone. In the dual-clutch gearbox variants, there’s a tiny little shifter sitting around a gloss black surround, much like the new Porsche 911s. There’s also a new sensory volume controller on the center console that reacts to circular finger movements.
Also Read : This Modified Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is the Pickup Truck of Your Dreams!
As for the instrumentation, there’s a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster along with a 10.1-inch infotainment screen that’s slightly tilted towards the driver. The climate control unit is new as well and uses buttons in place of rotary dials in the old car. The MMI infotainment system is now in its third generation and promises 10 times more computing power than its predecessor with improved natural voice control as well. The system is also compatible with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Alexa.
Also Read : Which 8 Cars Will Be Launched As Soon As The Lockdown Is Over?
When the next-gen Audi A3 arrives in India next year, it will compete with the likes of the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe and the Mercedes A-Class sedan that’s also arriving by the end of this year. However, it you are looking to buy an A3 right away, you can’t do so as Audi has now discontinued the previous generation A3 sedan and Cabriolet in India. The wait sure is long, but one that promises to be worth it.
