New Audi A3 sedan.
The second generation of the groundbreaking Audi A3 Sedan is approaching. The infotainment and driver assistance systems of the four-door compact sedan are now fully digitized and networked. Hidden under a sleek exterior, new drivetrains and well-tuned suspension deliver a dynamic experience and highly efficient handling. The new Audi A3 Limousine will hit the market in early summer 2020.
Audi A3 Limousine
The new Audi A3 limousine has a very sporty yet elegant appearance. Compared to its predecessor, the car is 4 cm longer (length: 4.5 m), although the wheelbase remains the same. The width of the car has increased by 2cm, to 1.82m, and the height by 1cm, to 1.43m. This has increased headroom by a good 2cm in front, where the driver's seat is lowered - and on the sides. Trunk volume - 425 liters - exactly the same as the previous model.
Powerful and elegant: appearance
The front of the car is dominated by a large Singleframe grille with a honeycomb grille. On either side of it are characteristic headlights. Their outer edges form trapezoidal angles converging downwards. In the most extensive version, equipped with Matrix LED headlights, new digital daytime running lights are placed in these corners. The headlights consist of a pixel array of 15 LED segments that can be activated individually and give the individual versions of the A3 sedan a unique character.
In the Audi A3 Sportback, the body line, which runs through the sills and just in front of the rear wheel arch, rises towards the rear lights, emphasizing the car's short rear end. In the sedan, the side line reaches the rear bumper. This emphasizes the length of the car (the limousine is 15 cm longer than the Sportback) and gives the sides an elegant look. The concave surface below the shoulder line further emphasizes the sills and edges. In such places, you can observe the play of light and shadows on surfaces. The roofline from the B-pillar slopes dynamically down like a coupe, and ends with a spectacular spoiler lip on the tailgate. The spoiler, optionally available in carbon fiber, visually emphasizes the rear of the car and underlines the solid appearance of the four-door sedan.
streamlined body
The taller rear end and large diffuser significantly improve the car's aerodynamics compared to its predecessor. As a result, the new A3 Sedan with 110 kW (150 hp) 2.0 TDI engine achieves a Cd value of 0.25, which is 0.04 Cd better than the first generation of this model. This is also aided by an air intake with two electrically adjustable damper modules mounted just behind the Singleframe. They control the incoming air intelligently and as needed. In addition, the streamlining of the body and the reduction of air resistance are affected by: underbody covers, exterior rear-view mirrors with improved aerodynamics and active brake cooling.
Purposeful and digitized: cockpit
The cockpit of the new Audi A3 sedan is completely driver-oriented – both in terms of design and in terms of display and controls. The central instrument panel with central MMI touch screen is slightly turned towards the driver. The screen has a diagonal of 10.1 inches and its operation is very intuitive. The system comes standard with a handwriting recognition function and a common language voice control function that can optionally use data cloud capabilities. The instrument panel with a 10.25-inch screen, located behind the steering wheel within the direct line of sight of the driver, is already digital in the basic version. In the extended version of the Audi virtual cockpit plus, its screen size is 12.3 inches and can be selected from three views, including a sporty look with a dynamic design and slanted shapes. RPM and speed indicators are shown here as bar graphs with red graphics.
Connected: from infotainment systems to driver assistance systems
The highest version of the infotainment expansion in the new A3 Limousine is the MMI Navigation plus system built into the third generation modular infotainment platform MIB 3. MIB 3 has ten times more processing power than the previous generation platform, which means the car is connected to the network in the LTE Advanced standard and gives the driver and passengers the ability to connect to the Internet through the on-board Wi-Fi hotspot. MMI Navigation plus offers a wide range of Audi connect services as standard, including online traffic information, real-time information as well as photos, opening times and user reviews of selected points of interest.
An element of this range is also Car-to-X services, which use the so-called distributed intelligence of the Audi fleet. For vehicles equipped with the appropriate equipment, they provide information, for example, about dangerous places, speed limits or free parking spaces on the street. When the vehicle is stationary, you can transfer navigation data from the vehicle to the driver's smartphone using the myAudi app and thus continue route guidance after exiting the vehicle.
The Audi A3 Limousine can be connected to a smartphone via the Audi smartphone interface, which integrates iOS phones with Apple Car Play and Android phones with Android Auto (both included in the MMI, available depending on the country) or via the Audi phone box. The Audi phone booth also connects the smartphone to the car's antenna and can charge it inductively. The Audi A3 Limousine can also start the engine via an Android smartphone. This feature is called Audi connect key. Personalization of the system allows you to enter data relating to up to six people. In separate profiles, you can save, among other things, seat settings, favorite media and climate settings. The car is also equipped with a DAB+ digital radio as standard. As an option, Internet radio and hybrid radio can be ordered, which automatically switch between FM, DAB and Internet depending on signal strength, thus ensuring optimal radio reception.
Thanks to their close interaction with each other, driver assistance systems are extremely effective. For example: in Audi pre sense front, the camera in the rearview mirror works with the radar sensor in the front of the vehicle, thus preventing accidents or at least reducing their severity. The data obtained as a result of such cooperation is also used by the standard collision avoidance system. Adaptive cruise assistant ACA, which assists the driver in driving, is used directly in high-end cars. Performance Prediction Assistant, in turn, signals the driver when it makes sense to take your foot off the gas pedal. The assistant does this using data received from the navigation system. Departure warning, rear cross traffic assistance and 360° cameras complete the package of assistance systems useful in city traffic.
Three motors to start: drives
To begin with, the new Audi A3 sedan will be available with three powertrains: two with TFSI petrol engines and one with a TDI diesel engine. Their common feature is high efficiency. 35 TFSI - a 1.5-litre direct injection unit - delivers 110 kW (150 hp) and is available in two combinations: with a new six-speed manual transmission (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6, 3 - 5, 6; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 128-143) or with seven-speed S tronic (fuel consumption combined, l/100 km: 6.1-5.5; emissions CO2 in the combined cycle, g/km: 124–139).
The dual-clutch S tronic transmission version uses cylinder-on-demand COD technology and a 48-volt mild hybrid system. This system recuperates energy during braking, maintains the drive by adding 50 Nm of torque at start-up and acceleration from low revs, and in many situations allows the Audi A3 limousine to so-called floating with the engine off. This solution saves about 0.4 liters of fuel per 100 km in daily use of the vehicle.
The 110 kW (150 hp) 2.0 TDI engine (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 5.0 - 4.4; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 116-130) also works with the seven-speed S tronic, but here the switching takes place using Shift-by-Wire technology.
Comfortable and dynamic at the same time: suspension
The suspension of the new A3 sedan has been tuned to be sporty, while at the same time working harmoniously and even more precisely than on the previous model. Precision and responsiveness are largely due to the dynamic steering system, which ensures optimal interaction between all components related to lateral dynamics. An alternative to the standard suspension is the sports suspension and the suspension with adjustable damping. The latter guarantees a wide range of driving experiences, from very comfortable routes to dynamic and dynamic handling. The Audi drive select driving dynamics system also allows the driver to enjoy a variety of suspension experiences – from high comfort through dynamics to economical driving. This system also modifies, for example, the performance of the throttle and the progressive steering system, which differentiates the gear ratio depending on the steering angle.
Orders for the new Audi A3 Limousine will soon reach Four Rings dealerships. The first units of the new model should hit the roads in early summer.
Photo: Audi