Audi delivers a show-stopper with the A3 Concept.
Just three years since the last significant update, Audi showed up in Geneva with a new version of the compact A3. Well, not quite.
The coupe-like sedan drawing crowds at this week’s Geneva Motor Show is officially described as a “concept” vehicle, but it doesn’t take much of an effort to see what the next-generation A3 will look like when it goes into production.
The show car on display at Geneva’s PALExpo convention center has the requisite flash, some over-the-top lighting and the extensive use of carbon fiber accent pieces.
But the basic lines follow the mandate of Walter de’Silva, the persuasive styling chief for Volkswagen AG, who is adamant in his opposition to recent trends which seem to stress the over-use of sheet metal creases and folds. No, the new A3 is anything but slab-sided, but there is a simplicity in its elegance.
A peak inside the A3 Concept reveals jet-like air vents and a pop-up, 8-inch multimedia display.
Among the many bits of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, the grille’s frame wraps around aluminum louvers designed to accent the new A3’s width. The 4-door stretches just 14.6 feet, about the length of earlier-generation A4s, and measures 6 feet in width. But at barely 4.5 feet in height, the curvaceous roofline gives the new Audi A3 an almost sports car-like feel.
A long, 104-inch wheelbase provides an unexpectedly roomy interior despite the A3’s compact footprint. Horizontal lines and extensive use o aluminum trim strips form key design elements. In contrast are four jet-like air vents. An 8-inch multimedia display is user programmable, with the MMI interface mounted on the center tunnel console.
There's plenty of carbon fiber visible in this detail of the A3 Concept's nose.
The version debuting at the Geneva Motor Show is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five, which also appears under the hood of the RS3 Hatchback, also making its debut at this year’s show. The engine is mated to a 7-speed S tronic gearbox and drives all four wheels.
With 408 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque, Audi officials hinted the A3 will make its move from a standing start to 60 in just 4.1 seconds. Yet, the four-seat compact is expected to deliver around 26 mpg, the maker claims.
Look for the production version of the sedan to make an appearance in the months ahead.