The facelifted Audi A3 range has been launched in South Africa, combining fresh technology, new engines and subtly updated styling.
As before, the updated A3 is available as a three-door hatchback, five-door Sportback, sedan and cabriolet. Refreshed versions of the S3 are also on offer, while the RS3 Sedan and RS3 Sportback will be added to the local range in 2017.
Besides the updated styling – which includes the likes of new headlight and taillight designs, a fresh front bumper, a redesigned grille and a reshaped rear diffuser – the latest A3 is also now available with LED and Matrix LED headlights, which offer nifty dynamic turn signals.
The new engine range includes five powerplants, with outputs ranging from 85 kW to 228 kW.
New to the line-up is the 1,0 TFSI, the first three-cylinder engine to be offered in the Audi A3 range. This little mill makes 85 kW and 200 N.m, with Audi claiming a consumption figure of 4,5 L/100 km. It propels the front-wheel-drive A3 from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 9,7 seconds.
Then there’s the new 1,4 TFSI engine, which boasts cylinder-on-demand technology, switching off two cylinders when extra power is not required. Outputs stand at 110 kW and 250 N.m, with claimed consumption mirroring that of the 1,0-litre mill.
Meanwhile, a newly developed 2,0 TFSI is worth 140 kW and 320 N.m. The sprint to three figures takes a claimed 6,7 seconds, before puff runs out at 244 km/h. This engine is mated to a new seven-speed (wet) dual-clutch transmission.
A 2,0-litre four-cylinder TDI engine making 105 kW and 340 N.m will also be offered, married exclusively to the S tronic transmission. Again, claimed fuel consumption comes in at 4,5 L/100 km.
The S3, meanwhile, now has an additional 18 kW and 20 N.m for a total of 228 kW and 400 N.m. Mated to the new seven-speed transmission, claimed consumption falls to 6,4 L/100 km. The dash to three figures takes 4,5 seconds in the hatch, 4,6 seconds in the Sportback and the Sedan, and 5,1 seconds in the cabriolet.
Inside, Audi’s nifty Virtual Cockpit can now be optionally specified, which adds a 12,3-inch TFT screen to the equation.
Pricing:
Audi A3 1,0T FSI: R391 000
Audi A3 1,0T FSI S tronic: R409 500
Audi A3 1,4T FSI: R412 000
Audi A3 1,4T FSI S tronic: R430 500
Audi A3 2,0 TDI S tronic: R481 500
Audi A3 2,0T FSI: R429 500
Audi A3 2,0T FSI S tronic: R448 000
Audi S3 quattro S tronic: R638 500
Audi A3 Sportback 1,0T FSI: R398 500
Audi A3 Sportback 1,0T FSI S tronic: R417 000
Audi A3 Sportback 1,4T FSI: R419 500
Audi A3 Sportback 1,4T FSI S tronic: R438 000
Audi A3 Sportback 2,0 TDI S tronic: R489 000
Audi A3 Sportback 2,0T FSI: R437 000
Audi A3 Sportback 2,0T FSI S tronic: R455 500
Audi S3 Sportback quattro S tronic: R646 000
Audi A3 Sedan 1,0T FSI: R408 500
Audi A3 Sedan 1,0T FSI S tronic: R427 000
Audi A3 Sedan 1,4T FSI: R429 500
Audi A3 Sedan 1,4T FSI S tronic: R448 000
Audi A3 Sedan 2,0 TDI S tronic: R499 000
Audi A3 Sedan 2,0T FSI: R447 000
Audi A3 Sedan 2,0T FSI S tronic: R465 500
Audi S3 Sedan quattro S tronic: R656 000
Audi A3 Cabriolet 2,0T FSI S tronic: R566 500
Audi S3 Cabriolet quattro S tronic: R758 000
