A3/S3/RS3 [Official] 2014 Audi A3/S3 Sedan

[JHF]

2015 Audi A3 1.8T
Sort of like a Mercedes CLA250, but better.

From the November 2014 Issue of Car and Driver

So, you’ve survived your harebrained youth. It wasn’t easy, what with Woodstock ’94 and all. Now, settled into a bungalow in the ’burbs, you bid farewell to slammed hatchbacks, red brake calipers, and flagrant GT badges. What didn’t change is your quest for roads to nowhere and rapture at the wheel. Who says that kids’ braces and funding an IRA mean that you have to be dead inside?

Not Audi. Several months ago, the new A3 2.0T Quattro thumped its arch rivals, the BMW 228i and the Mercedes-Benz CLA250 4MATIC, in our out-west comparison test. Audi’s smallest sedan won by a fair margin, providing the best combo of creature comforts, performance, and driving enjoyment. But can sports-sedan salvation be had without spending for the bigger engine? To find out, we tested the more humble A3 1.8T, which starts at $30,795, or $3000 less than the 2.0T Quattro.


All A3s share fundamentals with VW Golfs, including the GTI, which means that agile handling, precise steering, and efficient construction are part of the deal. Compared with its five-door predecessor, the new A3 is larger in every dimension except height, yet is 100 pounds lighter model to model. A convertible, a hot S3 sedan, a turbo-diesel, and a gas-electric hybrid will soon join the throng.

Notching down from the 2.0T to the 1.8T sacrifices a significant 50 horsepower, 58 pound-feet of torque, and Audi’s vaunted four-wheel-drive system. But dash strokers won’t be disappointed with its magnificent air vents, leather trim, huge sunroof, and 10-speaker audio system—all of which are standard in both A3s. While a manual transmission is no longer available, sticky Continental SportContact 2 tires and 18-inch wheels are an $800 alternative to the standard 17-inch package.

Turbo lag is not an issue, but the 1.8T is still more than a second slower to 60 (6.5 seconds) and through the quarter-mile (15.2 seconds) than its beefier brother. The good news is that it’s 200 pounds lighter and governed to the same 129-mph top speed. Stopping from 70 mph took an additional six feet in the 1.8T, and it circled the skidpad at an impressive 0.92 g, within a sniff of the four-wheel-drive model’s 0.94 g. Contradicting the larger-engined version’s 1-mpg advantage in EPA city ratings, we logged 28 mpg in the 1.8T, 7 mpg more than in the 2.0T.

While Northerners will miss the 2.0T’s extra launch traction every February, the 1.8T is eminently capable on dry pavement. Its front wheels are certainly up to the task of providing both propulsion and guidance—the electrically assisted steering is crisp and quick, the damping never goes nasty, and the tires bite the pavement like a Gila monster does roadkill. Audi is to front-drive handling what BMW used to be to rear-drive prowess.

We’d be remiss not to mention that VW’s GTI is quicker, roomier, more fuel efficient, and thousands of dollars less expensive. But remember, you’ve moved to a respectable ZIP code and said goodbye to that blessed box. The A3’s suave wrapper and more-luxurious furnishings provide good cover for driving dynamics that are still impetuous in the extreme.

SPECIFICATIONS
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED: $36,645 (base price: $30,795)

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, port and direct fuel injection

Displacement: 110 cu in, 1798 cc
Power: 170 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 200 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 103.8 in
Length: 175.4 in
Width: 77.2 in Height: 55.7 in
Curb weight: 3169 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.5 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 18.7 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 7.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.2 sec @ 91 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 129 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 162 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.92 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 23/33 mpg
C/D observed: 28 mpg

View attachment 85b41ccb2e8efbbbaedab96a64b87936.jpgTEST NOTES: With stability control disabled, there's excellent cornering stick and only mild understeer. Summer tires deserve much of the credit.


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-audi-a3-18t-test-review

 

[martinbo]

Of course it's better than a CLA - just look at it for starters...

 

[JHF]

Audi Exclusive Java Green S3

 

[JHF]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[JHF]

Audi Exclusive S3 Sedan in Nogaro Blue Lands in Texas

 

[JHF]

Audi A3 Sedan style package at Wörthersee 2015

Audi Genuine Accessories allows customers to personalize their car – matching it to their own needs and personal taste. The portfolio ranges from practical solutions like roof boxes or bicycle racks to unusual details like a light projection when opening the car door.

The style package for the A3 family includes attention-grabbing features. These start with side sills, rear diffuser and rear apron – all available in brilliant black, or by request, in the color of the car. Added to this are a roof edge spoiler and exterior mirrors made from carbon.

Another product from Audi Genuine Accessories shows distinctive style even as you enter the car. With this eye-catching feature, the quattro logo is projected on the ground by LEDs when the door is opened.

 

[JHF]

Audi of America Confirms Super Limited S3 exclusive edition in Five Colors

As part of its ongoing efforts to use Ingolstadt’s in house tailors Audi exclusive to build micro batches of incredibly cool cars, Audi of America has revealed the details of the new S3 exclusive edition. Given the spec and the basis on one of Audi’s hottest models, we suspect enthusiasts will be most interested.

Five and five is the take away here. There are just five examples of five different configurations being built, for a total of just 25 cars across the entire U.S. dealer network. As you might expect given the Audi exclusive tie-in, the most obvious differentiation on these cars will be based on exterior color. In as much, the five colors will be Vegas Yellow, Viper Green, Glut Orange, Sepang Blue and Misano Red.

The tailoring however does not end with just paint. Each car gets an interior with Fine Nappa Leather Package upgrade, including contrast stitching, Audi exclusive inlays in body color, Audi exclusive extended leather package with contrast stitching including covered door armrests and knee pads, Audi exclusive leather controls with contrast stitching including steering wheel and gear shift. Each will be built to Prestige Package equipment levels, and included S Sport seats and 19-inch Performance Package.

Those intimate with the Audi S3’s factory available colors likely have already identified that two of the colors, Sepang Blue and Misano Red, are already available while Vegas Yellow, Viper Green and Glut Orange are outside of normal availability. As you might expect, there will be a price differential between the ten cars with standard colors like blue and red, while the custom paint exteriors of yellow, green and orange will cost a bit more.

Pricing provided to us is as follows. The 10 cars painted in either Misano Red (5 each) or Sepang Blue (5 each) will have a price of $57,250. The 15 cars painted in either Vegas Yellow (5 each), Viper Green (5 each) or Glut Orange (5 each) will have a price of $59,900.

Editor’s Note: Given the very limited numbers of each color, we’re still trying to work out how those interested in a particular car can learn about availability. At this point, we’re not positive of where each car will end up. We’ll post an update as soon as we get that. In the meantime, should you be a dealership and have one of these turn up unsold in your inventory, let us know and we’ll try to get that out there so buyers interested in that car can make contact with you. We’ll post updates both in this blog post and also in the discussion forum linked below.

 

[empower77]

lol, 60K for this thing???? no thanks!

 

[Centurion]

Those are some pretty darn fun colours that out of which some worked beautifully on the B5 and B6 RS4. On the S3 which is tight in size, they are perfect, but the price is outrageous for such a small car and in a country which loves big cars, I think Audi dealers will have to drug people in order to get a sale.

 

[JHF]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Donnalee]

I've really fallen I love with he sepang blue S3. It looks amazing and for a 4 door sedan it's faster than anything south of 50k and will give many more hp similar cars a run for their money.

 

[Centurion]

What a lovely car. It has the proportions of the B7 RS4.

 

[donkeykong]

What a lovely car. It has the proportions of the B7 RS4.

Speaking of the RS,where the hell is the RS3 sedan?

 

[maragulon]

Speaking of the RS,where the hell is the RS3 sedan?

For me it is a RS3 sedan.

 

[donkeykong]

For me it is a RS3 sedan.

Thank you, If real then yes,I was imagining the club sport Quattro concept bumper all along. I'll reserve judgement till I see better picks.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

For me it is a RS3 sedan.

That has the cut out at the bottom of the headlights like the A4. So if that's a leaked image of the RS 3 sedan, then it looks like it's coming with the facelift. Maybe Geneva or New York at the end of March?

 

[JHF]

RS3 Sedan it is.

 

[maragulon]

That has the cut out at the bottom of the headlights like the A4. So if that's a leaked image of the RS 3 sedan, then it looks like it's coming with the facelift. Maybe Geneva or New York at the end of March?

And A3 will look at front like A4. Someone copied Merc

 

[Monster]

Just when you think Audi has given the new A4 one identifiable feature, it wacks those headlights on the face of the A3.

 

[lukeswiss]

That has the cut out at the bottom of the headlights like the A4. So if that's a leaked image of the RS 3 sedan, then it looks like it's coming with the facelift. Maybe Geneva or New York at the end of March?

Ä friend from Audi just said the facelift will be at Geneva....