A3/S3/RS3 Officially official: 2013 Audi A3

[AudiQuattro]

Minor comment but the supporting barackets for the parcel shelf look the same as before. I hope Audi have used a much stronger adhesive or better still used screws to secure them as this was notorious for breaking off. Not what you expect from a premium product. I had to glue one of mine back on. Hope money has been spent in the right places.

 

[AudiQuattro]

I'm more intersted in the sedan version and the cabriolet but this is still good, clean, professional sharp suited producted (for segment). Obviously evolutionary but still good.

 

[Deckhook]

I think we are all impressed by the "Modularer Querbaukasten"/ MQB platform from VAG. More aluminium in the suspension, together with other lightweight tech, will certainly have a positive effect for all brands in the group - especially the new A3 and upcoming Golf.

As usual we will read and experience this tech through testers and motoring magazines. If people don't realize the BMW F20 they drive is RWD, non of the MQB tech will ad to sales volumes of any VAG product build on this new platform.....F-ken sad isn't it!

Only we/us here can appreciate tech i.e. MQB

The reality is that until pushed close to the limit it's not that easy to tell whether a car is fwd, awd or rwd because steering feel is now devoid from all of them and if DSC/ESP is left on then it's assistance steals any additional ability to tell which is which.

From a purely personal opinion I believe this sector of car doesn't need rwd, it's all about packaging and interior space, two things that aren't benefitted by having rwd so I don't believe very many potential customers will be won over by the 1 series including this but they most definitely will be turned away by it's looks. BMW really did do the rest a great big favour when they penned the 1.

 

[deity]

Rear and side profile are excellent. Front is quite nice as well, 8.5/10

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

What is it?

Everything the 1 series isn't, that's what it is.

It's everything the 1 series should of been.

 

[Levi68]

Tell the differences !

 

[Zafiro]

BMW really did do the rest a great big favour when they penned the 1.

Even if it was the prettiest car in the world, Golf and A3 would still sell better. Always had and always will, no matter what. BMW can hope to sell better than previous version but sales leader they never be in this segment.

 

[Deckhook]

Even if it was the prettiest car in the world, Golf and A3 would still sell better. Always had and always will, no matter what. BMW can hope to sell better than previous version but sales leader they never be in this segment.

And why do you think this is?


@Levi, do you disagree with a strong brand similarity?

 

[Zafiro]

And why do you think this is?

Better history, better tradition, better prices, better interior space etc etc etc

 

[Levi68]

Even if it was the prettiest car in the world, Golf and A3 would still sell better. Always had and always will, no matter what. BMW can hope to sell better than previous version but sales leader they never be in this segment.

It won't be so anymore. BMW has understood that the 1 Series MUST be FWD as the A3 and A Class. And we know BMW can also build good FWD cars (MINI), not better than Honda however.

 

[Tumbo]

Don't get me started on the rear difference between the 3er, 5er and the 7er... Cause I still cant see any difference.

Its just the way the car brands are today... They play to safe... :/

PS. The A6 is on another level then the others. Especially the front.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

You know a car is a bit of a snoozfest when it's only got a 4 page thread of not much after 24 hours.

 

[Tumbo]

You know a car is a bit of a snoozfest when it's only got a 4 page thread of not much after 24 hours.

We already knew what it would look like, and if I remember correctly the interior thread had over 150 posts, and the 1st official pic had also quite some posts. Plus, not many pics have been released. Snoozfest? Dont think so.

 

[Centurion]

No arguments from me that the RWD 1 series is better to drive than the front wheel drive A3 though. You do however have the option of AWD.... of course RWD is just fun.

RWD used to be head and shoulders above FWD in driving dynamics but that was ten years ago. Today certain FWD are able to deliver enjoyable experiences too and the acclaimed driving experience recent Audi models is a testament. Where the A3 will be strong is in the drive train category. Depending on engine choice, transmission and wheel drive configuration the A3 will be as easy to customise as a 911.

 

[AudiQuattro]

Looking at the spy pics from of A class from a photo shoot I think the A Class will be the car of choice for many. It would definitely be a choice between A3 and A Class anyway for me. The fugly 1er would not even get through the screening process.

Want to see an Sline version in black!

 

[Levi68]

Don't get me started on the rear difference between the 3er, 5er and the 7er... Cause I still cant see any difference.

Its just the way the car brands are today... They play to safe... :/

PS. The A6 is on another level then the others. Especially the front.

So you have to see a doc if you can't distinguish these.

 

[EnI]

^

Yes, they are identical. LOL

 

[Gianclaudio]

VAG's design studio is quite possible the laziest on earth. Even the Aventador doesn't look that different from the Reventon/Murcielago

 

[Deckhook]

I think the point Tumbo and Klier are making is brand image has got to the point where is extremely difficult to easily tell models apart, with BMW it's the lights and grille which looks identical and when combined this the similar overall shape it's trick to tell which is which at a glance. With Audi is the shape basic shape and grille that's identical and on the lights which are difference but equally trick to tell apart from a glance.

 

[martinbo]

Gee-wiz folks, could we be more unrealistic and unreasonable about Audi's current design language? Can one really criticise Audi for having an established and homogenous frontal DRG (that's "Down-the-Road-Graphic for the newbs) for the face of its cars? I mean, it's so unmistakeably Audi in the same way that BMW's is unmistakeable as being BMW. The difference is in that whilst the Audi frontal persona is largely inoffensive, the good looking 3er and 5er are bookended by the still uncomfortably ugly 1er and the over-grilled (and I'm not talking about steak) 7er.

People want to buy Audis - they're selling well - because they identify with the brand and they want their choice of marque to be commensurately identifiable. The one thing that we can't criticise the three Teutonic mega-makers of is that they lack brand identity or that there are styling overlaps/similarities between them. Each goes their own way (to lesser or greater success model for model) and collectively at least they should be lauded for this.

The A3 is the Anti-1er and, for those BMW fans with short memories, the progenitor of the premium-class hatchback concept. The only rational reason why anyone should choose the 1er over the A3 is because of RWD. It's a very specific want and one that, sadly, many 1er customers will have zero understanding or appreciation of. This new A3 is crisp, clean and sharp without being overwrought; it's interior is simple yet smart with upmarket detailing. It's these attributes that give the new A3, once more, very broad appeal to all sorts of consumers. No, it won't appeal to EVO types (or should that be AdvEvo on this forum) but that's a very, very small market demographic.

In a nutshell, it's safe. And that's the best possible start for a new A3.