A3/S3/RS3 [Renders] 2018 Audi A3 gen 4
- Thread starter tristatez28lt1
- Start date
The Audi A3 is a small family car (C-segment) manufactured and marketed by Audi AG since September 1996. The first two generations of the Audi A3 were based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, while the third and fourth generations use the Volkswagen Group MQB platform.
tristatez28lt1
Tire Trailblazer
AMuS is reporting that there will be a Sportback variant:
A3 Sportback
A3
A3 Sportback
A3
There already is a Sportback variant. That's what they call the current A3 five-door.
tristatez28lt1
Tire Trailblazer
More info from Auto Zeitung:
- They also confirm the Sportback
- 3 door variant will be eliminated due to lack of demand
- it will stay the same size exterior wise
- start: 115 PS 1L 3 cylinder turbo
- RS3 confirmed with 415 hp (evolution of the current 5 cylinder turbo)
- They also confirm the Sportback
- 3 door variant will be eliminated due to lack of demand
- it will stay the same size exterior wise
- start: 115 PS 1L 3 cylinder turbo
- RS3 confirmed with 415 hp (evolution of the current 5 cylinder turbo)
tristatez28lt1
Tire Trailblazer
Only news to report is that the new A3 will use the MQB+ platform. It’s a new generation of MQB and different enough (or marketing said to do it) to give it a new name.
klier
Premium
Except the A3 sportback has always been a ridiculous looking small estate.
SCOTT27
Lap Time Luminary
I know I have been in situations where others say maybe call it an Avant but they react and try to justify why Sportback. Which when you think of it A3 is neither.
KiwiRob
Autotechnik Ace
It’s not a small estate, it’s a hatchback, the Sportback A1 is no estate either, so imo sportback is Audispeak for 5 door hatch.
klier
Premium
Yes it is. I don’t care what Audi or you calls it.
Sportback is an utterly meaningless term. So meaningless that they manage to call two very different car types both sportback; A3 and A5, maybe even that A7 thing too..
But all the power to you if you want to parrot Audi marketing talk.
bialkov
Subscriber
Audi‘s next-generation A3 Sportback is expected to arrive sometime next year, followed by the four-door sedan version in 2020. The fact that the three-door body was getting ditched is pretty much all we knew about Ingolstadt’s upcoming Mercedes A-Class rival.
Thankfully, that changes effective immediately because of these spy images. While this all-new A3 prototype is extremely well camouflaged, a close inspection of the exterior reveals quite a few interesting nuggets.
The main one, of course is the fact that it features a quad-exhaust setup, which as you know, has so far been intended only for the S3 models. We reckon that the only reason why this doesn’t look as beefy as an S3 is because Audi “neglected” to strap on sportier body parts such as the chunky rear diffuser or the larger wheels.
There is indeed an aggressive front spoiler hiding underneath the camo, although those can be had on S Line models too. Bottom line, this is likely the 2020 Audi S3.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
Words to live by, especially if you’re an Audi A3 designer. It wouldn’t be overstating it to say that the next-gen A3/S3 Sportback is going to look quite a lot like the current model.
See what we mean? Nearly identical form factor, window line and side mirrors. And yet, you also don’t need to use too much imagination in order to see what’s changed. For starters, the roofline slopes downwards towards the rear, more so than on the current A3 Sportback.
Then there’s the shoulder line which is a little bit straighter than before. There also seems to be less of an indent in the profile design, pointing to more of a flush exterior aesthetic, similar to what Mercedes have done with their latest A-Class.
Put two and two together and we can say we’re looking at a slightly more stylish design for the A3 Sportback, which should definitely help it in its fight against its direct rivals..
Then there’s the tech
There’s little chance Audi won’t strap as much advanced technology as possible to the next-gen A3 Sportback, or at least enough so that it emerges as a segment leader. To that extent, safety, convenience and connectivity systems currently found on the likes of the A7 or A8 could trickle down to the A3.
As for what the overall design of the dashboard might look like, that’s still a big question mark. Right now, all we can see is the semblance of an Audi A7 steering wheel – judging by its bottom dual-spoke design.
Are we getting a full electric version?
This is another big question that needs answering. We know to expect a wide range of petrol and diesel units, however, it’s the e-tron version that might turn out to be the most interesting one. Realistically speaking though, it might be too soon for a fully-electric compact hatchback, which means a hybrid is more likely, at least in the coming years.
Then there’s the S3 version, which will probably put down a little bit more than the current model’s 310 PS (305 HP). Same goes for the RS3 – expect more than 400 PS (394 HP).
When can I order one?
Best case scenario, sometime next year, as long as you’re happy with the 5-door Sportback styling. Once the new A3 does go on sale, it will have to battle the likes of the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1-Series, as well as Volvo’s next-generation V40 hatchback, currently under development.
carscoops
Thankfully, that changes effective immediately because of these spy images. While this all-new A3 prototype is extremely well camouflaged, a close inspection of the exterior reveals quite a few interesting nuggets.
The main one, of course is the fact that it features a quad-exhaust setup, which as you know, has so far been intended only for the S3 models. We reckon that the only reason why this doesn’t look as beefy as an S3 is because Audi “neglected” to strap on sportier body parts such as the chunky rear diffuser or the larger wheels.
There is indeed an aggressive front spoiler hiding underneath the camo, although those can be had on S Line models too. Bottom line, this is likely the 2020 Audi S3.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
Words to live by, especially if you’re an Audi A3 designer. It wouldn’t be overstating it to say that the next-gen A3/S3 Sportback is going to look quite a lot like the current model.
See what we mean? Nearly identical form factor, window line and side mirrors. And yet, you also don’t need to use too much imagination in order to see what’s changed. For starters, the roofline slopes downwards towards the rear, more so than on the current A3 Sportback.
Then there’s the shoulder line which is a little bit straighter than before. There also seems to be less of an indent in the profile design, pointing to more of a flush exterior aesthetic, similar to what Mercedes have done with their latest A-Class.
Put two and two together and we can say we’re looking at a slightly more stylish design for the A3 Sportback, which should definitely help it in its fight against its direct rivals..
Then there’s the tech
There’s little chance Audi won’t strap as much advanced technology as possible to the next-gen A3 Sportback, or at least enough so that it emerges as a segment leader. To that extent, safety, convenience and connectivity systems currently found on the likes of the A7 or A8 could trickle down to the A3.
As for what the overall design of the dashboard might look like, that’s still a big question mark. Right now, all we can see is the semblance of an Audi A7 steering wheel – judging by its bottom dual-spoke design.
Are we getting a full electric version?
This is another big question that needs answering. We know to expect a wide range of petrol and diesel units, however, it’s the e-tron version that might turn out to be the most interesting one. Realistically speaking though, it might be too soon for a fully-electric compact hatchback, which means a hybrid is more likely, at least in the coming years.
Then there’s the S3 version, which will probably put down a little bit more than the current model’s 310 PS (305 HP). Same goes for the RS3 – expect more than 400 PS (394 HP).
When can I order one?
Best case scenario, sometime next year, as long as you’re happy with the 5-door Sportback styling. Once the new A3 does go on sale, it will have to battle the likes of the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1-Series, as well as Volvo’s next-generation V40 hatchback, currently under development.
carscoops
Mr. Mercedes
Premium
Lights look overly large, but the proportions look spot on.
CrunchSlaughtered
RPM Ruler
I wonder how BMW expects to beat this with their FWD 1er. The A3 seems to be better in everything.
klier
Premium
What are you talking about? Noone has driven the new 1er.
SKY
Kraftwagen König
If there is something VAG has mastered is the FWD platform. This not only seems to have better proportions than the new 1er, but also the brand new A-Class.
Can't wait for the new Golf.
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Audi
Audi AG is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles
headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. A subsidiary of the
Volkswagen Group, the company’s origins date back to the early 20th
century and the initial enterprises (Horch and the Audiwerke) founded
by engineer August Horch (1868–1951). Two other manufacturers (DKW
and Wanderer) also contributed to the foundation of Auto Union in 1932.
The modern Audi era began in the 1960s, when Volkswagen acquired Auto
Union from Daimler-Benz, and merged it with NSU Motorenwerke in 1969.
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
