Autogyaan: Audi A3 & S3 Revealed
Audi has brought excitement to the New York Auto Show by unveiling the 2014 A3 at the New York Auto Show on press eve. Directly competing with Mercedes Benz’s new CLA sedan, the new A3 reminds us a lot of the first generation A4 of the mid-nineties in size.
The Audi A3 will go on sale in Europe before the United States and will offer 3 four-cylinder engines on launch; 138bhp 1.4 TFSI and 178bhp 1.8 TFSI petrols, and a 148bhp 2.0 TDI diesel. It will not go on sale in the US until 2015 and will make its official world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show next month.
The A3 features very typical Audi styling. Full LED headlamps as well as a number of subtle enhancements are optional to try and keep the base price reasonable. Wheels will range from 16-inches to 18-inches to help maintain the sporty look and premium placement of the small sedan. The interior offers everything one could realistically need, including a driver display system utilising 3D graphics, a revised MMI system and a 705 watt, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Audi also announced the 2014 S3 sedan, also to be officially unveiled at Shanghai next month. Powered by a potent 2.0-liter TFSI engine producing 296bhp, the sedan should reach 100km/h in 4.7 seconds with the six-speed S-tronic gearbox. Quattro-all wheel drive is standard on the American S3, as are 18-inch wheels, full leather interiors and the three-spoke sport steering wheel with shift paddles.
The Audi A3/S3 are a whole 6.7 inches shorter than the Mercedes Benz CLA/CLA 45AMG. With public opinion still divided when it comes to the traditional rivals’ hotly awaited cars, expect this battle to go down to the wire.
