Photo: Audi
Audi has finally taken the vail off the most important car they've made in a very long time. The very first A3 Sedan was first revealed a couple of years ago as a concept and is finally reaching production as a very well design but quite sober car.
First, let's analyze the dimensions of the car fist. The A3 Sedan is built on the same platform as the regular A3, but it's also grown in size a little bit. Form bumper to bumper, it measures 4.46 meters (14.63 ft), and rides on an elongated 2.64-meter (8.66 ft) wheelbase. It's also ever so slightly wider than an A3 Sportback, by about one centimeter, but it's not something you'd notice.
Another things you won't immediately notice is that the design is ever so slightly different to that of the hatchback. But once again, Audi have done a brilliant job of making a car you'll like but which will never get you notices.
Something else you might like about the most affordable four-ringed, four-door car on the market is the engines on offer. The basic engine is the 1.4-liter TFSI producing 140 PS (138 HP). Not to be confused with the old 122 PS unit, this one is basically even more efficient than a 1.2 TSI because it's been fitted with COD (cylinder on demand). Under light loads, it shuts down two cylinders, which means combined fuel consumption is as low as 4.7 l/100 km (50.05 US mpg). This will take the A3 Sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds and offers a top speed of 217 km/h (134.84 mph).
There's an even more powerful petrol engine available with this car, the 1.8 TFSI with 180 PS (177 HP) and (184 lb-ft). This makes the car a bit faster and thirstier – 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.3 seconds and average fuel consumption is 5.6 l/100 km (42 mpg US).
The smart man's choice with any small Audi has always been the 2-liter diesel. When it goes on sale in Europe later this year, the A3 Sedan will also be available with 2.0 TDI producing 150 PS (148 hp) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. The acceleration ( 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7s) might seem a bit lazy, but fuel consumption of 4.1 liters/100 km (57.37 mpg US) pretty much speaks for itself.
We think these are only the most desirable engines used to make the car look cool at launch. There's a good chance that the 1.2 TSI 105 PS or the 1.4 TFSI 122 PS will become available later on, together maybe with the 1.6 TDI.
Another things you won't immediately notice is that the design is ever so slightly different to that of the hatchback. But once again, Audi have done a brilliant job of making a car you'll like but which will never get you notices.
Something else you might like about the most affordable four-ringed, four-door car on the market is the engines on offer. The basic engine is the 1.4-liter TFSI producing 140 PS (138 HP). Not to be confused with the old 122 PS unit, this one is basically even more efficient than a 1.2 TSI because it's been fitted with COD (cylinder on demand). Under light loads, it shuts down two cylinders, which means combined fuel consumption is as low as 4.7 l/100 km (50.05 US mpg). This will take the A3 Sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds and offers a top speed of 217 km/h (134.84 mph).
There's an even more powerful petrol engine available with this car, the 1.8 TFSI with 180 PS (177 HP) and (184 lb-ft). This makes the car a bit faster and thirstier – 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.3 seconds and average fuel consumption is 5.6 l/100 km (42 mpg US).
The smart man's choice with any small Audi has always been the 2-liter diesel. When it goes on sale in Europe later this year, the A3 Sedan will also be available with 2.0 TDI producing 150 PS (148 hp) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. The acceleration ( 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7s) might seem a bit lazy, but fuel consumption of 4.1 liters/100 km (57.37 mpg US) pretty much speaks for itself.
We think these are only the most desirable engines used to make the car look cool at launch. There's a good chance that the 1.2 TSI 105 PS or the 1.4 TFSI 122 PS will become available later on, together maybe with the 1.6 TDI.
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