Photo: CarPix
Only a day after we saw the A3 Sedan facelift for the first time, we now have the A3 Cabriolet in our crosshairs. It was the last A3 body style to be introduced, yet it's being tested ahead of the hatch.
The sedan and rag-top share their wheelbase, but the prototypes are different in many ways. For example, the A3 Cabriolet seems to be equipped with a 1.8-liter TFSI engine, judging from the dual exhaust system with chrome tips and a simple muffler underneath.
According to our insider intel, the 1.8 turbo will get a power bump from 180 to 190 PS. Torque will also go up from 280 to 320 Nm (with the manual gearbox). More importantly, the four-cylinder unit will become more efficient by switching its two middle cylinders off under light loads.
The A3 Cabriolet also has a different front end design, added side skirts and a rear diffuser, all of which were not present on the A3 sedan prototype. This could signal one of two things.
Firstly, we could be looking at the next S line kit, which is unlikely considering the straight lines resemble the RS3, not the S3. Secondly, the A3 might get more equipment lines to mirror what Mercedes is doing. The A1 facelift jumped the gun with things like the Urban line and the Active Style Package.
Again, this isn't something to write home about, but the A3 will get more color options. It's all part of Audi's effort to pretend to offer individuality when all its customers actually want is black and gray.
Once again, the A3 prototype doesn't have new taillights but offers the same headlight design as the all-new A4. We don't like it, but Audi is known for making everything look the same.
If you include every engine, every gearbox, body style, AWD option and trim piece, there are probably a hundred versions of the A3. Yet all signs point towards a debut in 2016 for this facelift. Hopefully, they will also work out all the hacks and tricks from the TDI engines by then.
According to our insider intel, the 1.8 turbo will get a power bump from 180 to 190 PS. Torque will also go up from 280 to 320 Nm (with the manual gearbox). More importantly, the four-cylinder unit will become more efficient by switching its two middle cylinders off under light loads.
The A3 Cabriolet also has a different front end design, added side skirts and a rear diffuser, all of which were not present on the A3 sedan prototype. This could signal one of two things.
Firstly, we could be looking at the next S line kit, which is unlikely considering the straight lines resemble the RS3, not the S3. Secondly, the A3 might get more equipment lines to mirror what Mercedes is doing. The A1 facelift jumped the gun with things like the Urban line and the Active Style Package.
Again, this isn't something to write home about, but the A3 will get more color options. It's all part of Audi's effort to pretend to offer individuality when all its customers actually want is black and gray.
Once again, the A3 prototype doesn't have new taillights but offers the same headlight design as the all-new A4. We don't like it, but Audi is known for making everything look the same.
If you include every engine, every gearbox, body style, AWD option and trim piece, there are probably a hundred versions of the A3. Yet all signs point towards a debut in 2016 for this facelift. Hopefully, they will also work out all the hacks and tricks from the TDI engines by then.
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