Headlines News :
Home » » Paris Show 2012 Highlights: 2013 Audi A3 Sportback

Paris Show 2012 Highlights: 2013 Audi A3 Sportback

Written By Hourpost on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 | 5:44 AM

The five-door version of the Audi A3 – the Audi A3 Sportback – has been officially revealed at the Paris motor show.

At 4310mm long, the A3 Sportback is 73mm longer than the three-door Audi A3 that’s recently gone on sale in the UK. Its wheelbase, at 2636mm, is 35mm longer than the three-door’s, and 58mm longer than the current A3 Sportback.

The increased wheelbase results in “several more millimetres” of legroom for rear passengers, and Audi says there is room for three adults in the back of the A3 Sportback.

Boot space stands at 380 litres, which is 15 litres more than the three door and 10 litres more than the current car. With the rear seats folded down, capacity increases to 1220 litres. Both the three-door A3’s and the current A3 Sportback’s luggage capacity with the seats down is 1100 litres. One feature of the car is the option of LED down-lighting for the boot.

Thanks to a switch to Volkswagen Group’s new MQB platform, the A3 Sportback weighs up to 90kg less than its predecessor. Equipped with the 1.4 TFSI engine, the five-door weighs 30kg more than the equivalent three-door at 1205kg.

Styling wise, the biggest change from three-door A3 to five-door A3 Sportback is the addition of two rear doors. But the rear adopts a tailgate more akin to Audi’s Q models than its traditional hatchbacks.

The engine line-up at launch will mirror the three-door’s, meaning the A3 Sportback will initially be available with 1.4 TFSI and 1.8 TFSI petrol units, and a 2.0 TDI diesel. Trim levels will also mirror the three-door’s.

The A3 Sportback can be bought in the UK for a premium of £620 over the three-door. That means the range will cost between £19,825 to £27,810. UK order books are expected to open soon after Paris, with deliveries likely to commence early next year.

Thanks to: Autocar
Share this post :

Post a Comment

 
Copyright © 2012. Hourpost - All Rights Reserved
By Blogger