PREVIEW
The next-generation Audi A3 destined for American shores will not be the four-door hatchback that we've come to know, but a small sedan instead. It's an unconventional move from Audi, yet the automaker clearly hopes to win hearts, minds and dollars by positioning the 2015 Audi A3 as a premium compact four-door.
The 2015 Audi A3 will be based on a new lightweight platform designed for front- and all-wheel-drive applications. Compared to the current A3, the new model is slightly longer for improved proportions and interior space.
INTERIOR
The 2015 A3's interior should get a push further upmarket, offering standard leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, Bluetooth, an MMI navigation system with 7-inch display, a WiFi hotspot connection, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and even a cell phone booster antenna. Audi's pre-sense safety system, which pre-loads the brakes and seatbelts when it senses an impending collision, comes standard, while options include blind-spot warning and adaptive cruise control.
The 2015 Audi A3 will go on sale this spring starting at $30,795, just a hair's width less than one of its primary rivals, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250. Check back for a full review of the 2015 Audi A3, including specs, driving impressions and buying advice as it becomes available.
UNDER THE HOOD
In the U.S., the A3 will offer three turbocharged four-cylinder engines: a 1.8-liter making 170 horsepower, a 220-hp 2.0-liter, and a 2.0-liter diesel generating 150 hp. All three engines join a six-speed automated manual dual-clutch transmission. The A3 will also offer Audi's four-mode Audi drive select, which allows the driver to choose one of four modes that adjust throttle response, steering effort and shift points.
A soft-top convertible model arrives in late 2014, as does the high-performance S3 model making an estimated 290 hp from its 2.0-liter engine. A plug-in hybrid called the Sportback will follow next year.
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