« Peugeot announces production of the RC Z | Home Page | Porsche taking issue with Audi's use of RS nameplate »
Audi reveals the A3 facelift
By Yoann Besnard on 28 April 2008 | 
(0) Comments | Permalink
The premium compact models from Audi gets a facelift that will hit the showrooms this summer.
Since its introduction in 1996, the Audi A3 was a huge contributor to the carmaker’s global sales as Audi built 1.9 million units of them. The facelift will enable the model to continue that success thanks to a raft of new technologies such as the Audi magnetic ride.
On the outside, visual changes concern the front lid and fenders, the bumper and the large single-frame radiator grille. The headlights are also lightly redesigned. At the rear end, the modified bumper and the lights have been modified. As a result of the design modifications, the A3 has grown by 25mm in length to 4240mm, while the Sportback remain virtually unchanged at 4290mm in length. On the inside, the designers added Aluminium-look elements on the air vents, light switches and central console. The instruments have black dials and red needles. The leather sport steering wheel for the Ambition line has new aluminium trim clips, and Audi can supply a flat-bottomed leather sport steering wheel for the Ambition as an option. New inlays, new colours and a new selection of upholstery are available on the Attraction and Ambition.
With this facelift, Audi took the opportunity to redesign the 2.0-litre diesel engines which adopts common rail injection system. The 113bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine is replaced by the smaller but more powerful turbocharged 125bhp 1.4-litre TFSI unit. The entry level starts with the 102bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine. Above the 1.4-litre unit, there is the 158bhp 1.8-litre engine, followed by the 197bhp 2.0-litre TFSI, while the topping engine is the unchanged 250bhp 3.2-litre six cylinder petrol unit. Along with the petrol units, there are three diesel engines: the 1.9-litre TDI delivers 105bhp and the 2.0 TDI 138bhp or 168bhp.
Audi also upgrades the transmission package by offering as an option the new seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox on the 1.6, the 1.4 TFSI and the 1.8 TFSI powered versions.
The Magnetic ride suspensions that appeared with the Audi TT is now available on the A3. This system overcomes the age-old conflict between dynamic behaviour and ride comfort. The driver can choose between "Normal" and "Sport" programs by flipping a switch. A magneto-rheological fluid circulating in the shock absorbers changes its flow properties within milliseconds when a voltage is applied; this affects the damping characteristic, which can be varied from comfortably supple to crisply firm. Audi can supply the electronic damping control system as an option for the gasoline versions from the 1.8-litre version upwards, as well as for both 2.0-litre TDI versions.
The S3 is also now available as a Sportback version.
