Audi showcases the new A3 at Geneva

The all-new Audi A3 hatchback is lighter, faster and nicer in general. With Audi wanting to further eat into the burgeoning premium hatchback segment, where the A3 has already shown remarkable sales numbers, the new car packs in plenty of firepower matched with oodles of creature comforts. To begin with, the new A3 gets lighter by a whooping 80kg over its predecessor, thanks to heavy use of aluminium components like the bonnet and the front wings as well as some more critical components employing aluminium.

This means the 1.4 TSi powered variant weighs just 1,175kg while pumping out 122 horses. On the outside the length and width remains unchanged from the previous model, but the new A3 boasts an increased wheelbase of 2,601mm and a roomier cabin with a slight increase in its width amounting to 1,777mm. The third generation A3 also gets two more engine options for now including a 180PS 1.8-litre TFSi powerplant and a 2.0-litre TDi oil-burner motor pumping out 150PS of power and 320Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed S-Tronic autobox. All three variants get front wheel drive while the more powerful engines that will follow soon will sport Audi’s permanent all-wheel-drive Quattro mechanism. Audi also announced that in addition to the more engine options the firm is currently also developing versions of the A3 with alternative drive systems such as hybrid, natural gas and Audi.

And to top it all, the new Audi A3 gets adaptive cruise control, a smarter and advanced version of the park assist system, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with electronic limited slip differential as standard equipment as well as a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system. With all the right equipments in its kitty, the new A3 is certainly armed to the teeth to take on its rivals in the premium hatchback category of cars.