The new Audi A3 will be sold as a Sportback shape only, the 2-door body style being cancelled in favour of more practicality. As we mentioned in our first article,the premium hatch is bigger than before but retains the same wheelbase. Bumper-to-bumper the A3 Sportback measures 4.34 m, which is 30 mm longer than its predecessor. Petrol and diesel engines are available, with both manual and dual-clutch transmissions. Naturally, for the European market, there'll also be electrified powertrains too.
Naturally, petrolheads will be interested in what else is available, specifically the S and RS versions. Well, thanks to CarandDriver.com, there will be an Audi A3 sedan joining its Sportback sibling. It should be revealed before the end of 2020 and from what the source at Audi North America suggested, the new Audi A3 sedan will "look sportier and more aggressive than its predecessor, with a slightly more chiseled and angular attitude". The best news is that there will be a successor to the iconic RS3 too, complete with its monstrous 2.5-litre 5-cylinder motor. Rumours suggest power will climb from the current 294 kW and 480 Nm, to over 300 kW, going to all 4 wheels via the quattro setup.It'll need it too, considering its rival from AMG packs a considerable 310 kW and 500 Nm.
On the more sensible side of things, but still as performance-focused as ever, will be the 2021 Audi S3. It's also due for a reveal in the near future, and we expect it to retain the familiar quattro setup as well as the 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder motor. However, outputs will increase and if the leaked document showing 245 kW from the next-gen Volkswagen Golf 8 R is anything to go by, we'd be very surprised if its Ingolstadt-based rival offers anything less.
The all-new 4th generation Audi A3 is expected to arrive in South Africa in 2021, with an Audi South Africa spokesperson saying it's currently planned for quarter 2 next year. Excitingly, the spokespersonalso added the S3 will also plan to launch at that time.
Now is a good chance to bag a bargain. Browse Audi A3 units for sale.
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