It’s facelift time for Audi’s A3 premium hatch that received a series of cosmetic and mechanical enhancements for the 2009 MY along with the addition of the S3 Sportback in the car’s line-up. Up until now, the S3 was only available in three-door form, but from this summer, buyers will be able to opt for the 5door Sportback version equipped with the same 265 Hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that’s combined with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system.
The range-topping member of the A3 Sportback family can go from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.8 seconds (3d S3: 5.7 sec) while its top speed is electronically governed at 250 km/h (155 mph). The S3 Sportback’s average fuel consumption is 8.5 lt per 100 km or 27.67 mpg.
All variants of the A3 feature a revised front-end inspired from the new A3 Cabriolet. The most notable differences include the daytime running lights along with a more pronounced and concave hood, a new bumper and a modified single frame grille. At the back, both models get a revised bumper while the 3door A3 also features a redesigned tailgate with a new light edge. -Continued
Inside the car, the 2009 A3 and A3 Sportback have been enhanced with new centre-console switch-gear and a slightly revised instrument panel.
In terms of mechanical upgrades, the most significant new technologies are the availability of the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission on the 1.6, the 1.4 TFSI and the 1.8 TFSI models and for the first time, the adaptive-action shock absorber control system by the name of Audi magnetic ride which allows the driver to choose between normal and sport-mode options. Audi can supply the electronic damping control system as an option for the gasoline versions from 160 hp (1.8TFSI) upwards, as well as for both two-liter TDI versions.
Apart from the addition of the S3 Sportback, the rest of the line-up remains the same and it includes 5 gasoline units: the 1.6 102Hp, the 1.4 TFSI 125 hp, the 1.8 TFSI 160Hp and the 2.0 TFSI 200Hp, while the 3.2 quattro with its V6 musters 250Hp. The diesel range consists of the 1.9 TDI 105Hp and the 2.0 TDI with 140Hp or 170Hp. Prices in Europe will start from 20,350 Euros.
