2023 Audi A3 Hatchback Spied In High-Riding PHEV Flavor

The fourth-generation Audi A3 is set to gain a more adventurous variant as revealed by a high-riding prototype caught testing by our spy photographers. The new version is expected to debut sometime in 2022 and will bridge the gap between the regular A3 and the Q3 – if you can call it a gap.

Chances are the crossover-style A3 could be called either the Allroad like the larger A4 Avant / A6 Avant, the Citycarver like the smaller A1, or the Cityhopper which is a new name suggested by our sources. Our guess is that Audi will use the Allroad name only if it is combined with the quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system.

Most automakers are opting for station wagon crossovers in this segment like the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, Ford Focus Active, Toyota Corolla Trek, and the rumored Opel Astra Cross. Audi is one of the pioneers on high-riding alternatives with the Allroad range, and wanted a compact crossover in the C-Segment to give more options for its target audience with an active lifestyle.

Thus, the prototype is based on the five-door Sportback bodystyle rather than the four-door sedan that is available stateside. This would position it directly against the DS 4, as well as the slightly less premium Kia XCeed. The camouflage is hiding a large portion of the bodywork which is going to be redesigned compared to the regular A3 Sportback. New features will include plastic cladding on the front/rear bumpers, side sills, and wheelarch extensions, along with a raised suspension for extra ground clearance.

Given that the Audi A3 is based on the MQB Evo platform, the high-riding model could theoretically get all-wheel-drive, while not as technically advanced as in the RS 3 performance flagship. While a quattro badge would fit well with the rugged styling, most buyers in this segment don’t really care about off-roading. This means Audi will likely offer front-wheel-drive variants sharing their underpinnings with the regular A3 range while adding a bit extra flexibility thanks to the increased ground clearance and the higher driving position.

This is the case with the pictured prototype that spots a charging port hinting at the FWD plug-in hybrid powertrain from the Audi A3 Sportback 45 TFSI and the equivalent variant of the Q3. The plug-in hybrid system consists of the 1.4 TFSI engine and an electric motor, for a combined output of 245 PS (242 HP / 180 kW), while the 13 kWh lithium-ion battery is offering a 63 km (39 miles) electric range in the hatchback.

We will learn more about the high-riding variant of the Audi A3 in the coming months as a debut is rumored for 2022.