Audi A3 Review: 2013-2016 Model | A3 | Car Buyers Guide

Audi A3 Saloon

September 2013 saw a fleet of new Audi A3 saloon cars arriving at the O2 for press to have a quick spin around in to get a feel for the new saloon car to the Irish market.
A3 Saloon
The new A3 is a very attractive looking car which delivers the standard you would expect from an Audi vehicle. Although today’s drive was only an hour long, first impressions are very good on what this new saloon has to offer.

According to Audi the “1.6TDI will have the lowest Co2 emissions of any petrol or diesel saloon in Ireland” and Audi Ireland Managing Director, Christian Gussen, says “the A3 Saloon will be an important component for overall increase of sales for the popular A3 family.”

There will be various engines available – two TFSI petrol engines and one TDI at launch in A3 Saloon range – 1.4 TFSI 125HP, 1.4TFSI 140HP Cylinder on Demand (CoD) and 2.0 TDI 150HP.

It comes in three equipment levels – Entry level, SE and S-Line.
A3 Saloon
The car looks like a smaller version of the A4 and has the finish, and feel, you would and should expect from an Audi. Audi say “the first ever booted A3 begins the Vorsprung durch Technik brand’s foray into the world’s largest market segment – the compact saloon class. 28% of Irish cars sold in 2012 were compact saloons. Audi’s venture into this segment in the A3 class showcases leadership of the Audi brand. It slickly integrates more seats-up load space than the A3 Sportback with similarly ample passenger accommodation and performance, the latter helped by ‘Audi ultra’ lightweight construction processes that trim weight to as little as 1,205kg. Prices are confirmed to start at €29,950 on the road before ordering opens on the 11th July.”

Here’s what Audi have to say about the engines, “The low 100kg weight of the 1.4-litre TFSI 140HP engine is also notable for its efficiency-focused Cylinder on Demand technology. At low engine load, the system deactivates two cylinders to minimise mechanical effort and cut fuel consumption. As a result, combined economy tops out at a TDI-rivalling 4.7l/100km, while CO2 is pared back to 109g/km which will sit in VRT band A3. Helped by its healthy 250Nm torque peak, the A3 1.4 TFSI Saloon takes just 8.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100kph, and can reach 217kph where conditions allow.
A3 Saloon The diesel contingent is initially represented by the latest 2.0-litre TDI producing 150HP and 320 Nm of torque. It powers the A3 Saloon from 0 to 100kph in 8.7 seconds, takes it to a top speed of 220kph and is capable of returning up to 4.1l/100km. This equates to CO2 output of 107g/km which sits the 2.0-litre TDI in VRT band ‘A3’. Just in time for January 2014 delivery, a 1.6-litre TDI producing 105HP and 250Nm of torque will return 3.9l/100km and, with only 99g/km of Co2, it sits in VRT band A2. The same engine, when combined with a six-speed manual transmission, will have the accomplishment of being having the lowest Co2 emissions from any saloon car in Ireland. This, of course, excludes electric and hybrid vehicles.” 

We here in CBG.ie are very much looking forward to a full test drive of the new A3 saloon.

Daragh Ó Tuama


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