Audi A3 | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | AUDI AG |
Production | 1996–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Compact car / Small family car (C) |
Layout |
transverse front engine, front-wheel drive or quattro on-demand four-wheel drive |
Platform |
Volkswagen Group A platform Volkswagen Group MQB platform |
First generation (A3/8L) | |
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Audi A3 5-door (post-facelift)
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Overview | |
Production | 1996–2003 |
Assembly |
Ingolstadt, Germany (1996–2003) Curitiba, Brazil (Audi Senna, 2000–2006) |
Designer | Dirk van Braeckel (1992) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback |
Platform | Volkswagen Group A4 (PQ34) |
Related |
Volkswagen Golf Mk4 SEAT León Mk1 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Petrol engine Diesel engine |
Transmission | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,513 mm (98.9 in) quattro: 2,518 mm (99.1 in) |
Length | 4,152 mm (163.5 in) |
Width | 1,735 mm (68.3 in) |
Height | 1,423 mm (56.0 in) |
Second generation (A5/8P) | |
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2005–2008 Audi A3 Sportback
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Overview | |
Production | 2003–2013 |
Assembly |
Ingolstadt, Germany Brussels, Belgium (2004–2005; 2007–May 2010) Győr, Hungary Curitiba, Brasil (Audi Senna, CKD; 12/2012–03/2013) |
Designer | Gary Telaak (2000) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 3-door hatchback 5-door Sportback (hatchback) 2-door convertible |
Platform | Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) |
Related |
Volkswagen Golf Mk5 SEAT León Mk2 Volkswagen Gran Lavida |
Powertrain | |
Engine |
Inline-four petrol engine
Straight-five petrol engine
VR6 engine
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Transmission |
Automatic transmission
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Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,578 mm (101.5 in) |
Length | 3-door: 4,215 mm (165.9 in) 5-door: 4,285 mm (168.7 in) |
Width | 1,765 mm (69.5 in) |
Height | 1,420 mm (55.9 in) |
Third generation (MQB/8V) | |
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Audi A3 Sportback
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Overview | |
Production | 2012–present October 2013-present (Convertible) |
Model years | 2013–present |
Assembly |
Ingolstadt, Germany Győr, Hungary Foshan, China (FAW-Volkswagen Aurangabad, India (Audi India) |
Designer | Dany Garand (2009) Markus Gleitz (Sedan: 2010) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 4-door sedan 2-door convertible |
Platform | Volkswagen Group MQB platform |
Related |
Volkswagen Golf Mk7 SEAT León Mk3 Škoda Octavia Mk3 |
Powertrain | |
Engine |
Straight-five engine
|
Transmission |
Manual transmission
Dual-clutch transmission
|
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 3-door: 2,601 mm (102.4 in) 4-door: 2,636 mm (103.8 in) 5-door: 2,636 mm (103.8 in) |
Length | 3-door: 4,237 mm (166.8 in) 4-door: 4,456 mm (175.4 in) 5-door: 4,310 mm (169.7 in) |
Width | 3-door: 1,777 mm (70.0 in) 4-door: 1,796 mm (70.7 in) 5-door: 1,785 mm (70.3 in) |
Height | 3-door: 1,421 mm (55.9 in) 4-door: 1,416 mm (55.7 in) 5-door: 1,421 mm (55.9 in) |
Kerb weight | 1,150 kg (2,535 lb) to 1,520 kg (3,351 lb) |
The Audi A3 is a Small Family/Compact car produced since 1996. The first two generations of A3 were based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, which they share with several other models such as the Audi TT, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Caddy, and Volkswagen Touran, as well as SEAT León, SEAT Toledo, and Škoda Octavia. The third-generation A3 uses the Volkswagen Group MQB platform.
The original A3 (or Typ 8L) was introduced in the European market in 1996, marking Audi's return to the production of smaller cars following the demise of the Audi 50 in 1978. This was the first Volkswagen Group model to use the "PQ34" or "A4" platform, bearing a close resemblance to the contemporary Volkswagen Golf Mk4, which arrived a year later. Within three years, this platform was used for total of seven cars.
The A3 was initially available only with a three-door hatchback body, to present a more sporty image than the Golf, in both front and four-wheel drive. The inline four-cylinder engines were transversely mounted. After the A4, the Audi A3 was the second model in the Audi lineup to use five valves per cylinder.
The United Kingdom market first received the Audi A3 in November 1996.
In 1999, Audi expanded the range with the introduction of more powerful versions: a 1.8 turbo rated 180 PS (132 kW; 178 hp), and a 1.9 TDI diesel engine with unit injector "Pumpe Düse" (PD) technology and variable geometry turbocharger. The four-wheel-drive A3 1.8T quattro used either the 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) or 180 PS (130 kW; 180 hp) engine, and the same Haldex Traction-based four-wheel-drive system as the Audi S3 and the Audi TT. Also in 1999, Audi also introduced a five-door body.