German automaker Audi is entering the world’s largest market segment, the class of compact sedans, with its A3 Sedan featuring a lightweight design, powerful engines and high-end infotainment and driver assistance systems.

The top model of the series is the S3 Sedan with 300 hp. A Middle East launch date of the new Audi A3 and S3 Sedan has not been confirmed yet.

The design of the A3 Sedan is a cross between the classic three-box concept and the coupé philosophy. The four-door car has a 2.64 meter long wheelbase and an overall length of 4.46 meters. With a width of 1.80 meters, the A3 Sedan is 11 mm wider than the A3 Sportback; its height (1.42 meters) is still 9 mm lower than that of the Sportback.

The engine line-up consists of three four-cylinder engines. Completely redesigned, the engines bring together efficiency technologies from Audi – direct fuel injection, turbocharging, innovative thermal management and the start-stop-system.

Key performance parameters of the 1.4 TFSI (turbo fuel stratified injection) are 140 hp and 250 Nm, a combined fuel consumption of just 4.7 litres fuel per 100 km, 8.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 213 km/h. At low engine load, the COD (cylinder on demand) system deactivates two cylinders.

The 1.8 TFSI produces 180 hp and 250 Nm of torque. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and up to a top speed of 232 km/h; its combined fuel consumption 5.7 litres per 100 km.

The interior of the Audi A3 Sedan feature cleanly designed lines and surfaces. Thanks to the long wheelbase, rear passengers also enjoy ample space and comfortable entry. The cargo capacity of the trunk measures 425 litres, which can be further increased by folding down the rear seatbacks.

Like its siblings in the model series, the A3 Sedan makes use of the new modular infotainment system (MIB). The top system is MMI Navigation plus with an SSD hard drive offering 64 GB of storage, a DVD drive and whole-word voice control. A high-resolution 7-inch-screen shows the map image in detailed 3D graphics.

The MMI Navigation plus system interfaces to cell phones and mobile players via Bluetooth. The top surface of the MMI touchwheel is a touch-sensitive pad for inputting letters, symbols and numbers. The 705 watt amplifier of the Bang & Olufsen sound system drives 14 loudspeakers in 5.1 surround sound.

Audi connect covers all technologies that network the driver with the car, the Internet, infrastructure and other vehicles. Audi connect lets passengers conveniently surf and e-mail via an integrated WLAN hotspot and brings customized Internet services from Audi into the car. A new Audi connect service that is making its debut in the A3 Sedan is parking space information. It shows information on parking spaces, parking garages and underground garages near a destination selected by the driver.

Just a few months after the new sedan model series, Audi will introduce the top model – the S3 Sedan. The 2.0 TFSI produces 300 hp and 380 Nm of torque. Paired with the S tronic, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds; with the manual transmission it takes 5.3 seconds.

The car’s top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. The four-cylinder turbo has a combined fuel consumption of just 6.9 litres per 100 km or 7.0 litres (with S tronic or manual transmission) respectively. The suspension lowers the body 25 mm.

Visually, the top model is distinguished by modifications to the bumpers, the single frame grille, air intakes, exterior mirror housings, side sills and rear spoiler. The four oval tailpipes of the exhaust system are embedded in the diffuser with chrome trim. In the interior, the S3 Sedan offers sport seats (optional S sport seats), instruments with gray dials and trim strips in black 3D look.

In Germany and many European countries, the four-door car will be available at dealers late this summer. The base price for the 1.4 TFSI is around 25,000 euros ($32,000). – TradeArabia News Service