The five-door version of the Audi A3, the A3 Sportback, has been revealed, and as with its three-door sibling, it won’t be coming to the U.S. We Americans can look forward to our own sedan version of the same car. The third-generation A3 is only a smidge larger dimensionally than the outgoing Sportback, but has dropped up to 198 pounds compared to the previous hatch thanks to increased use of high- and ultra-strength steel and aluminum parts like the hood and fenders. With the 1.4-liter TFSI engine it weighs just 2,657 pounds. The biggest measurement growth is in the wheelbase: the front axle has been moved forward 1.57 inches and the wheelbase overall has grown by 2.28 inches.
All that extra space gets passengers more head- and legroom, and extra cubic feet for loot. The rear area can hold 13.42 cubic feet of goods with the rear seats up, expanding more than threefold to 43.08 cubic feet with the seats folded down into a flat cargo floor.
The space under the hood will be filled with one of three engines at launch: a 1.6-liter TDI said to return almost 62 U.S. mpg, a 1.4-liter TFSI with 122 horsepower and 148 pound-feet, and a 1.8-liter TFSI with 180 hp and 184 lb-ft. Coming later will be a 1.2-liter TFSI with 105 hp and 129 lb-ft, a more powerful 1.4-liter TSFI with 140 hp and 184 lb-ft and cylinder deactivation, and two 2.0-liter TDIs, one with 150 hp and 236 pound-feet and another 2.0-liter TDI with 184 hp and 280 lb-ft. Also on the way next year are a TCNG engine powered by Audi’s proprietary e-gas and an e-tron electric Sportback in 2014. Shifting for all of them is handled by a six-speed manual, with a six- or seven-speed S-tronic optional.
Those who can buy it will be able to choose from four trims: Attraction, Ambition and Ambiente, with the S line sport package available for the Ambition trim, and 13 colors plus a high-gloss exterior package.
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