Audi has launched A3 40 TFSI Premium sedan in India at a price of Rs. 25.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai and Delhi). The Premium will be the new base model of the petrol powered A3 in India.

The A3 40 TFSI Premium gets 16-inch, 15-spoke "Y" design alloy wheels, halogen headlamps, light / rain sensor and electrically retractable door mirrors. The car is also available with Audi's High Gloss Package.

On the inside, the A3 40 TFSI Premium is equipped with a 4-spoke, multifunction steering wheel, new ambient transparent inlays in 3D look, floor mats and leatherette - fabric upholstery. Customers can choose between the option of black, chestnut brown and pashmina beige for interior upholstery.

The car is equipped with Audi Multimedia Interface (MMI), dual-zone air-conditioning with sun sensor and rear AC vents, rear parking sensors and cruise control. The Premium also gets lighting package plus, electronically adjustable driver seat and a chrome package.

Safety features include seven airbags, anti-slip regulation, electronic stabilisation control and anti-theft wheel bolts.

The Audi A3 40 TFSI is powered by a 1,798cc, 4-cylinder, 177 BHP @ 5,100-6,200 rpm and 250 Nm of torque @ 1,250-5000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission. Audi claims that the car can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and return a fuel efficiency of 16.6 kpl.

German luxury carmaker, Audi has launched the A3 sedan in India at prices starting from 22.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The A3, Audi's smallest sedan, uses the latest MQB platform that underpins various cars from the Volkswagen group, including the Skoda Octavia and follows the same design language as other Audi sedans. It is 4456 mm long, 1796 mm wide and 1416 mm high with a wheelbase of 2367 mm.

The A3 is available with a choice of two engines - petrol and diesel. The diesel engine is a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder unit (dubbed 35TDI) that produces 141 bhp @ 3500-4000 rpm and 320 Nm of torque @ 1750-3000 rpm. The petrol A3 is powered by a 1.8, 4-cylinder, turbocharged unit (dubbed 40TFSI) that develops 178 bhp @ 5100-6200 rpm and 250 Nm of torque @ 1250-5000 rpm. Both the petrol and diesel variants come with front-wheel drive and DSG automatic transmissions. However, while the petrol gets a 7-speed S-Tronic unit, the diesel has to make do with a 6-speed gearbox.

The diesel version is available in four trim levels, while the petrol comes in just one. The list of features available on the A3 includes a panoramic glass sunroof, bi-xenon headlights, LED day-time running lights, 7-inch touchscreen multimedia infotainment system with handwriting recognition, electronic dual-zone climate control, electically adjustable front seats seven airbags, ABS and ESC among others. The car comes with a choice of 16 and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Audi assembles the A3 sedan at the Volkswagen group's Skoda plant at Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra. It is the sixth model from the company to be assembled in India after the A6 and A4 sedans and the Q5, Q7 and Q3 SUVs.

Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi):

Diesel:

• A3 35TDI Attraction - Rs 22.96 lakh
• A3 35TDI Premium - Rs. 25.95 lakh
• A3 35TDI Premium Plus - Rs. 29.95 lakh
• A3 35TDI Technology - Rs. 32.66 lakh

Petrol:

• A3 40TFSI Premium Plus - 28.95 lakh

German luxury carmaker, Audi has started production of the A3 sedan from the Volkswagen group's Skoda plant at Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra. This is the sixth model from the company to be manufactured at the plant after the A6 and A4 sedans and the Q5, Q7 and Q3 SUVs.

The A3 will be produced in a specially designated hall which covers a floor area of 20,000 square metres. The Q3 and Q7 are also produced in this hall.
Audi and its dealers believe that the A3 will be a strong seller. The anticipated demand for the car is very high many dealers are believed to have asked the company to double the number of cars allotted to them.

The A3 is Audi's entry level offering in India, positioned below the A4 will create a new segment in the market. Expected to be priced in the Rs. 25-30 lakh price bracket, it will take on the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1-Series, which are hatchbacks. The A3, being a sedan, is almost certain to eat into the sales of these two cars.

The Audi A3 is likely to be available in India with a choice of two engines - 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol and 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel.

The upcoming Audi A3 sedan has been spotted testing in Mumbai without any camouflage.

Pictures put up on the internet show the petrol variant of the car with a 1.8-litre TFSI (turbocharged petrol) engine. This motor produces 180 PS and is mated to an S-Tronic, dual clutch, automatic gearbox.

The company had displayed the A3 at the Auto Expo in February 2014 with a Quattro all-wheel drive system. However, for the Indian market the car will come with front-wheel drive only. Additionally, there will be a 2.0-litre, 150 PS diesel engine on offer as well.

The Audi A3 is expected to be launched in India in August. The car will be assembled locally at the company's plant at Aurangabad and is expected to be priced in the Rs. 23 lakh - Rs. 27 lakh (ex-showroom) bracket.

Audi's direct competitors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are offering only hatchbacks (A-Class and 1-Series respectively) in that price bracket. The A3 is expected to have a big impact on their sales. Dealers are expecting the demand for the car to be so strong that they have asked the company to double the number of cars allocated to them.

Images: Motorbash

German luxury carmaker Audi displayed the upcoming A3 sedan at the 2014 Auto Expo, earlier this year. The company claims that the car received a positive response and plans to launch it in August.

Now Audi India's dealer network has indicated that the A3 could be a very strong seller. The demand for the car is expected to be so strong that many dealers have asked the company to double the number of cars allocated to them.

The Audi A3 is likely to be available in India with a choice of two engines - 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol and 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel. Both cars will get Audi's S-Tronic dual clutch transmission and front-wheel drive.

The A3 will be positioned below the A4 and is expected to be priced upwards of Rs. 22 lakh. There is no immediate competition for the A3 at the moment. Cars from Audi's competitors at that price point include the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1-Series, which are hatchbacks. The A3 with its sedan body is almost certain to eat into the sales of these two cars.

The Mercedes CLA sedan is not expected to be launched before 2015, which means that Audi could have another good year with regard to sales.

Source: Autocar India

Come 2014, Audi India will enter the entry-level luxury car market with the A3 sedan. Based on Volkswagen group's MQB platform, the Audi A3 sedan will be the second car on this platform to be launched in India (The first will be the 2013 Octavia, due for a festive season launch this year). Ahead of its Indian launch, the Audi A3 sedan has been spotted testing at Mumbai. The test car, as the spyshots indicate, was shorn of camouflage.

However, only the car's profile is visible through the spyshots, with angles depicting the car's badges yet to hit the interweb. This said, BHPians have also spotted this car and more spyshots should be available soon. Internationally, the Audi A3 comes in sedan and hatchback versions. For the Indian market, Audi will stick with the A3 sedan for now even though competition in the entry level luxury car market includes the likes of the Mercedes Benz A-Class and BMW 1-Series hatchbacks.

In 2014, the Audi A3 sedan will get new competition in the form of the Mercedes Benz CLA sedan, a car that will be launched in India as well. Indian car buyers gravitate towards sedans in segments hosting cars that are priced over 10 lakh rupees. Audi India's move of launching the A3 in sedan guise, seems to be one that will pay heed to this buying sentiment. Internationally, the Audi A3 sedan is available with a range of turbo petrol and turbo diesel engine options. 

Petrol engine options include the 1.4 liter TSI, the 1.8 Liter TSI and the 2 liter TFSI motors. These engines output 138 Bhp-250 Nm, 175 Bhp-250 Nm and 211 Bhp-350 Nm respectively. The 2 liter TFSI engined Audi A3 comes in all wheel drive guise while the other variants make do with the front wheel drive option.

Coming to the diesel engine options, the Audi A3 gets 1.6 liter and 2 liter TDI turbo diesel engines, with 105 Bhp-250 Nm and 150 Bhp-320 Nm outputs respectively. The Indian car market is expected to get the 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TDI engined models of the front wheel driven Audi A3 sedan, with 7 speed DSG and 6 speed DSG automatic gearboxes, for the petrol and diesel engined models respectively

Internationally, the car also gets a 6 speed manual gearbox on certain lower variants. Also, early 2014 will be when Audi launches a plug-in hybrid version of the A3, dubbed the e-Tron model, internationally. The Audi A3 sedan to be sold in India is expected to come in through the CKD assembly route. Audi's assembly unit based at Aurangabad, Maharashtra, is expected to handle CKD assembly of this car. 

Spyshots courtesy IndianAutosBlog