The facelifted Audi A3 will go on sale this summer as the 2009 Model Year and raises the already sporty profile of Audi’s premium compact car with added technologies like the S-tronic 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and magnetic ride system.
Design is updated to fit in better with the new generation Audi’s like the recently revealed Q5 compact SUV, featuring the same headlamps with the curved ‘wing’ element. Due to the modifications, the 3-door A3 grows by 2.5 cm to 4.24 meters in length while the A3 Sportback remains the same length at 4.29 meters.
The interior follows suit with aluminum details and restyled switches and controls. The instrument cluster now features black dials with red needles, a shift indicator to let the driver know which gear is recommended by the car and high-resolution white letters for the driver information. The A3 trunk has grown to 1,080 liters while the Sportback can hold 1,100 liters, with quattro versions offering slightly less cargo space due to the special rear axle.
Currently all the A3 models come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. The 2.0 FSI Ambition is available with Audi’s 6-speed Tiptronic gearbox while the 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TFSI are available with Audi’s 6-speed S-tronic (DSG) box which will be updated to 7-Speed when the facelifted models arrive.
Optional for most of the A3 range will be the new Audi Magnetic Ride which can switch from a comfortable ride to crisply firm within milliseconds.
