Published on May 13th, 2021 | by Amirul Mukminin

Audi A3 Sportback And Sedan Launched In Singapore

The A3 will be locking horns with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 2 Series

Six months after its European launch, the new generation Audi A3 has now reached Singaporean shores in Sportback and Sedan guises. Pricing (including COE and VES) starts from S$166,140 (RM514,263) for the former and S$167,890 (RM519,680) for the latter.

Regardless of which variant is picked, the A3 comes in the 35 TFSI configuration that combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder TFSI engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system for a total system output of 150 PS and 250 Nm. A seven-speed S tronic gearbox channels the output to the wheels.

As for the mild hybrid system, it is there to help recuperate energy during deceleration, in addition to providing an extra 50 Nm for better off the line acceleration and allowing the A3 to coast with the engine switched off.

In terms of looks, both the Sedan and Sportback share the same front end design but the former is just over 15 cm longer at 4.5 meters. The stretched rear end results in a larger luggage capacity – 425 litres versus 380 litres on the Sportback.

Inside, a 10.1-inch touch display is equipped as standard, so is the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus instrument cluster. What’s interesting is that Audi Singapore offers customers the option of replacing the standard leather upholstery with a unique material made from recycled PET bottles.

PRESS RELEASE

Audi Singapore has launched the latest generation of its new Audi A3 – its popular premium compact model – in the brand’s first Audi Experience session for the year. The new Audi A3 carries a new elegant design language with upgraded premium features and a full-fledged connected ecosystem, staying true to its winning attributes Audi customers and fans have come to love. The new launch also marks the first time the Sportback and Sedan bodystyles for the Audi A3 were presented at the same time.

The Audi A3 Sportback and A3 Sedan are now available at Audi Centre Singapore at the following recommended retail prices (including COE and VES) – $166,140 and $167,890.

Elegant, distinctive, and aerodynamic: the exterior

The new Audi A3 features compact proportions and a sporty design. The front is dominated by a large Singleframe with honeycomb grille that is flanked by striking headlights, accentuating the dynamic character of the premium compact car. On the outside, they form trapezoidal angles that are drawn downward. With the A3 Sportback, the body line running above the sill rises towards the rear lights before the rear wheel arch, thus accentuating the short rear end. The body line on the Sedan, by contrast, extends up to the rear bumper. This emphasizes its length 15 centimeters longer than the Sportback – and gives the flank an elegant appearance. The concave surface under the broad body shoulder further accentuates the quattro blisters and the sill. This creates an intensive play of light and shadow. The roof line slopes down from the B-pillar dynamically – just like on a coupé – and finishes in a striking spoiler on the tailgate.

The Sedan has a slightly higher rear end compared to its predecessor. In addition to the large diffuser, the car has Cd value of 0.27, which is 0.02 Cd points better than before. The A3 Sportback follows closely behind with a Cd value of 0.29 (previously 0.31). To further refine efficiency, the new A3 features controllable cooling-air inlet with two electrically actuated louver modules behind the Singleframe. They regulate the flow of air intelligently and according to the situation. In addition, the paneled underbody, the exterior mirrors with improved aerodynamics, and the active brake cooling reduce air resistance, making for a streamlined vehicle.

Focused and digitalized: controls and displays

The cockpit of the A3 is entirely focused on the driver. This begins with the interior design and ends with the display and control elements, all intuitive to operate. It uses familiar elements from the brand’s full-size models and is equipped with a 10.1-inch touch display as standard, which is integrated into the center of the instrument panel, and also inclined slightly towards the drive. As standard, it includes handwriting detection as well as natural language control that draws on the capabilities of the cloud. The Audi virtual cockpit plus instrument cluster measures 12.3 inches and offers three different views, including sporty graphics with inclined digits and a particularly dynamic layout. The RPM and speed are shown here as bar diagrams with angular red graphical elements. The driver have direct access to the functions of the digital display via the multifunctional steering wheel.

On request, a unique material made from recycled PET bottles and adorned with stylish contrasting stitching can be used in place of the leather upholstery that comes standard for Singapore. This is the first time that the material is offered by Audi, making the A3 unique in the segment.

Sophisticated: the engines

The new Audi A3 is launched in Singapore with a 1.5 TFSI engine that delivers 110 kW (150 hp) exclusively with a quick-shifting seven-speed S tronic. The engine features a 48-volt mild hybrid system, which impresses with its powerful torque and sophisticated running characteristics. It recovers energy during deceleration, supports the engine with up to 50 Nm of torque when driving off and accelerating from low engine speeds and allows the A3 to coast with the engine switched off in many situations. In everyday driving, it reduces consumption by up to 0.4 liters per 100 kilometers.

The A3 is the first Audi to be offered with such a set-up in Singapore. Other 4-cylinder TFSI engine in the Audi line-up featured the 12-volt system and focuses exclusively on energy recuperation, that is, without the additional support at lower engine speeds. Power will be transmitted by the quick-shifting seven-speed S tronic, the selector lever of which is now designed as a compact shifter. The driver can push and pull this to control the basic functions of the automatic transmission. Manual sequential shifting is done exclusively by the paddles located behind the steering spokes.

Refined and dynamic: the suspension

The suspension of the new A3 – with a four-link rear axle – is sporty and balanced, combining pleasant ride comfort with good dynamics. To a large degree, this precision and reaction speed is thanks to the central dynamic handling system that ensures optimal interaction between all the components relevant to the transverse dynamics. The Audi drive select dynamic handling system also allows the driver to bring about changes in the characteristics of the throttle response, transmission and the steering.

Highly connected: From infotainment to driver assistance

The A3 is connected to the smartphone via the myAudi app as well as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Personalization allows up to six users to store their preferred settings in individual profiles, including those for the seat, climate control and media.

Well versed and upgraded: the driver assist systems

Equipped with lane departure warning as standard, the A3 works with the onboard sensors to prevent accidents, or at least reduce their severity, offering a high level of safety. This is the first time Audi is offering the feature as standard in the segment.

Another notable feature onboard the A3 is Park Assist. Using information from the rear-view camera and 360-degree proximity sensors, the car is able to locate and execute steering inputs for parallel and perpendicular parking maneuvers. The system also manages the exiting of parallel parking lots.

Optimized: the space concept

The new A3 Sportback offers more space and functionality combined with compact external dimensions. Measuring 4.34 meters in length and 1.82 meters in width without the mirrors, the premium compact car has grown by just over three centimeters compared with its predecessor. The height of 1.43 meters and the wheelbase of 2.64 meters remained unchanged. Depending on the position of the rear bench seat, the luggage compartment holds between 380 and 1,200 liters, and the loading floor can be inserted at different heights.

The A3 Sedan is just over 15 centimeters longer than the Sportback. All other dimensions are identical. At 425 liters, the luggage capacity is the same as in the predecessor model. The Sedan continues to offer greater convenience than before with the gesture-controlled opening feature that was not available on the previous generation.

Pricing and availability

The Audi A3 Sedan and A3 Sportback are now available at Audi Centre Singapore with a recommended retail price of $166,140 and $167,890 respectively. Prices include COE and VES.