Once it goes on sale in the UK, next-generation Audi A3 will push upmarket, and it will come with 48-volt electric technology. BMW is introducing new 1 Series in late 2018, but Audi will also be ready with its new A3 which should be available in hatchback, saloon and coupe form.
Due to several different body styles, trims and powertrain options the A3 is one of the most popular models in the Great Britain. So the fourth generation car will not change this radically, but it is expected to come with evolutionary design, as it can be seen in the photos.
The new Audi A3 will be based on the VW Group’s improved MQB platform, but it will be slightly bigger than its predecessor in order to create more interior space. Few pounds are expected to be ditched with this version, but this will not be as drastic as it is the case with the A4. Still, even the small reduction in weight will be significant.
However, most of the tech you can see in the A4 will be offered in the A3. There will be the clever virtual cockpit digital dials on almost every trim, whereas some of the conveniences such as WiFi hotspot and wireless smartphone charging are likely to appear. Autonomous driving tech is a huge question mark, but the dashboard will be similar to the one in the Audi A4.
The famous MQB platform implies that Audi is going to offer an abundance of powertrain options. Most of the current units will be the same but slightly updated which means that three and four-cylinder turbo petrol and diesel engines are on the table. Fuel economy numbers will be improved by the addition of the super-thrifty plug-in hybrid e-tron model. Needless to say, Audi will produce the hot S3 and RS3 version probably after 2024.
The next-generation Audi A3 will be introduced at the end of next year while it should go on sale in the first half of 2019. Our price guess is around £20,000 for the base trim. Stay tuned for more details.
