Audi A3 Cabriolet Gets Optional Hands-Free Parking system

For those of you that get no satisfaction in “squeezing” your car into a tight parking spot Audi is now offering the Advanced Parallel Park Assist system as an option on the new A3 Cabriolet. The system uses ultrasonic sensors that monitor longitudinal parking spaces at speeds below 19mph and then alerts the driver if a space is sufficiently large to reverse into.

If the driver then engages reverse gear and touches the accelerator pedal, the system takes over the electromechanical steering and automatically steers the car into the space in one manoeuvre. The driver can hand over complete control of the steering wheel to the car, and only has to operate the accelerator, the clutch and the brake for apparent safety reasons. -Continued

In the UK, the hands-free parking system is priced at £725 for the A3 Cabriolet Sport and S line versions fitted with the in-dash Driver’s Information System (DIS), and £925 for standard models which also require upgrade to DIS. However, before you tick the option list, we’d advise you to arrange a test drive with a car fitted with the system to try it out in real-life conditions so you can see if it really covers your needs and expextations.

Audi A3 Cabriolet gets new entry-Level 1.6-liter engine

They simply refuse to let it die; just as you think that the VW Group will finally retire the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engine the Germans go and offer it on two of their newest models… Apart from the all-new VW Golf VI, the 102 HP petrol unit will also be available as the entry-level engine on the new Audi A3 Cabriolet. Matted to a 5-speed manual gearbox, the A3 Cabriolet 1.6 manages to sprint (figure of speech) from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in a breathtaking 12.5 seconds while it achieves a top speed of 183 km/h or 114mph. Prices in Germany for the new entry-level A3 Cabriolet start from €24,650.

ΑΒΤ Audi A3 Convertible with up to 270Hp

Although ABT is still working on the A3 Convertible’s optic package, the German tuner has revealed details on the available mechanical upgrades for Audi’s newest soft-top that competes against the BMW 1-Series Convertible. Starting off with ABT’s basic “Power” pack, the 1.8 TFSi’s output is raised to 200Hp (from 160Hp) while the 2.0 TFSi delivers 240Hp (from 200Hp). For those who want more, ABT offers the “Power S” kit that increases the 1.8 TFSi’s output to 240Hp and the 2.0 TFSi’s to 270Hp. -Image gallery after the jump

Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro Concept with 221Hp Diesel Engine

Set to be make its public debut at this month’s 27th annual Lake Wörther Tour in Austria, the “A3 TDI clubsport quattro” is a one-off race car powered by the most powerful incarnation of Audi’s 2.0-liter common-rail turbo diesel engine delivering 221 Hp and 331.0 lbs-ft of torque. Power is channeled to A3’s 20-inch wheels through a 6-speed transmission and Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The German manufacture says the A3 TDI clubsport quattro can go from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 240 km/h or 149mph.

Honoring its racing pedigree, the concept is equipped with six-piston brake calipers and ceramic discs up front along with Audi’s driving dynamic system that allows the driver to change the throttle response, exhaust sound, the level of power assistance for the steering, ESP settings and the operating mode of the dampers that deploy Audi’s magnetic ride technology. -Continued

Since it wouldn’t have been much of a race car without any exterior mods, Audi has adorned the bi-colored A3 TDI clubsport quattro with a large DTM-styled roof spoiler, bolt-on wheel arch extensions that house 20-inch alloy wheels in 265/30 R20 tires, a different grille, new front and rear bumpers along with a rear diffuser that incorporates two large diameter exhaust pipes.

Inside the concept’s highlights include a pair of racing bucket seats, an open gear lever gate in aluminium form and Audi’s characteristic flat-bottom steering wheel.

The Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro

Engine
- Four-cylinder TDI with common-rail injection system
- Displacement of 1968 cc, output of 165 kW (224 hp) and torque of 450 Nm
(331.90 lb-ft)
- Optimized exhaust system
- 0 – 62mph in 6.6 seconds, top speed 149mph

Power transmission
- High-efficiency six-speed manual transmission with a lightweight casing, open gear lever gate made of aluminium
- quattro all-wheel drive with extremely fast-action multi-plate clutch

Chassis
- Four-link rear suspension for dynamic handling and good comfort
- Power steering with highly efficient electric drive
- Wheels measuring 9 J x 20, tyre size 265/30
- Six-piston brake calipers and ceramic discs at the front wheels
- Audi drive select driving dynamics system with Audi magnetic ride adaptive damper control

Body and interior
- Length 4,254 millimeters (167.48 inches), width 1,825 millimetres (71.85
inches), height 1,385 millimetres (54.53 inches)
- Motorsport-look design, large rear spoiler
- Racing bucket seats and extra aluminium components in interior

2010 Audi A3 Rendering Hits the Spot

This computer generated image depicting the next generation Audi A3 comes from a Greek car site named “Autotriti”. The artist has done quite a nice job with the rendering giving us a good indication to as what Audi is preparing for us with the 2010 A3 that will most probably be heavily inspired from the latest A4 and A5 Coupe models. Like the current generation A3, Audi's new premium subcompact is expected to come in three flavors: 3door and 5door hatchback, and a 2door convertible version.

Via: Autotriti

Video Comparison: Audi A3 2.0TFSI Convertible vs BMW 125i Cabrio

These two German convertibles are the first premium compact soft-tops to drop into the European market and Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe takes them for a ride on the winding roads of the South of France to find out which one is the best. The A3 Convertible gets a 200Hp 2.0-liter TFSI unit while the BMW 125i, a 218Hp 3.0-liter straight six. See which one wins this compare in the video after the jump. -Continued

Facelift Audi A3 & A3 Sportback Plus All-New 265Hp S3 Sportback

It’s facelift time for Audi’s A3 premium hatch that received a series of cosmetic and mechanical enhancements for the 2009 MY along with the addition of the S3 Sportback in the car’s line-up. Up until now, the S3 was only available in three-door form, but from this summer, buyers will be able to opt for the 5door Sportback version equipped with the same 265 Hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that’s combined with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The range-topping member of the A3 Sportback family can go from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.8 seconds (3d S3: 5.7 sec) while its top speed is electronically governed at 250 km/h (155 mph). The S3 Sportback's average fuel consumption is 8.5 lt per 100 km or 27.67 mpg.

All variants of the A3 feature a revised front-end inspired from the new A3 Cabriolet. The most notable differences include the daytime running lights along with a more pronounced and concave hood, a new bumper and a modified single frame grille. At the back, both models get a revised bumper while the 3door A3 also features a redesigned tailgate with a new light edge. -Continued

Inside the car, the 2009 A3 and A3 Sportback have been enhanced with new centre-console switch-gear and a slightly revised instrument panel.

In terms of mechanical upgrades, the most significant new technologies are the availability of the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission on the 1.6, the 1.4 TFSI and the 1.8 TFSI models and for the first time, the adaptive-action shock absorber control system by the name of Audi magnetic ride which allows the driver to choose between normal and sport-mode options. Audi can supply the electronic damping control system as an option for the gasoline versions from 160 hp (1.8TFSI) upwards, as well as for both two-liter TDI versions.

Apart from the addition of the S3 Sportback, the rest of the line-up remains the same and it includes 5 gasoline units: the 1.6 102Hp, the 1.4 TFSI 125 hp, the 1.8 TFSI 160Hp and the 2.0 TFSI 200Hp, while the 3.2 quattro with its V6 musters 250Hp. The diesel range consists of the 1.9 TDI 105Hp and the 2.0 TDI with 140Hp or 170Hp. Prices in Europe will start from 20,350 Euros.

Audi Builds 1 Millionth 2nd-Generation A3

About five years after the current-generation A3 entered the market in 2003, and Audi announced that the 1,000,000th model rolled off the production line at its factory in Ingolstadt. The anniversary car is a Brilliant Red, 140 hp 2.0 TDI Audi A3 Sportback intended for a customer in Franconia, Germany.

Since the market launch of the first-generation A3 in 1996, more than 1.9 million units of Audi’s premium model have been manufactured and delivered to customers. The second generation A3 model has been in production since June 2003, with the five-door A3 Sportback being added in 2004 and the A3 Cabriolet in 2008.

2008 Audi A3 Facelift Caught Red-Handed

Spy photographers have managed to capture the forthcoming 2008 Audi A3 completely undisguised in a parking lot in Germany. Compared to the current A3 (see image after the jump), the facelifted version gets a slightly redesigned front end inspired from the new A4 and A5 models, featuring a new bumper, a larger grille and reworked headlights. We can’t see any other differences in these pictures provided by Swedish magazine Automotorsport, but there may be minor styling changes in the A3’s rear end and in particular to the tail lamps. -Continued after the jump

Though this is something that we haven’t confirmed yet, it is rumored that the A3 facelift will debut alongside the all-new A3 Cabriolet either at the Detroit Show in January ’08 or at the Geneva Show in March ’08.

Via: Automotorsport.se

2008 Audi A3 Cabriolet Scoop Pics

BMW's forthcoming 1-Series Convertible (images here) won’t be the only compact prestige drop-top to come into the market next year as Audi’s also planning to introduce a cabriolet version of the A3. However, that’s something we already knew –see here. Thanks to the guys at the Italian forum, “Autopareri” though, we now have a visual encounter of the A3 Cabriolet. Can’t say that we’re exactly thrilled with the A3 Convertible’s appearance from these scoop pictures, but better wait to see the finished product before we make any conclusions. -Continued after the jump

Like its Bavarian counterpart, the A3 will be equipped with an electric folding canvas roof and not a metal rooftop like its VW cousin, the EOS. As for the running gear, the Cabriolet will be powered from the same FSI petrol and TDI diesel engines used in the A3 hatch. The petrol line-up will include the new 125 Hp 1.4 TSI, 160 Hp 1.8 TSI and the range-topping 265Hp 2.0 TFSI. The latter will equip the S3 Convertible. Finally, the diesel range will consist of two 2.0 TDI engines, delivering 140 and 170 Hp.

Via: Autoblog.it , Source: Autopareri

2008 Audi S3 Cabrio Rendering

Spring's officially here in the northern hemisphere so it’s no wonder that Adobe’s Photochop is getting a kick with all these cabriolet renderings. This one featuring the top-notch version of the upcoming A3 Cabrio comes to us from German magazine AMS who also predicts that Audi will once again avoid using a retractable hardtop in favor for the classic soft-top. According to AMS, apart from the 265Hp 2.0TFSI that’ll fit the S3 version, the A3 Cabrio will be equipped with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines including VW Group’s upcoming 1.2TSI (1.2-liter turbocharged) that delivers 140Hp and the 2.0TDI in 140Hp & 170Hp guises. It is rumoured that the A3 Cabrio will debut at this year's Frankfurt Show in September. Via: Autoblog.it , Source: AMS

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