Audi's new four door A3 sheds more of its disguise
Audi’s new A3 saloon will go on sale at the end of this year, and this is our best look yet at the car, seen here testing with minimal disguise.
Although aimed at the US and China, where small saloons outsell hatches, Audi wants the A3 saloon to appeal to younger buyers in Europe and to help the A3 range become the brand’s second biggest seller, after the A4.
It will also provide Audi with a rival for the new Mercedes CLA saloon and BMW’s 1-series saloon, as the three brands step up the fight for the lower end of the premium market. An increase in length over the A3 hatch will help to make up for the boot space lost by turning the car into a saloon.
The A3 saloon will also be the basis for a hot S3 version, likely to look much like the concept car from the 2011 Geneva motor show. It will use the drivetrain and suspension from the current S3 hatch, and will be revealed at the Shanghai motor show in April.