Audi South Africa has announced that the new A3 will launch locally on 29 July.
The company said the new model is sporty, digitized, and fully connected.
Currently, there is little local-specific information available for the range – but we do know that South Africa is getting a five-door Sportback, a four-door Sedan, and a Sports performance model at launch.
For more clues to what we can expect the fourth-generation Audi A3 range to deliver, we looked at other markets where it is already available.
What to expect
According to the Audi A3 German specifications, the upcoming model features an extensively digitized cabin, with touch-sensitive buttons, large displays, and a minimalist design.
The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Earth navigation, and a Wi-Fi hotspot – with climate control, LED lights, and a multifunction steering wheel forming part of the equipment list.
It also gets the shrunken gear lever found in a variety of Audi, Porsche, and VW vehicles.
A range of upholstery options are available, too, featuring two-tone leather and fabric mixes, as well as full leather seats with matching door inlays in the S line specification.
Buyers can then fit the Audi virtual cockpit at an additional cost, which adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster next to the 10.1-inch infotainment display.
In Europe, there are six engine and transmission combinations to choose from in the A3.
The entry-level 1.0-litre petrol TFSI engine pairs with a six-speed manual transmission only, and develops 81kW.
A larger 1.5-litre TFSI engine is also available, which generates 110kW and mates with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox.
A 2.0-litre diesel TDI motor generates between 85kW and 110kW, depending on the specification, and only connects to the seven-speed automatic transmission.
A new A3 30 G-Tron model was also added to the German line-up, which is capable of operating with natural gas or biomethane.
Audi RS3
Alongside the launch of the new A3 range, we were shown new high-performance RS3 Sedan and RS3 Sportback cars.
These models are powered by a 2.5-litre, turbo-petrol motor generating 294kW and 500Nm, allowing them to accelerate to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
They are also the first models from the brand to feature a torque splitter and variable exhaust system as standard.
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