A report on German Auto publication Auto Motor Und Sport supports the notion that the MQB-based Audi A3 sedan will stun audience assembled at the Geneva Motor Show next March.
The A3 is the first Audi to be constructed on the MQB kit architecture that underpins a wide assortment of next generation Volkswagen Group models.
IAB readers are aware that the next generation Polo, taking shape in Wolfsburg, is developed on the same architecture and so are next generation Passat, Jetta, Laura and Golf cars.
Audi displayed the A3 concept model at the Geneva Motor Show this year. The production model, understandably smaller than A4 is 4.40 meters long, 1.84 m wide, 1.39 m high with a wheelbase of 2.63 meters.
As AMS is an European publication, the report fails to provide insights on the diesel engine. We can safely predict the 2.0-liter TDI from the Jetta/Passat to make it on to the A3. Audi could also look at the 1.6 TDI from the Vento after upping the power and torque.
The engine mentioned on the report is the 1.4 TSI (140 PS) that can operate on just two cylinders if need be. Variable cylinder management could be a common feature on the next generation BlueMotion technology that returns higher savings.
The A3 is a fantastic opportunity for Audi to widen its reach in India given the craze and fan following its vehicles have. It goes without saying that Audi is doing very well in India (4,210 cars so far in 2011 compared to 2,178 during the same period last year corresponding to a growth of 93.3%).
The Indian public will be served with the Q3 crossover next year after which the A3 sedan is expected. Prices are going to be competitive as both models will benefit from the CKD operations at the Aurangabad facility shared with group company Skoda. Audi's ambition to reach the summit of the luxury car market by 2015 depends heavily on the performance of these two low-price vehicles as BMW and Mercedes are going to unload a pile of similar models in the coming years.
[Source - Auto-motor-und-sport.de]
