The 2012 Geneva Motor Show gave way to the new generation Audi A3, and Audi->ke14 is following up that release with the debut of the five-door Sportback version at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. The new model will go on sale in February 2013, with prices in Germany starting from €22,500, or $29,144 at the current rates.

When compared to the standard three-door version, the new Sportback is 73 mm longer and has a 35 mm longer wheelbase. It is also 58 mm longer compared to the outgoing A3 Sportback. This allows the new Sportback an additional 380 liters of boot space, or about 15 liters more than the three-door model.

At its launch, the Audi A3 Sportback will be offered with a choice of one TDI and two TFSI engines, with two diesel engines and one gasoline unit arriving at a later date. All engines will be offered with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox, as well as an optional S tronic transmission.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Audi A3 Sportback.

2013 Audi A3 Sportback

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Audi A3 Sportback
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 180
  • Torque: 184
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The new A3 Sportback has been built on an MQB platform that makes it 198 lbs lighter than the outgoing model. As a result, the version equipped with a 1.4 liter engine now weighs an impressive 2,656 lbs. Overall, the model has grown, measuring 4,310 millimeters in length, 1,780 millimeters in width, and 1,425 millimeters in height.

The exterior design language was already previewed in the three-door version of the new A3, so there's not much of a surprise there. At the front of the vehicle there is a distinctive stone gray single-frame grille and flat headlights with optional xenon plus headlights and LED daytime running lights. At the rear, the model gets LED rear lights in combination with the xenon plus headlights, a small diffuser, and, depending on the engine, the exhaust system terminates in one or two tailpipes on the left side of the car.

Customers will get to choose between 13 exterior colors: three solid finishes, eight metallic finishes, and two pearl-effect finishes. These exterior colors can be combined with the usual S-Line package and an optional high-gloss package that adds accents around the windows.

Interior

The elegant look of the exterior continues on the interior where Audi has used the highest quality materials, as well as the latest technologies offered by the company. The center console has been designed to offer the best driving experience and comes with intuitively clean ergonomics. Just like all of the other models, the new A3 Sportback is offered with the MMI operating system with a power-retractable monitor and the MMI radio. Many control elements are optionally available in an aluminum-look finish for the Control units. The steering wheel can be ordered in different versions, depending on the trim level chosen: three or four spokes, a flat-bottomed rim, multifunction buttons, and shift paddles.

The interior offers more options in its interior design with three different interior choices: Attraction, Ambition, and Ambiente. The Attraction model comes with a black or titanium gray interior and standard cloth seats. The Ambition features an all black or black with additional silver interior with blue or yellow contrasting elements, and cloth seats. The Ambiente has a beige and chestnut brown interior with a mix of cloth and synthetic leather for the seats. As an option, customers can choose Milano leather or a combination of Pearl Nappa leather and Alcantara.

The optional S line sport package will completely immerses the interior in black and will add sports seats covered with a combination of Biathlon cloth and leather, inlays in a matte brushed aluminum or high-gloss 3D-design black, a shift lever with perforated leather and a special leather sport steering wheel.

Engine Line-up

At its launch, the new A3 Sportback will be offered with a choice of one TDI and two TFSI engines, with two diesel engines and one gasoline unit arriving at a later date. All engines will be offered with technologies like direct injection, turbocharging, innovative thermal management, and the start-stop system, which can reduce fuel consumption by about 10% when compared to the outgoing model.

The base TDI version is a 1.6 TDI engine that delivers an impressive fuel economy of 61.90 mpg and will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 10.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 120 mph. Next, there's a 2.0 TDI offered in two versions. The base version delivers a total of 150 HP and 236 lbs-ft and sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds and up to a top speed of 132 mph. The top version delivers a total of 184 HP and will sprint the A3 from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds and up to a top speed of 144 mph. This version delivers a fuel economy of 54 mpg.

Customers interested in gasoline engines will have a base version powered by a 1.2 TFSI engine that generates a total of 105 HP and 129 lbs-ft of torque. When mated to the S-tronic gearbox, this version will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 10.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 119 mph. Fuel consumption on this version is 48 mpg.

The gasoline line-up continues with a new 1.4 engine offered in two versions. The base version delivers a total of 122 HP and 147 lbs-ft of torque and will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds and up to a top speed of 149 mph. The second version delivers a total of 140 HP and 184.39 lb-ft of torque and will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds and up to a top speed of 132 mph. This engine has a fuel economy of 50 mpg.

Finally, the most powerful gasoline engine is a 1.8 TFSI that delivers a total of 180 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque. It sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds and up to a top speed of 144 mph. Fuel consumption is 42 mpg. Also, starting 2013, Audi will be offering a new, 110 HP TCNG engine that will power the Audi e-gas version and as of 2014 the e-tron version will join the line-up.

All engines will be paired with a manual six-speed transmission or an optional S tronic.

Prices

The new Audi A3 Sportback will go on sale in February 2013; prices in Germany will start from €22,500, or about $29,000 at the current rates (for the 1.2 TFSI version).

Competition

There are plenty of competitors for Audi, but we'll focus on the ones that have just hit the market or will be hitting the market soon. One of these models is the Volvo V30 - a four-door version of the current C30 set to arrive in late 2012 or early 2013. The timing of this release may just send the new A3 Sportback into a state of panic because, although not much is known about the future car, the spy shots of the vehicle make the redesign look promising. Then there's the new BMW 1-Series Sport and Urban Line unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. This model is offered with a choice of two of the latest-generation four-cylinder petrol engines and three radically redesigned four-cylinder diesel units, with power ranging from 116 HP to 184 HP.