PGA Cars unveils compact, 5-door Audi A3

PGA Cars, Inc., the exclusive importer and distributor of Audi in the Philippines, introduced to the motoring press in a restaurant at Fort Bonifacio Global City last Thursday the latest Audi A3. The A3 is a compact, premium 5-door hatchback that combines sporty European driving characteristics with a spacious interior and typical German high build quality.

PGA Cars, Inc. president Miguel Coyiuto said the new Audi A3 redefines the benchmark in the premium compact class.

"What makes the Audi A3’s arrival in the Philippines even more special is that it coincides with the 10th year anniversary of the Audi A3’s global presence. In September 1996, Audi launched the first-generation A3. With its sporty character, excellent build quality and sophisticated technology, it created a new vehicle class — the premium compact segment," Coyiuto said.

The second-generation, in production since 2003, sees the A3 and A3 Sportback enhancing this position, now made more high-profile with the recent arrival of the likewise compact 5-door BMW 1-series and Mercedes-Benz B-class.

While the new A3 is not an all-new model, Audi has improved it in several areas and extended its equipment. The most obvious change can be seen at the front end of the vehicle. The latest A3 now sports the new single-frame grille which defines the latest Audi models. The new Audi face enhances the dynamism of the five-door model even more significantly than before.

The coupé-like profile, which combines tautness and athleticism, has been retained. The gently rising beltline of the window area and the racy roofline converge in the evocative tail end.

Audi creates a distinctive look with its range of colors for the exterior — from Artic White to Brilliant Black, from Toucan Yellow to Liquid Blue.

Under the hood, Audi boasts ultramodern injection technology for both its diesel and its gasoline engines. As well as the two TDI engines, Audi offers three gasoline units with direct injection. Depending on the engine, a 5-speed or 6-speed manual gearbox is fitted, with Tiptronic manumatic shifting a further option. Incorporating six speeds, this automatic transmission is unique in the compact segment.

As an alternative to the manual gearbox, the 2.0 TDI, 3.2 quattro and 2.0 TFSI can be ordered with the new Direct Shift Gearbox or DSG. This innovative transmission, inspired by racing technology, has a twin-clutch design with electro-hydraulic control that permits near-instantaneous gear changes without interrupting the flow of power from the engine.

The top-of-the-line A3’s 250-hp (with 320 Nm of torque) 3.2-litre 24-valve V6 engine with DSG propels the A3 from 0 to 100 km/h in a sports car-like 6.4 seconds and achieves an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

On the other hand, the entry-level A3 with the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with variable intake manifold and camshaft delivers 102 bhp. In conjunction with the 1.6-litre engine and a 5-speed manual gearbox, the new Audi A3 has been rated to consume only 7.1 liters of premium-grade fuel per 100 kilometers. With a power output of 102 bhp and a torque rating of 148 Nm, the 1.6-liter A3 accelerates to 100 km/h in 11.9 seconds and achieves a top speed of 185 km/h.

As for the mid-range 2.0-litre TDI diesel motor, which Audi first offered for its A3, a maximum output of 140 bhp and peak torque of 320 Nm is available between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm, making this the most powerful and dynamic four-cylinder diesel that Audi has ever installed in its cars. Performance on the road is correspondingly impressive: the front-wheel-drive 2.0 TDI with 6-speed manual gearbox accelerates to 100 km/h in just 9.5 seconds and continues briskly on to its top speed of 207 km/h. It consumes 5.5 liters of diesel per 100 km on the European cycle.

Another feature of the 2.0 TDI is the rapid-starting diesel system allowing the driver to start the engine immediately in all outside temperatures, without a long preheating process. The top-of-the-range diesel model is also available optionally with Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel-drive or the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG).

Capable handling has always been Audi’s strong suit. A sophisticated suspension design provides the foundation for the excellent driving dynamics of the new A3: the McPherson front suspension and the four-link independent rear suspension, offering a high standard of stability and producing excellent cornering performance in conjunction with both front-wheel and quattro all-wheel-drive.

The electro-mechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance combines optimum feedback from steering movements with a low level of sensitivity to vibration from the road surface, and consumes far less energy than a conventional hydraulic system. An improved Electronic Stability Program or ESP assists the driver in critical situations. If the car threatens to swerve and the driver decides to steer to stabilize the vehicle, steering resistance is reduced. If there is a risk of the driver aggravating the critical situation by an incorrect steering maneuver, steering resistance is increased.

The interior design of the Audi A3 is characterized by sportiness and elegance. This impression is the result of the low seat position, the high and wide centre console and the clear subdivision of the dashboard. The interior surfaces and each individual detail are noted for their first-rate material quality and a superbly crafted finish — longtime Audi qualities. Sports seats with fine Nappa leather upholstery in the colors black, light grey and red are new to the range.

The flush transition from the dashboard to the door window sill is also typical of the Audi. This line rises gently as it tapers dynamically towards the rear end. The instrument cluster is housed within an almost round cover, an element that echoes the design of other sporty Audi models such as the TT sports car and the A4 Cabriolet.

Ergonomic design is combined with equally outstanding aesthetic qualities throughout the car’s interior: typical examples are the round air vents, the rotary controls for the automatic air conditioning, the inside door handles and glove box release lever which are all trimmed with aluminum. Two slender bars connect the center tunnel with the vertical plane of the console. Typically found on sports cars, these elements additionally emphasize the sportiness and dynamism of the A3.

Prices? These range from P2.250 million for the A3 1.6 to P2.650 million for the A3 2.0 TDI to P3.8 million for the flagship A3 3.2 quattro. To get to know more about the new Audi A3, visit PGA Cars along EDSA, Greenhills.