The new A3 is an absolutely crucial car for Audi as it seeks to establish parity with its rivals from Bavaria and Stuttgart. For the first time, the A3 will be available in the United States. We won't be getting the three-door you see here, but we will be offered the five-door in 2005. As a taster of the future, we were given the chance to drive the three-door version on UK roads.
The styling is a gentle evolution of its predecessor, which was a big success in Europe. Audi customers tend to be fairly conservative and the marque has no desire to offend them by "doing a BMW." The three-door silhouette has changed little, but the soft curves of the old car have been given a harder edge. The face now scowls where once it smiled, and the high-set shoulder line lends it a more hunched, determined stance. It's less elegant than the old model, but there's no doubting it has greater visual impact and it looks better in the metal than it does on paper.
It's also significantly larger than its predecessor in order to provide more cabin space. The wheelbase has grown by 2.5 inches to 101.5 inches and it's 1.1 inch wider than before. Two sensibly sized adults can now perch happily on the rear bench, while those in the front sit in comfortable, supportive chairs. The round air vents and air-conditioning controls look terrific and contribute to a cabin atmosphere that oozes premium quality. No one is going to describe this A3 as just an oversized Golf.
To provide the requisite dynamics, Audi developed an all-new suspension system. An independent, four-link rear end is accompanied by MacPherson struts at the front. Two different tunes are available on European spec cars - standard and Sport. The latter provides uprated springs and dampers and a new anti-roll bar. Audi's Quattro four-wheel-drive system will be standard on the flagship 3.2-liter V6.
Within the first mile of the test drive, it's clear this Audi has a subtly different character to the model it replaces. While the old car's sporting credentials were no more than marketing hype, its successor really is driver-focused. Even the standard suspension setup is aggressively damped.
This car is genuinely fun to drive in a way that its predecessor wasn't. Body roll is well suppressed, grip is plentiful and it turns in with alacrity. Purists may bemoan the fact that the mainstream models are front-wheel drive, but in the dry at least, the A3 is just as responsive and adjustable as the BMW Compact.
Audi's technicians have also paid careful attention to the tactile qualities of the major controls. The throttle pedal, for example, now pivots, BMW-style, from the floor, and the brake is ideally positioned for those who like to heel and toe. The notchy, long throw gearshift of the old car has also been replaced with a unit that's faster and more positive. The electromechanical steering system is new and varies its assistance according to vehicle speed. It lacks the ultimate sensitivity of the BMW helm, but it's a huge improvement on its predecessor's muted rack.
The 3.2-liter version will be offered in Europe with Audi's Dynamic Shift Gearbox, which recently debuted on the TT V6. Boasting two clutches, it changes gear in 0.02 seconds at the prod of a paddle and without a pause in the power delivery. Audi U.S. was unable to confirm that DSG will be offered here, but it should take the plunge.
Just one petrol engine, a direct injection 2.0-liter, was available for us to test at the launch. Boasting 148 hp and 147 lb-ft of torque, Audi says it propels the A3 from zero to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds and on to 131 mph. Also on the petrol menu in Europe is a 101-bhp 1.6-liter, and the range-topping 3.2-liter V6 with 247 bhp. The entry-level model in the U.S. is likely to feature Audi's familiar 1.8t five cylinder.
Priced from £15,190 ($25,329) to £23,665 ($39,461) in the UK, the A3 remains a premium choice when compared with similarly sized, mainstream alternatives such as the Ford Focus. It represents good value, though, relative to the BMW 3 series and the Mercedes Sports Coupe. If this is a sign of things to come from "sporting" Audi, enthusiasts are in for a treat.