New Audi A3 Sportback

Audi has unveiled the practical new A3 Sportback on the eve of the Paris Motor Show

Audi has unveiled the five-door A3 Sportback, just days after the three-door arrived in UK dealers. The new car is 58mm longer than its predecessor, making it 35mm longer than the current three-door. It also gets a 380-litre boot, which is in an increase of 10 liters over the old Sportback and 30 liters over the current three-door.

There are no surprises in terms of styling, with the changes limited to an extra pair of doors and a set of roof rails. It gets the same nose and gaping grille as the three-door, with Audi’s design language apparent throughout. Interior quality will be top-notch, too.

Spec and engine choice will follow the three-door, meaning there are two petrol and one diesel motor at launch. The mid-range 2.0-litre TDI diesel will be capable of 0-60mph in around 8.5 seconds while returning more than 60mpg average fuel economy. Buyers can choose between base-spec SE, mid-range Sport or flagship S line trims.

Specifying two extra doors on your new A3 will cost you £620, with prices starting at £19,825 for a 1.4 TFSI Sportback SE. A top-spec 1.8 TFSI Sportback S line will cost you £27,180 and all models should be in showrooms early next year.

AUDI S3 REVEALED

Pictures and details of the new 296bhp Audi S3, which has been unveiled at the Paris Motor Show

Audi has unveiled its new 296bhp Audi S3 hot-hatch at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

All that power comes from a new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which easily eclipses the 276bhp on offer from the Vauxhall Astra VXR. It’ll out-perform almost every other hot-hatch on the market, too, thanks to a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds. Go for the six-speed manual rather than the DSG, and that increases to 5.4 seconds.

Kerbweight has been cut by 60kg compared to its predecessor, and that’s despite it being larger than the car it replaces. The drop in weight combined with the standard fitting of the Audi Drive Select system, which includes adaptive dampers should make for impressive handling. As you'd expect, Audi's quattro four-wheel drive system is standard, too. 

Another benefit of the reduced weight, is the improved fuel consumption which is now up to a fraction over 40mpg whether you go for the manual or automatic gearbox. 

The S3’s makeover is typically subtle, with LED daytime running lights as standard, a specific ‘S’ grille finished in an aluminium-look paint and some large air-intakes mounted either side of the front bumper. At the rear there are four oval exhausts mounted in a grey diffuser and a large roof spoiler. The usual grey wing mirrors and ‘S’ badges complete the look.

Meanwhile, inside there’s an additional boost pressure dial in the instrument binnacle, there’s a flat-bottomed steering wheel and new sports seats finished in a choice of materials, from part leather and cloth to Alcantara and Nappa leather.

Audi has said that the S3 will arrive in dealerships early next year, and while there are no details as to UK pricing, the newcomer will start from 38,900 EUR in Germany. This suggests a price-tag of just over £30,000 in the UK.