Prices for this all-new iteration of Audi A3 in Singapore begins at $166,140 (RM 516,000).
Audi Singapore has recently announced that the new A3 will go on sale over there. Debuting simultaneously in both Sportback hatchback and Sedan body styles, this all-new fourth iteration model lands in the tiny island nation six months after arriving in European dealerships last fall.
While much has already been said about this all-new A3 that premiered early last year, there are still nonetheless a few points worth highlighting about this compact Audi during its Singapore debut. Chief among which being the sole engine option of a 48 V mild-hybrid 1.5 litre turbocharged TFSI four-cylinder currently offered over there for both Sportback and Sedan.
Dubbed the 35 TFSI S tronic, power and torque figures for this sole powertrain combination on offer are rated at decent 150 hp and 250 Nm. And when mated to the sole transmission option of 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission, it equates to an adequate century sprint time of 8.4 second, as well as a rather remarkable 4.8 l/100 km fuel efficiency figure for both the Sedan and Sportback variations.
Interestingly however, the 232 km/h top speed of the Sedan is comparatively higher Sportback’s 224 km/h V-Max. Though this could be attributed to the former having a slipperier body with its Cd of 0.27, as opposed to the hatchback’s more blocky profile which gives it a marginally worse Cd factor of 0.29.
Speaking more of profiles and moving onto the exterior features, the sharply-styled A3 in Singapore comes as standard with LED headlights up front, 17-inch wheels down the side and LED combination rear lights with dynamic turn signals round the back. Playing with the configurator however enables customers to add Matrix LED headlamps, alloy wheels of up to 19-inches in diameter, an S roof spoiler and even carbon fibre exterior mirror caps and a panoramic glass sunroof.
Continuing on inside, the extensive options list available also enables for the addition of a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, sports seats and a Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound among others. The most interesting option that is able to be ticked for within the A3 though is perhaps the upholstery made from recycled PET bottles that replaces the standard leather interior.
Now having fun with the configurator will naturally lead to a car that is more expensive than the $166,140 (RM 516,000) and $167,890 (RM 522,000) base price (inclusive of COE and VES) for the A3 Sportback and A3 Sedan respectively. Having said that, both these cars do already feature as standard various premium features like Park Assist, lane departure warning and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit Plus digital instrument cluster.
Available for sale currently at Audi Centre Singapore, more information about the new A3 over there can be found in the press release below. For those with a little bit of time to kill and wanting to play around with the configurator on the other hand, here then are the links to the site for the Sportback and Sedan.
PRESS RELEASE: Audi Singapore has launched the latest generation of its new Audi A3 – its popular premium compact model – in the brand’s first Audi Experience session for the year. The new Audi A3 carries a new elegant design language with upgraded premium features and a full-fledged connected ecosystem, staying true to its winning attributes Audi customers and fans have come to love. The new launch also marks the first time the Sportback and Sedan bodystyles for the Audi A3 were presented at the same time.
The Audi A3 Sportback and A3 Sedan are now available at Audi Centre Singapore at the following recommended retail prices (including COE and VES) – $166,140 and $167,890.
Elegant, distinctive, and aerodynamic: the exterior
The new Audi A3 features compact proportions and a sporty design. The front is dominated by a large Singleframe with honeycomb grille that is flanked by striking headlights, accentuating the dynamic character of the premium compact car. On the outside, they form trapezoidal angles that are drawn downward. With the A3 Sportback, the body line running above the sill rises towards the rear lights before the rear wheel arch, thus accentuating the short rear end. The body line on the Sedan, by contrast, extends up to the rear bumper. This emphasizes its length 15 centimeters longer than the Sportback – and gives the flank an elegant appearance. The concave surface under the broad body shoulder further accentuates the quattro blisters and the sill. This creates an intensive play of light and shadow. The roof line slopes down from the B-pillar dynamically – just like on a coupé – and finishes in a striking spoiler on the tailgate.
The Sedan has a slightly higher rear end compared to its predecessor. In addition to the large diffuser, the car has Cd value of 0.27, which is 0.02 Cd points better than before. The A3 Sportback follows closely behind with a Cd value of 0.29 (previously 0.31). To further refine efficiency, the new A3 features controllable cooling-air inlet with two electrically actuated louver modules behind the Singleframe. They regulate the flow of air intelligently and according to the situation. In addition, the paneled underbody, the exterior mirrors with improved aerodynamics, and the active brake cooling reduce air resistance, making for a streamlined vehicle.
Focused and digitalized: controls and displays
The cockpit of the A3 is entirely focused on the driver. This begins with the interior design and ends with the display and control elements, all intuitive to operate. It uses familiar elements from the brand’s full-size models and is equipped with a 10.1-inch touch display as standard, which is integrated into the center of the instrument panel, and also inclined slightly towards the drive. As standard, it includes handwriting detection as well as natural language control that draws on the capabilities of the cloud. The Audi virtual cockpit plus instrument cluster measures 12.3 inches and offers three different views, including sporty graphics with inclined digits and a particularly dynamic layout. The RPM and speed are shown here as bar diagrams with angular red graphical elements. The driver have direct access to the functions of the digital display via the multifunctional steering wheel.
On request, a unique material made from recycled PET bottles and adorned with stylish contrasting stitching can be used in place of the leather upholstery that comes standard for Singapore. This is the first time that the material is offered by Audi, making the A3 unique in the segment.
Sophisticated: the engines
The new Audi A3 is launched in Singapore with a 1.5 TFSI engine that delivers 110 kW (150 hp) exclusively with a quick-shifting seven-speed S tronic. The engine features a 48-volt mild hybrid system, which impresses with its powerful torque and sophisticated running characteristics. It recovers energy during deceleration, supports the engine with up to 50 Nm of torque when driving off and accelerating from low engine speeds and allows the A3 to coast with the engine switched off in many situations. In everyday driving, it reduces consumption by up to 0.4 liters per 100 kilometers.
The A3 is the first Audi to be offered with such a set-up in Singapore. Other 4-cylinder TFSI engine in the Audi line-up featured the 12-volt system and focuses exclusively on energy recuperation, that is, without the additional support at lower engine speeds. Power will be transmitted by the quick-shifting seven-speed S tronic, the selector lever of which is now designed as a compact shifter. The driver can push and pull this to control the basic functions of the automatic transmission. Manual sequential shifting is done exclusively by the paddles located behind the steering spokes.
Refined and dynamic: the suspension
The suspension of the new A3 – with a four-link rear axle – is sporty and balanced, combining pleasant ride comfort with good dynamics. To a large degree, this precision and reaction speed is thanks to the central dynamic handling system that ensures optimal interaction between all the components relevant to the transverse dynamics. The Audi drive select dynamic handling system also allows the driver to bring about changes in the characteristics of the throttle response, transmission and the steering.
Highly connected: From infotainment to driver assistance
The A3 is connected to the smartphone via the myAudi app as well as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Personalization allows up to six users to store their preferred settings in individual profiles, including those for the seat, climate control and media.
Well versed and upgraded: the driver assist systems
Equipped with lane departure warning as standard, the A3 works with the onboard sensors to prevent accidents, or at least reduce their severity, offering a high level of safety. This is the first time Audi is offering the feature as standard in the segment.
Another notable feature onboard the A3 is Park Assist. Using information from the rear-view camera and 360-degree proximity sensors, the car is able to locate and execute steering inputs for parallel and perpendicular parking maneuvers. The system also manages the exiting of parallel parking lots.
Optimized: the space concept
The new A3 Sportback offers more space and functionality combined with compact external dimensions. Measuring 4.34 meters in length and 1.82 meters in width without the mirrors, the premium compact car has grown by just over three centimeters compared with its predecessor. The height of 1.43 meters and the wheelbase of 2.64 meters remained unchanged. Depending on the position of the rear bench seat, the luggage compartment holds between 380 and 1,200 liters, and the loading floor can be inserted at different heights.
The A3 Sedan is just over 15 centimeters longer than the Sportback. All other dimensions are identical. At 425 liters, the luggage capacity is the same as in the predecessor model. The Sedan continues to offer greater convenience than before with the gesture-controlled opening feature that was not available on the previous generation.
Pricing and availability
The Audi A3 Sedan and A3 Sportback are now available at Audi Centre Singapore with a recommended retail price of $166,140 and $167,890 respectively. Prices include COE and VES.
