We spotted the Audi A3 in Mumbai and looking at it in its full livery, it looks ready for launch. Audi had said that they would be launching its entry level sedan in the second half of this year and it is possible that we will see the car sooner than expected.
The A3 that we saw had a 2.0-litre TDI badging and it not at all surprising to see how the engine that made its way into the Skoda Octavia, VW Passat, Jetta and even the A4 and A6 will be the heart of this entry level sedan. Audi had showcased the 1.8-litre TFSI petrol variant at the Auto Expo and the 2.0-litre will be the diesel option that will be made available. The car will be manufactured at the company's Aurangabad plant.
The A3 gets nine spoke alloys and so we can determine that it was the to-end variant. The entry level will get five spoke alloys. The A3 is 4460mm long, 1796mm wide and 1416mm high, with a wheelbase of 2400mm
But let's talk about what the A3 is all about. The A3 is the compact executive sedan which Audi plans to slot ahead of the A4. So, yes, there is a cheaper Audi that will make its way to the Indian market soon.
The car was first introduced in 1996 and used the Volkswagen Group's A platform, but from the 3rd generation onward, the A3 has been based on the versatile MQB platform, the same platform which develops cars like the Skoda Octavia.
The fact remains that its chief rival in India will be the Mercedes-Benz CLA. Now from what we can see when it comes to figures, the A3 is 170mm shorter, 19mm wider and 19mm lower than the Mercedes CLA while the wheelbase of the CLA is 63mm longer than the A3 saloon's. So, on paper the CLA does look like a car that can beat the A3 but it looks like Audi has fast tracked its plan to bring the A3 in India and it might be here in the next couple of months.
Audi, yet again, will have the upper hand when it comes to launching their product first in the Indian market and we all know what the early bird ends up getting.
