First Drive: 2015 Audi A3 Sedan By Henny Hemmes
By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor
The Auto Channel
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
With the A3 Limousine, as it is called in my home country, Audi sticks to the design philosophy that has been used for the A4, A6 and A8 sedans. This is not a surprise, given the fact that buyers who are ‘down sizing’ probably do not want to be recognized as obviously doing that. If the A3 and A4 are not parked next to each other, it will not be easy to notice that the A3 is 9.3 inches shorter than the A4.
![]() |
Audi uses several materials, including an aluminum hood and front axle components, and occupant cell with a large proportion of high-end steel, resulting in a weight of just 2,755 lbs for the 1.4 TFSI model.
The sedan will get the new 1.8-liter TFSI turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 180 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Since Audi sold many diesel engines in the A3 in North America in the past few years, the new Sedan will be available there with the latest Volkswagen Group’s 2.0-liter TDI diesel with 150 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Europe and other markets will furthermore get the 1.4 TFSI with 140 hp and the 1.6 TDI with 105 hp. The A3 Limo will be offered with either a six-speed manual or S Tronic DCT.
![]() |
The 1.4 TFSI engine offers enough power to quickly maneuver through the traffic and to safely overtake other vehicles on two lane roads. But we were only with two in the car and no luggage. The torque of the 1.6 TDI that I also drove makes this a livelier model and more to my own taste. But people who will not hit the freeways much and drive mostly in rural areas will do well with the ‘base’ engine.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
The A3 Sedan is the first Audi that will be completely built in the Audi plant in Györ in Hungary. Therefore, it is not a surprise the test drives with the new model were organized around Budapest. In 1993, the plant started with the production of engines and has become the largest engine factory in the world. Five years later, Györ started assembly of the Audi TT, later followed by the A3 Convertible and RS3 Sportback.
The expansion of the factory to accommodate production of the A3 Sedan started two years ago. Early June,VW CEO Martin Winterkorn, Audi Chief Rupert Stadler and Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban opened the more than 2 million square feet facility. The plant already employed 9,000 people, but the extension adds some 2,100 new jobs and has a capacity of 100 thousand units.
The A3 Limousine will also be built in Mexico as well as in the Chinese city of Foshan, where Audi will open a new plant with a capacity for 100 thousand cars before the end of the year.
Two more models of the A3 are expected this year: the RS3 and the A3 Convertible.