The fourth-generation Audi A3 is set to gain a more adventurous variant as revealed by a high-riding prototype caught testing by spy photographers. The new version is expected to debut sometime in 2022 and will bridge the gap between the regular A3 and the Q3. Chances are the crossover-style A3 could be called either the Allroad like the larger A4 Avant / A6 Avant, the Citycarver like the smaller A1, or the Cityhopper which is a new name suggested by our sources. Our guess is that Audi will use the Allroad name only if it is combined with the quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system.
Most automakers are opting for station
wagon crossovers in this segment like the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, Ford Focus
Active, Toyota Corolla Trek, and the rumored Opel Astra Cross. Audi is one of
the pioneers on high-riding alternatives with the Allroad range, and wanted a
compact crossover in the C-Segment to give more options for its target audience
with an active lifestyle.
Thus, the prototype is based on the
five-door Sportback bodystyle rather than the four-door sedan that is available
stateside. This would position it directly against the DS 4, as well as the
slightly less premium Kia XCeed. The camouflage is hiding a large portion of
the bodywork which is going to be redesigned compared to the regular A3
Sportback. New features will include plastic cladding on the front/rear
bumpers, side sills, and wheelarch extensions, along with a raised suspension
for extra ground clearance.
Given that the Audi A3 is based on the MQB
Evo platform, the high-riding model could theoretically get all-wheel-drive,
while not as technically advanced as in the RS 3 performance flagship. While a
quattro badge would fit well with the rugged styling, most buyers in this
segment don’t really care about off-roading. This means Audi will likely offer
front-wheel-drive variants sharing their underpinnings with the regular A3
range while adding a bit extra flexibility thanks to the increased ground
clearance and the higher driving position.
This is the case with the pictured
prototype that spots a charging port hinting at the FWD plug-in hybrid
powertrain from the Audi A3 Sportback 45 TFSI and the equivalent variant of the
Q3. The plug-in hybrid system consists of the 1.4 TFSI engine and an electric
motor, for a combined output of 245 PS, while the 13 kWh
lithium-ion battery is offering a 63 km electric range in the
hatchback. We will learn more about the high-riding variant of the Audi A3 in
the coming months as a debut is rumored for 2022.
