2017 Audi A3 and S3 Facelift
The Audi A3 isn't the littlest Audi
anymore, but it's consistently one of the most prevalent, with an
ever-expanding lineup. And it's just received a nip and tuck to keep it fresh.
Big news on the outside is the addition
of Matrix LED headlights for the A3 in the newly sharpened light housings.
Xenons are now standard fare on the A3, with normal LED lights the upgrade. A
grille that's seemingly lifted off of the A4 sits between the lights. There are
also five new exterior colors, according to Audi, bringing the roster of
choices up to 12.
New features seen on the revised A3 have
been seen first on recent Audis such as the second-generation Q7 and 2017 A4
line. Adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist is now on offer, as is
active lane assist and emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
Audi's glorious Virtual Cockpit is now
an option, too. As in the TT, Q7 and A4, it looks like it will impress A3
drivers with sharp resolution over the 12.3-inch screen. A 7-inch screen still
rises electrically from the dashboard for the MMI interface, but it's unclear
if it finally incorporates a USB port and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as the
2017 A4 now does.
The engine lineup now includes a
1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 115 horsepower at the bottom of the
range, and a 2.0-liter turbo four with 190 horses towards the top. A new
1.6-liter turbodiesel with 110 horsepower serves as the economy choice for
diesel power. The 204-horsepower A3 e-tron returns, too, as does the
high-performance S3, which gets 10 more horsepower for a total of 310 hp.
The revised A3 starts arriving in
certain markets in May.
