Audi A3 (South Africa)


The facelifted Audi A3 range has been launched in South Africa, combining fresh technology, new engines and subtly updated styling. The updated A3 is available as a three-door hatchback, five-door Sportback, sedan and cabriolet. S3 are also on offer, while the RS3 Sedan and RS3 Sportback will be added to the local range in 2017.

Besides the updated styling, which includes the likes of new headlight and taillight designs, a fresh front bumper, a redesigned grille and a reshaped rear diffuser, the latest A3 is also now available with LED and Matrix LED headlights, which offer nifty dynamic turn signals.


The new engine range includes five powerplants, with outputs ranging from 116 Hp to 310 Hp. New to the line-up is the 1,0 TFSI, the first three-cylinder engine to be offered in the Audi A3 range. This little mill makes 116 Hp and 200 Nm, with Audi claiming a consumption figure of 4,5 L/100 km. It propels the front-wheel-drive A3 from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 9,7 seconds.

Then there’s the new 1,4 TFSI engine, which boasts cylinder-on-demand technology, switching off two cylinders when extra power is not required. Outputs stand at 150 hp and 250 Nm, with claimed consumption mirroring that of the 1,0-litre mill.

A newly developed 2,0 TFSI is worth 190 Hp and 320 Nm. The sprint to three figures takes a claimed 6,7 seconds, before puff runs out at 244 km/h. This engine is mated to a new seven-speed (wet) dual-clutch transmission. A 2,0-litre four-cylinder TDI engine making 143 Hp and 340 N.m will also be offered, married exclusively to the S tronic transmission. Claimed fuel consumption comes in at 4,5 L/100 km.


The S3 now has an additional 25 Hp and 20 Nm for a total of 310 Hp and 400 Nm. Mated to the new seven-speed transmission, claimed consumption falls to 6,4 L/100 km. The dash to three figures takes 4,5 seconds in the hatch, 4,6 seconds in the Sportback and the Sedan, and 5,1 seconds in the cabriolet.


Inside, Audi’s nifty Virtual Cockpit can now be optionally specified, which adds a 12,3-inch TFT screen to the equation.