Audi’s A3 Sportback family has grown with the introduction of the new 30 g-tron, which starts at € 30,705.88 (US$ 36,419) in Germany and will go on sale locally and in other European countries this fall. Powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) or biomethane, it packs a 1.5-liter TFSI engine with upgraded components that pushes out 131 PS and 200 Nm of torque from 1,400 to 4,000 rpm and is hooked up to a seven-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
In this form, the CNG-powered German
hatchback does the 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 9.7 seconds and
tops out at 211 km/h. The average fuel consumption in the NEDC cycle
is 3.6-3.5 kg of CNG per 100 km and the CO2 emissions stand at 99-96 g/km. With
the petrol tank and two CNG tanks filled, the total NEDC range is 495 km (308
miles), or 445 km (277 miles) WLTP.
Mounted in front of the rear axle, the
petrol tank has a 9-liter capacity, whereas the two CNG tanks can
hold approximately 7 kg of gas each and are located beneath the
luggage compartment floor. The CNG tanks are made of fiber-composite materials
and feature an outer layer of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) that turns
milky white if damaged. Before they are mounted, they are pressure tested at
300 bar, 100 bar more than the operating pressure, and the vessels have to
withstand a burst pressure of 580 bar, 110 bar more than the legal
requirements.
The A3 Sportback 30 g-tron’s standard
equipment list features LED headlights, a 10.1-inch infotainment system, a
digital instrument cluster, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel,
lane departure warning, pre-sense front, swerve assist and turn assist.
Optional gear includes matrix LED headlights, sports seats, panoramic glass
roof, three-zone climate control, head-up display and others.
