NEW A3 Pre-production Pics!

[Guest 2]

Got the opportunity to go and see a preproduction model preview of the new a3 today. I liked the look of the car from viewing online so I thought I'd go and have a look about.

First impressions were really good, the new front grill sets the car off and the DRLs fitted to this car looked good too.

The car looked sorta like an A1-ish shape at the back, although it does seem somewhat wider than the 8P on the 3 door model. Sportback isnt released until next year.

The cabin felt and looked very like an A1 too along with the usual build quality - very good, good materials used and the seats were very comfy and supporting along with the touchy feely of the switches.

The 8V now gets an electronic handbrake as standard and does away with the Z handbrake the 8P had.

Some spec that this car had:

Panaramic Sunroof
Adaptive cruise control
Xenon with afs
Auto lights
Auto wipers
HDD nav with google
Dab radio
Auto hill hold
Half leather seats
Interior light pack
Audi drive select
Start/stop
Park assist
Front and rear sensors
LED interior lights - possible retrofit to 8P? ;)
Heated seats front and rear
Digital air con
Keyless go
Electric seats
AMI
18" alloys which look very Golf GTI
Lane assist and side assist
Auto dimming mirrors
Bang and olofusen stereo system
LED number plate lights which are standard ;)

And probably a lot more I've missed out!

Very nice car - prices start at £19 (!) for the basic car and a 1.4 tfsi. Diesels start at £20k. No offers for 18 months.

Tempted to place an order there and then and ditch my troublesome 8P! ;)

Delivery early Autumn. Sportback due mid 2013.

Pictures were taken quickly due to others looking at the car so it was point and go sorry!

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1534.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1535.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1536.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1538.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1539.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1540.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1541.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1543.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1544.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1545.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1546.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1548.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1549.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1551.jpg

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o576/chriscleaning/IMG_1552.jpg

[MFGF]

Very nice Chris! It is a real looker! The MMI seems to be missing the major function buttons from what I saw (Nav, Tel, Radio, Media, Car and Menu) or are they hiding somewhere?

When is your build week? ;)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[neilos100]

Yeah....very nice... I NEED one of those flat-bottomed steering wheels in my A6..:D

Sent from my HTC One X using Xparent Red Tapatalk 2

[Guest 2]

Very nice Chris! It is a real looker! The MMI seems to be missing the major function buttons from what I saw (Nav, Tel, Radio, Media, Car and Menu) or are they hiding somewhere?

When is your build week? ;)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Yep it's a very nice car .. I actually had my cheque book with my funnily enough for a different matter so it coulda came in handy ;)

Oops will upload that pic now, forgot to copy it from my phone.

If you look at them on your pc they're a bit clearer

Was going to try out the google/online thing with my iPhone to see if they had sneaked an update in but wasn't allowed to turn the car on

Build week not confirmed yet but getting updates very soon ;)

http://img.tapatalk.com/5284f82a-756f-aa47.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Brycie]

Another thumbs up here from me, very nice. I believe that's the lovechild from when an A6 C7 and an A1 got together. Very reminiscent overall of the A1 from the rear but with the red bulb formation from the C7, and the front light casing is also reminiscent of the C7. I do like the DRLs, very nice & a bit different.

How was the interior in the flesh? The grey seems a bit drabin the pics, but photographs often don't do interiors justice.

[Guest 2]

Sorry for the dreadful pictures .. My phone is usually clearer but didn't want to cooperate!

Interior is very nice inside, a bit dark though. Materials feel well made, very robust and switches feel good quality too.

I have to say I feel the quality of the interior is better than my A6 - maybe because the C6 was made for 6 years and time and technology has moved on, but I definitely feel a higer quality feel throughout.

[Brycie]

High praise indeed. I really like the look/colour sceme of the DIS & the pop up MMI Screen

[Guest 2]

Yep its very smart, thinner than an iPhone so it is ;)

I think its a LED screen but A8 could probably confirm this.

[Brycie]

I'm quite looking forward to seeing the reviews on TG, 5th Gear, Auto Express etc as it looks like a class leader in the making with that level of trim.

[Guest 2]

TG Review - http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/first-drive-the-new-audi-a3-2012-05-16

Auto express - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/283294/audi_a3_20_tdi_sline.html

[Brycie]

Hahaha, ask and it shall be done. You're on fire this morning Chris. Roll on 5pm & I'll read these in more detail, I didn't think they'd be out yet.

[Guest 2]

I'm off work until Monday so spending my time on here while everyone else is out! Sad or what!

[Brycie]

While you're on the forum talking about cars, you're not out there spending money on them, so you're actually being productive by saving cash. It is quite addictive the forum though, so I know what you mean. The wife sometimes rations me on it in the evenings & I get told off if I glance at the screen while we're eating

[Guest 2]

Yep I know what you mean - got my two insurance renewals in the post today - A6 £473 and A3 £310.

Filled both today too - Just under £180 for both :(

Diesel has gone down to 139.9 from 144.9 compared to last week in a Maxol garage due to Asda dropping their maximum price ever for derv to 139.9

Its all money money money!!!

[Brycie]

Tell me about it, it's one thing after another. I saw an episode of 5th Gear today where they were doing a feature on the benefits of VPower & BP Ultimate fuel and they were moaning at how petrol had hit 100.9p a litre - those were the days.

I read those two reviews, thanks for posting. Good reviews. It's amazing how far things have come on in just 6 years, today's basic A3 seems to be better specced than the basic A6 of 6 years ago, and the A6 is supposed to be an Executive car.