- Audi A3 Sportback S-Line, 2014
Sporty, versatile and functional - Audi presented the new A3 Sportback. The compact five-door model with the spacious luggage compartment is groundbreakingly light thanks to ultra lightweight technology. The engines are powerful and highly efficient. The infotainment with the intuitive connect technology and the driver assistance systems available in the new Audi A3 Sportback set new standards in the premium compact segment. The overall design language concentrates on the essentials, with each individual design element making a confident aesthetic statement.
A lightweight car is a prerequisite for sportiness and efficiency. ultra lightweight technology from Audi reduces the weight of the new Audi A3 Sportback by as much as 90 kilograms (198.42 lb) compared with the previous version. Equipped with the 1.4 TFSI engine, the five-door model has a curb weight (without driver) of just 1,205 kilograms (2,656.57 lb). Hot-shaped steels are used in the occupant cell of the new A3 Sportback to reduce the weight. The complete occupant cell is 37 kilograms (81.57 lb) lighter overall than in the previous model. Significant weight reductions were also achieved in the interior and with the engines. Audi, worldwide pioneer in lightweight construction, has reversed the weight spiral and once again set a new record.
The body of the new Audi A3 Sportback is long and lean. While the length (4,310 millimeters [14.14 ft]), width (1,780 millimeters [5.84 ft]) and height (1,425 millimeters [4.68 ft]) of the new model are only slightly greater than on the previous model, the wheelbase is now significantly longer at 2,636 millimeters (8.65 ft), an increase of 58 millimeters (2.28 in).
The front end is low; the roof arch spans a dome that extends beyond the subtle roof spoiler to the muscular tail end. The design with the three side windows is taut, with every detail precise and expressive. The large wheel wells underscore the sporty aspirations of the new Audi A3 Sportback.
The distinctive, Stone Gray single-frame grille with the angled upper corners is the distinguishing element at the front of the vehicle. Its horizontal slats and the Audi rings are highlighted three-dimensionally. The flat headlights are works of art and give the new Audi A3 Sportback a determined gaze. Full LED headlights will be offered at a later time.
The interior of the new A3 Sportback is elegant, airy and cleanly designed. It carries over the dynamics of the exterior. The instrument panel with its curving front is slim and low. Together with the center console oriented toward the driver, it appears to float slightly.
Large, round air nozzles in jet design, the elegant user interface panel for the climate control system and sculpturally styled trim set the tone - with their polish they bring the quality of the full-size class into the new Audi A3 Sportback. The seats and steering wheels are new developments, and the car's user controls are clear and intuitive - as they are in every Audi. The compact five-door model offers a generous luggage capacity of between 380 and 1,220 liters (13.42 and 43.08 cu ft).
Audi ultra lightweight technology
ultra lightweight construction has long been a main pillar of the brand. Audi recorded a pioneering achievement in the use of aluminum as a body material back in 1994: The first A8 had a full-aluminum body in ASF (Audi Space Frame) technology.
ultra lightweight technology reduces the weight of the new Audi A3 Sportback by as much as 90 kilograms (199.42 lb) compared with the previous version. Equipped with the 1.4 TFSI engine, the compact five-door model has a curb weight (without driver) of just 1,205 kilograms (2,656.57 lb). Audi, worldwide pioneer in lightweight construction, has reversed the weight spiral and once again set a new record.
ultra lightweight construction in the body
The broad-based expertise of the Audi body development engineers is by no means restricted to a certain material, but rather encompasses all relevant materials. The multimaterial construction of the new Audi A3 Sportback is entirely in keeping with the motto "The right material at the right place for optimal function."
High-end components of hot-shaped steel in the occupant cell form a strong, yet lightweight structure. Before deformation, they are heated in a continuous flow furnace to nearly 1,000 degrees Celsius and are then cooled to about 200 degrees in a water-cooled stamping press.
This extreme temperature jump creates an iron-carbon structure with extreme tensile strength. Hot shaped steels are able to perform with relatively thin walls, and this makes them lightweight.
Hot-shaped steels represent a roughly 25 percent share of body materials. They are used in the transition from the front of the vehicle to the occupant cell, in the A-pillars, roof arch, center tunnel, side sills and floor panels. What is known as a tailored rolled blank forms the transition from the floor to the rear body section - its eleven individual segments are rolled into five different thicknesses.
The B-pillars also consist of this high-end steel; their lower sections are more flexible than above, since the energy of a side-impact collision must be absorbed here. All together, the hot-shaped steels in the new Audi A3 Sportback reduce the weight of the vehicle by 37 kilograms (81.57 lb) compared with the previous model.
High-strength and ultra-high-strength steel grades are used in many other body areas such as in the side members and in the floor of the passenger cell. The engine hood, fenders, the subframe of the front axle and the sections mounted behind the front bumper as crash absorbers are made of aluminum. Together the aluminum components save around twelve kilograms (26.46 lb), thus improving axle load distribution.
Processing aluminum components in body construction and joining these components with steel components are challenging tasks. The same is true of welding hot-shaped components, which are coated with a corrosion-inhibiting aluminum-silicon alloy. Audi benefits here from its extensive know-how in ultra lightweight construction - the joining technologies have been practice-proven for years now in models such as the TT. A number of very different joining technologies are used to assemble the new A3 Sportback, including bonding, clinching and punch riveting.
Between the side wall and the roof, which are both made of steel, a Plasmatron brazed seam produces the joint, where the allowable tolerance is just a few tenths of a millimeter. The finished seam is smoothed with brushes - the practically invisible zero-joint that is produced is an expression of the stringent precision thinking at Audi.
Unlike the previous model, the doors and window frames are stamped in one piece, and this also saves weight. The door hinges integrate a convenient new type of clamping mechanism.
Safety and aerodynamics
The new Audi A3 Sportback is tops when it comes to passive safety. In a frontal collision, the front cross-member distributes the forces to the two side members, which undergo defined deformation to dissipate these forces. The structural members for the engine and front suspension, as well as the sections in the upper area of the fenders, act as additional load paths. If necessary, the pedals are decoupled from the firewall; the steering column absorbs energy and is not displaced into the occupant cell.
In a side impact, the occupant cell offers excellent protection with its hot-shaped steel components such as the sills and B-pillars. In a rear-end collision, the bumper's cross members redirect loads to the large side members made of high-strength steel.
The new Audi A3 Sportback meets all legal requirements for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a collision. Starting at a specific collision speed, a new system is activated. Pyrotechnic elements at the back of the engine hood raise it upward. This increases the distance between the engine hood and the engine components, thus cushioning the impact with the pedestrian.
Minor collisions, such as the standardized low-speed collision, do not result in any major financial impact, which is also reflected in the car's favorable type classification - the new Audi A3 Sportback is rated the best-in-class for its market segment. It also performs well in the RCAR bumper test, focused on the compatibility with the other party in the collision.
The new Audi A3 Sportback is planted firmly on the road - a strength attributable in large part to Audi's aerodynamics specialists. The underbody back to the B-pillar is completely lined. The covering is made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer. It protects the sheet metal and engines from salt, water and stone impact and absorbs undesirable vibrations. Small spoilers in front of the wheels help to guide the air flow with low drag losses. The aerodynamic underbody of the new Audi A3 Sportback reduces aerodynamic drag by about ten percent. To take full advantage of the aerodynamic potential, a great deal of effort was also focused on the flow of air through the engine compartment.
ultra lightweight construction in the interior
The Audi ultra lightweight principle is not limited to the body or to specific subassemblies and parts - developers always consider the vehicle as a whole, and in their work every gram counts. This is the only way the car's curb weight could be reduced by up to 90 kg (198.42 lb) compared with the previous model.
The engineers have internalized the Audi ultra lightweight principle, and in the interior of the new Audi A3 Sportback they also succeeded in eliminating every superfluous gram. The redesigned seats contribute a one kilogram (2.20 lb) weight savings; lightweight plastic inserts replace the steel wire used previously in the frame of the rear bench seat.
A new control unit arrangement requires fewer wires, thus reducing the weight by 1.5 kilograms (3.31 lb). The blower motor requires fewer coils, and the air conditioning system shed four kilograms (8.82 lb) of weight. The housing of the passenger airbag is made of polymer; the mounting for the MMI monitor is made of magnesium. Together these two solutions save 640 grams (1.41 lb). In the previous model, many linings in the interior were fastened with steel screws. In the new Audi A3 Sportback, polymer expanding rivets were used here for a weight savings of four grams (0.01 lb) per fastening point. When it comes to the Audi ultra lightweight construction principle, every gram counts.
ultra lightweight construction in engines and chassis
The engines of the new Audi A3 Sportback have shed a significant amount of weight as well. The engines of the new A3 have shed a lot of weight as well. The 1.8 TFSI, for example, weighs just a little over 130 kilograms (286.60 lb), while the 1.4 TFSI weighs in at just 107 kilograms (235.89 lb) - 21 kilograms (46.30 lb) less than the previous engine. With a weight difference of 15 kilograms (33.07 lb), the aluminum crankcase accounts for the largest share of reductions, but progress has also been made in many small engine details - e.g. in the new aluminum pistons and the hollow-bored connecting rod pins.
In the 1.8 TFSI, the thin-wall technology of the crankcase reduces weight by 2.4 kilograms (5.29 lb). In the 2.0 TDI, the balance shafts are mounted in the engine block, which accounts for three kilograms (6.61 lb) of savings, while modified sound dampers in the exhaust system save an additional two kilograms (4.41 lb). Weight was trimmed from the exhaust system in all engine versions.
In the chassis, the new one-piece aluminum subframe and aluminum pivot bearings (depending on the engine) reduced the weight of the front suspension system by about six kilograms (13.23 lb). The optional 18-inch alloy wheels are no heavier than the 17-inch wheels; they are produced by a complex flow-forming technology. In this process, the rim well is rolled out over a cylinder under high pressure and at high temperature. The system shapes the wheel blank in a single work step, during which the material also becomes stronger. This permits thinner wall thicknesses so that the wheel is both lighter and stronger.
Environmental footprint
In developing the new A3, Audi conducted an environmental assessment of two of the engine versions. The 1.4 TFSI and the 2.0 TDI - both with a manual transmission - were subjected to a detailed analysis. Both versions offer clear benefits compared with their respective previous models. Greenhouse gas emissions, for example, are reduced by roughly two metric tons per model. This corresponds to roughly seven to nine percent of the greenhouse gas emissions over the entire life cycle. This is due in large part to the substantially lower fuel consumption and low weight of the new models. At the end of its life, about 95 percent of the new Audi A3 Sportback can be recycled.
Exterior design
The new Audi A3 Sportback is long and lean. While the length (4,310 millimeters [14.14 ft]), width (1,780 millimeters [5.84 ft]) and height (1,425 millimeters [4.68 ft]) are only slightly greater than on the previous model, the wheelbase is now significantly longer at 2,636 millimeters (8.65 ft), an increase of 58 millimeters (2.28 in). The overall design language of the new Audi A3 Sportback concentrates on the essentials, with each individual design element making a clear and confident aesthetic statement. The front end is low; the roof arch spans a dome that extends beyond the subtle roof spoiler to the muscular tail end. The ratio of metal surface area to windows is two-thirds to one-third - a typical proportion for Audi.
The design with the three side windows is taut, with every detail precise and expressive. The tautly curved surfaces, the sharp shoulder of the body and the relatively narrow, sharply inclined C-pillar give the new Audi A3 Sportback its typical character. The sharply defined tornado line articulates the flank below the windows and evokes a powerful shoulder. The dynamic line above the side sills runs upward toward the rear. The large, precisely defined wheel wells and the subtle roof spoiler underscore the sporty aspirations of the new Audi A3 Sportback. The same applies to the exterior mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, which like with a sports car are mounted on the doors.
The distinguishing element of the front end is the distinctive, Stone Gray single-frame grille with the angled upper corners. Its horizontal slats and the Audi rings are highlighted three-dimensionally. A slender, chrome-plated frame surrounds the grille. Large air intakes up front hint at the supreme power of the engines.
The flat headlights are works of art of the highest technical precision and give the new Audi A3 Sportback a determined gaze. They are styled in a wedge shape, and their lower edges are contoured in a slight wave. In the optional xenon plus modules, the LED daytime running lights form clear, visually uniform contours of lights at the upper and lower edges, which suggest the shape of an eyebrow. The turn signal lights are at the pointed corner of the headlight behind the "wing" - a narrow, chrome-plated fin that is a typical Audi feature.
As an option, Audi can supply the new A3 Sportback with the high-beam assistant, and - in conjunction with xenon plus headlights - with adaptive light. It integrates a special curve, cornering and intersection light function and can be supplemented by variable headlight range control. It works together with the front-facing camera to adjust the light-dark boundary of the headlights automatically in response to approaching vehicles or the vehicles ahead. Full LED headlights will be offered somewhat later.
The rear is sculptured, and the split rear lights underscore its width. Audi offers LED rear lights in combination with the xenon plus headlights; LED light conductors appear to form a continuous arch. The adaptive brake light, which pulses at high frequency during hard braking, is standard. A sharp crease sets off the diffuser. Depending on the engine, the exhaust system terminates in one or two tailpipes on the left side of the car. On the Ambition and Ambiente they are chrome-plated.
The S line exterior package further sharpens the look of the premium compact car. The single-frame grille is painted in a high-gloss black, honeycomb-look screens with fog lights fill the large air inlets, which are bordered by powerful edges. Suggested air inlets that extend towards the wheels create distinctive visual accents. The sills have distinctive add-on strips. The roof spoiler has been lengthened, the bumper has an additional edge, the platinum gray diffuser includes a honeycomb-pattern insert, and the tailpipes of the exhaust system are chrome-plated.
There are twelve paint colors from which to choose. The solid finishes are called Amalfi White, Brilliant Red and Brilliant Black. The metallic finishes are Beluga Brown, Dakota Gray, Ice Silver, Glacier White, Monsoon Gray, Scuba Blue and Shiraz Red. The pearl-effect finishes Phantom Black and Misano Red round out the selection. The optional high-gloss package offers small highlights in the area of the side windows (standard with the Ambiente line).
Interior
The interior of the new Audi A3 Sportback is marked by an elegant, clean and light design. The dynamics of the exterior are also fully carried over here; the lines and surfaces are dynamic and taut. In the style of the larger Audi model series, a long arch called the wrap-around runs below the windshield. The instrument panel with its curving front is slim and low. Together with the center console oriented slightly toward the driver, it appears to float slightly.
The clean ergonomics are a classic Audi strength. The MMI operating system with the power-retractable monitor is available with the MMI radio and above. The center tunnel console, framed on both sides by knee pads in the style of the TT sports car, presents a clean, well-organized look. Thanks to the new electromechanical parking brake, there is no longer any brake lever; this has created space for the terminal of the optional MMI user interface. The armrest is adjustable in length and height.
The driver seats at an elegant steering wheel. Depending on the version, it has three or four spokes, a flat-bottomed rim, multifunction buttons and shift paddles. The large dial instruments can be easily read at a glance. The driver information system, which is available with an optional color monitor, displays useful data on a 3.5-inch display. These include such things as the current radio station or song title, speed, outside temperature and the time, as well as information from the navigation and driver assistance systems if present. The on-board computer provides information on fuel consumption, average speed and the time and distance driven. Furthermore, the integrated efficiency program supports an economical driving style.
The newly developed front seats offer countless adjustment possibilities for optimal support. Audi also offers optional sport seats (standard with Ambition), which can also be adjusted to the driver's body size. Another comfort and safety feature is the high-adjustable seat belt. S sport seats with integrated head restraints will be offered somewhat later as part of the S line sport package.
The new Audi A3 Sportback also offers several millimeters more head and leg room than the previous model. Thanks to the 58-millimeter (2.28 in) increase in wheelbase, it also offers enough head, elbow, knee and foot room in the rear. The L-shaped rear head restraints provide for good rear visibility.
The interior of the new A3 Sportback conveys the luxurious look and feel of the full-size class. The sculpted inlays are just one of the highlights. Audi offers a choice of Aluminum Mistral or 3D glass-look inlays (standard with Ambiente) as options. The top-of-the-line version is manufactured using a complex process. The transparent film that is drawn over the base part is imprinted with a pattern of tiny triangles five times. A layer of transparent polycarbonate amplifies the 3D visual effect and at the same time gives the trim an extraordinary glass-like look.
The four large, round air nozzles in classic jet design are a typical Audi feature that simultaneously reflects technological aesthetics. Each of the air nozzles consists of over 30 individual parts, and tolerances of just a few hundredths of a millimeter are allowable. Their air flow is adjusted by pulling on the central axis - this varies the air flow from broadly dispersed or draft-free to a focused stream. When the rings are turned, they make the sound of technical precision - a fine, precisely-defined click.
The Audi A3 Sportback comes standard with a manual air conditioning system. The control unit for the optional deluxe automatic air conditioning is mounted on a panel in Piano-finish black. The instrument cluster fascia is also black. Upon request, many of the controls feature an aluminum-look finish. The optional interior lighting package (standard with Ambiente) accents the interior with additional highlights: Small LED lights are placed in the headlining, front and rear, in the make-up mirrors, doors, and foot areas, at the cup holder, in the glove box and on the exterior mirrors.
Interior colors are adapted to the respective trim line. Attraction is the modern, Ambition the sporty and Ambiente the luxurious, comfort-oriented line. In the A3 Sportback Attraction, the interior is bathed in black or titanium gray; the interior of the sporty Ambition line is either all black or black with additional silver, blue or yellow contrasting elements.
The two-tone Audi design selection capri orange is available as an exclusive option for Ambition. This exclusive design from the Audi designers features a youthful color combination. The colors pashmina beige and chestnut brown are available with the luxurious Ambiente trim line.
Additional distinctions are made in the materials that are used. Cloth seats are standard with the Attraction and Ambition lines; Ambiente comes standard with a mix of cloth and synthetic leather. Milano leather in black, pashmina beige, gray, brown and capri orange (Ambition only) or a combination of Pearl Nappa leather and Alcantara in black or gray are available as options. When Milano leather is selected in conjunction with sport seats, the shoulder area is upholstered in Velvet leather. Special processing gives it a rugged, slightly rough surface similar to that of suede.
The S line sport package, which is available for the Audi A3 Sportback Ambition, completely immerses the interior in black - even the headlining. Seat upholstery options are available in various materials - ranging from a cloth/leather combination to Fine Nappa leather; S line logos are embossed on the front seatbacks. Silver seams accentuate the styling, while the same color is used in contrasting seams for the borders of the floor mats; the decorative trim strips are made of matt brushed aluminum. Besides the S line sport suspension, a gear knob in perforated leather and a three-spoke leather-covered sport steering wheel - optionally with a flattened ring - emphasize the dynamic atmosphere.
The luggage compartment of the new Audi A3 Sportback has a capacity of 380 liters (13.42 cu ft) in its standard configuration and 1,220 liters (43.08 cu ft) with the rear seats folded down. The cargo floor is flat, and the opening between the wheel wells measures 1,000 millimeters (39.37 in). The cargo floor can be inserted on two levels, and the supports on which it rests are marked with small LED lights. The rear seat can be folded down in a 60:40 split or as a whole. Practical bag hooks and lashing eyes in the cargo compartment are standard.
As options for the new A3 Sportback, Audi offers a load-through hatch, a ski and snowboard sack, a reversible floor mat and a storage and luggage compartment package. For the interior, this package offers nets on the backs of the front seats and in the front passenger area, a 12-volt outlet and a storage bin for safety vests under the middle rear seat.
For the luggage compartment, it offers a 12-volt outlet, a multi-fixing point for shopping bags, a luggage net and a compartment with net on the left side.
Multimedia systems
Audi's leadership in automotive electrical and electronic systems can also be fully experienced in the new A3 Sportback - the premium compact offers a comprehensive system of infotainment components. The heart of the mobile communications electronics is a groundbreaking innovation: the modular infotainment platform (MIB). This concept enables very fast innovation cycles in development.
The new Audi A3 Sportback comes standard with the Audi radio with a 2.5-inch monochrome display and a CD drive that also plays MP3 and WMA files. Its head unit can be lowered into the instrument panel, and an Aux-in port makes it possible to connect auxiliary devices. The Audi radio drives four loudspeakers with 80 watts of output power.
The next step up - the MMI radio - adds a control terminal on the center tunnel console and the power-retractable 5.8-inch monitor. This can be supplemented with the optional connectivity package, which includes the Audi music interface for the integration of a mobile player, a Bluetooth interface, navigation system preparation and an additional SDXC card reader. If the customer later buys an SD card with navigation data or chooses the navigation package from the very beginning, the MMI radio becomes a navigation system.
The new central computer of the MIB is located in the glove compartment of the Audi A3 Sportback. It comprises two units - the radio car control unit and the MMX board (MMX = Multi-Media eXtension). One of the plug-in module's key components is the fast T-20 graphics process from market leader Nvidia's Tegra 2 series. The chip, which generates complex 3D images, is used in all online, voice control, media, navigation and telephone functions. The screen with the high-resolution monitor (5.8 or 7.0-inch diagonal) extends from the instrument panel when the system is started.
The MMI terminal is used to control the numerous functions. Audi is also presenting important innovations for the control terminal on the center tunnel console. The hard keys for navigation, telephone, radio and media have been rearranged and are now implemented as toggle switches. The volume control includes a skip function.
