PuristSPro LA Auto Show - Audi Launches The New S3/A3

Nov 24, 2013,11:23 AM
 

A lot of BMW purists will say the latest 3-series is too big.  In fact, the latest 3-series sedan is almost equivalent in size to the BMW 5-series sedan from two generations ago (the E39 series made from 1995 to 2003).  With each generation, cars are getting larger and larger; and that often leads to be the case that the smaller cars offered by some brands are no longer as small as they once were.  


Enter the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz CLA, and the soon to be BMW 1-series.  All of these are new small cars designed to be what their bigger brothers used to be.  

Audi has done an especially attractive job with their new A3.  Featuring a very restrained but handsome styling, the new A3 is poised, professional, and yet young and hip.  The car certainly has a playful look with a business-like demeanor.  

The Audi A3 will represent a great value in the market.  In the US, it will come equipped with standard leather, xenon headlamps, and other high-end hardware at an extremely competitive price of around a Patek Philippe gold Calatrava automatic with date model.  Furthermore, it will also be available in a high performance S3 variant, along with AWD Quattro technology.  The S3 variant looks impressive, as you can see in the photos below.  




White A3

White A3


Red S3

Red S3










Awesome seat design with honeycomb stitching!

Awesome seat design with honeycomb stitching!






















I'm not a fan of these thin displays.

I'm not a fan of these thin displays.


















Flat bottomed steering wheel.

Flat bottomed steering wheel.


Nice wheels with big fixed caliper brakes!

Nice wheels with big fixed caliper brakes!


What are your thoughts about the latest downsizing trends?  Would you downsize?  Do you live in a extra-urban or urban environment?  

How do you like the new A3?  What are your thoughts?  



More posts: AudiBMWcalatravaMercedes-Benz

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

The first reaction is to change

 
 By: dr.kol : November 24th, 2013-11:56
my wife's Mini to that. Right after a four wheel drive version will be available. A beautiful 2nd car for a family! Best, Kari

I do believe an AWD car will be immediately available...

 
 By: patrick_y : November 25th, 2013-00:30
The ones that I saw at the car show all were AWD versions. Don't know if they'll roll them out with AWD versions right away, but definitely in the pipeline. Why do you like the A3 more than the Mercedes-Benz CLA?

I have never had a MB

 
 By: dr.kol : November 25th, 2013-01:32
but 18 new BMW. My attitude has always been that MB is grandfather's car. I have been driving Mercedes several times and once a rented a brand new one in South Africa. I drove some 4,000 km and that E-Type was terrible. Audi is in my opinion much more "sp... 

Hmm, Got it...

 
 By: patrick_y : November 25th, 2013-15:08
I've generally liked most of the cars I've driven from MB, BMW, and Porsche. Audi, I have many different things I like and dislike about them; usually slow steering ratios, overly firm suspensions, and while they have nice interiors, the interior material... 

The interior ...

 
 By: bimbeano : November 24th, 2013-15:01
... of the new A/S3 has an astounding quality ... i found that out myself a couple of weeks ago ... . If i was in for a new carb within my budget i think i'd opt for an A3 ... maybe the 2 litre TDI with 150 hp .... . Bim

Glad you like it!

 
 By: patrick_y : November 25th, 2013-00:42
Audi always has a nice way of making the interior very comfortable. Do you find that Mercedes-Benz interiors and BMW interiors lack the same quality? Is the quality more due to the craftsmanship and construction or the design? Or both?

My Audi love-affair ... .

 
 By: bimbeano : November 26th, 2013-12:04
I've been driving Audi's since the mid-eighties and they have come to a point where they beat every BMW and Mercedes when it comes to interior-quality. I would say it's construction and materials they use that makes them a bit better IMO ... though i have... 

From your pictures, this new Audi A3/S3 looks much longer

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : November 25th, 2013-17:20
That's one thing I don't like about cars these days. Each model seems to slowly morph larger and longer with each update. Why can't car manufacturers just keep the same size? Is it because the growing larger engines force these brands to make larger cars?... 

Continued Betterment and Planned Obselence

 
 By: patrick_y : December 10th, 2013-10:09
Engineers probably have egos that dictate the car must be better than its predecessor. Furthermore, corporations often dictate their agendas of how the car should improve (to them bigger size equals better) to keep up with competition. At one point, cars ...