Chris from Cali

I know it's not an RS or S car, but this is a car that isn't coming to the US, so it's fairly rare. We're only getting the sedan. I see a lot of one-off Audis since I don't live/work far from VW/Audi's NA headquarters. Also, I know there are more than a few here who DD an A3... (My wife's got a 2012 A3 TDI).

daddyscar

Nice. Look forward to the A3 sedan and BMW's next 1 and 2 series models. The A4's and 3 series have just got way to big. Pics of the new A3 look great as well as the spy shots of the 2 series. BMW finally scaled back on making the 1/2 series look cute and cartoony.

Rotmilky

I happened to get in a discussion the other day at work with a coworker who wanted to get an A3. We goofed around on the Audi USA site configuring a car. Looked pretty cool...and very similar to the car you posted above. To my untrained eye, I can't tell what makes the car you posted different from the one my co-worker configured (although she wanted the TDI). I'm not that familiar with Audi, so could you point out what's different from the A3 hatchback that you can configure for the US?

daddyscar

You can spot the difference between the old and new A3 by going to audiusa.com. Hover your cursor over the A3 and A4 tabs and you'll notice that the A4 headlights are narrower and more sculpted. You'll also see the design changes in the tail where the new A3 shares the notched out look under the rear tail-lights and trunk. Basically the current A3 is missing all the updates of the A4 and A5 updates.

Chris from Cali

The US is not going to get the Sportback (like above) in 2014. It will only get the sedan. Audi of America wants the A3 to be a volume seller, not a cool niche car like it is now. They want to steal Passat/Camry/Accord sales. We bought our A3 specifically because it is a hatchback (aka mini-wagon) for transporting our baby and her accoutrements. I'm disappointed the A3 will only be a sedan from now on. I also lobbied HARD for AoA to bring the RS4 Avant to the US. Their emails back said to get an RS5 (impractical since it's a 2-dr coupe) or the RS7 (which will be $110K to start). No bueno.

alexb76

Ha? New A3 only comes in sedan? That sucks big time! Maybe they'd keep sportsback for Canada, we usually get a bit of a more European treatment.

alexb76

This article say both Sedan and Sportback will come to US.

http://www.motorauthority.com/pictur...ry-1#100402756

USMC_DS1

I've liked the A3 hatch since I 1st rented one many years ago in Frankfurt for a business trip. If we were not living in truck/SUV country I'd get them for each of my sons. Nice ride, good gas mileage, and utilitarian. Hope they bring the hatch back to the US.

Chris from Cali

After seeing it in person, I'd only swap to a new Sportback if it's an S3 or RS3. This is my wife's current car: