Concept confirms small Audi sedan

Forget the concept tag, Audi is less than a year away from introducing a small luxury sedan onto world markets.

Set to debut perhaps as early as this September's Frankfurt motor show, the next-generation A3 will be headlined by a sedan model. All-important for burgeoning luxury markets such as China and Russia, the new baby sedan will seek to leverage Audi's increasing stocks in the large car prestige marketplace into the small car class.

Powered by the same five-cylinder turbo petrol engine as-debuted in the TT-RS, the A3 concept is replete with big car technology and features. Audi will seek to set the car apart from its competitors by filtering down these luxury features and technology to the small car class via the new A3.

To be offered in both front and all-wheel drive variants, the A3 sedan will steal the march on competitors expected from Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Mercedes will also debut its new front-wheel drive A-Class small car at Frankfurt. Unlike the outgoing A model it will be a more conventional vehicle and hatch, sedan, coupe and softroader versions are expected to be built eventually. BMW's front-wheel drive replacement for the 1 Series is expected to be further away, insiders say.

The A3 concept gets a 300kw/500Nm engine and seven-speed twin clutch transmission. It essentially matches the just-introduced RS3 in performance -- not surprising given the cars share basic mechanicals.

A true sedan rather than liftback, the A3 concept rides on a 2630mm wheelbase -- 52mm longer than the current five-door A3 liftback. The concept features individual buckets front and rear, however, the production version would likely feature conventional seating for five with splitfold load-through facility.

At 4440mm overall the A3 sedan is 263mm shorter than its A4 stablemate. It's also shorter than its closest VW Group equivalent, the new Jetta.

Show car features include 20-inch rims, carbon-fibre single frame grille surround and full LED exterior lighting.

The use of aluminium panels reduces weight. Doors, bonnet and boot lid are all aluminum. Despite a full large car complement of equipment, Audi says the A3 concept tips the scales at 1540kg.

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