6

Audi has confirmed the saloon version of its all-new A3 will be priced from £26,870 (OTR) when it goes on sale on April 23.

From launch the car will be offered with three engines. The 35 TFSI uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol unit, with 150PS and CO2 emissions of 132g/km.

There will also be a 48v mild-hybrid version of that powertrain, which can achieve 128g/km and up to 50.4mpg.

You can read our first drive review of the new Audi A3 hatch in the latest digital issue of Fleet News.

The 35 TDI uses a 2.0-litre diesel engine, also developing 150PS. It’s more frugal, giving 62.9mpg, and has CO2 emissions of 119g/km.

Later, a 116PS diesel and a 1.0-litre petrol will be added to the line-up.

The car is offered in Sport, S Line, Edition 1 and Vorsprung trim levels. All models get LED headlights and a digital instrument cluster.

A 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen offers connected services and entertainment, while Car-to-X communication is also possible.

Sport-specific styling details inside and out mark out the lead-in model, which comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, Twin leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control.

Externally the S line adds more overt sports styling, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED rear lights with dynamic rear indicators and privacy glass, and inside gains sport seats with S line embossing and contrast stitching plus upgraded inlays.

The newly introduced Edition 1 option brings features such as 19-inch alloy wheels, black exterior styling, Matrix LED headlamps with digital daytime running lights and electrically adjustable and heated front sport seats upholstered in a combination of Alcantara and leatherette.

On the top tier, the A3 Saloon Vorsprung features a panoramic glass sunroof, Fine Nappa leather upholstery, the Audi Phone Box and Bang & Olufsen audio.

Audi says the suspension of the new A3 Saloon has been tuned to strike an even more finely judged balanced between “precision, response, adjustability and absorbency”.

The new model is four centimetres longer than its predecessor and retains the same 425-litre boot.

Deliveries of the new A3 saloon will begin in the summer.