2016 Audi A3 TDI Hatchback Joins Lineup

The 2015 Audi A3 lineup gained one new member at the 2014 New York auto show -- a diesel hatchback. Although Audi had planned to only sell the upcoming e-tron plug-in hybrid A3 as a Sportback model in the States, and to only sell the TDI diesel as a sedan, enthusiasts and prospective buyers convinced Audi to sell the diesel as a hatch, too.

“The A3 TDI Sportback has an incredibly passionate and loyal fan base, this new version has been one of our most requested models since the announcement of the new A3 family,” Audi of America president Scott Keogh said in a statement.

The 2016 Audi A3 TDI Sportback, like the sedan version already announced, will use a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four diesel engine rated for 150 hp. The engine mates to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Although Audi has not released fuel economy information, expect a big improvement over the outgoing 2013 A3 TDI hatch, which achieved up to 30/42 mpg (city/highway) with the dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive.

The 2016 Audi A3 TDI Sportback won't go on sale until next summer. Before that, Audi will launch the 2015 A3 sedan with a gasoline engine, the A3 convertible, and the high-performance S3 sedan. The standard 2015 Audi A3 offers a 1.8-liter turbo-four engine rated for 170 hp and 2.0-liter turbo rated for 220 hp, while the S3's 2.0-liter turbo engine will produce roughly 290 hp. The Audi A3 e-tron Sportback plug-in hybrid will debut next year around the same time as the diesel Sportback.

Source:
http://www.automobilemag.com/