First look: Audi's A3 gets the grille

IN A move that could leave owners of last year’s all-new A3 feeling a little left out, Audi has revealed pictures of the heavily facelifted version of the small prestige hatch that will be launched here late this year – just 18 months after it went on sale.

Released in Australia last July without Audi’s distinctive single-frame grille, the second-generation three-door A3 hatchback will finally wear the same corporate face that has featured across the Audi range.

Joining the five-door A3 Sportback launched here in February and the facelifted A4 on sale since March, the three-door A3 will receive the new-look front-end first revealed on the new A6 sedan launched here last October.

Audi’s hallmark grille will not be the only addition to the 10-month-old A3, however. Along with new three- and four-spoke steering wheels, the German manufacturer claims to have improved the optional sports suspension’s ride comfort.

More significantly, the updated three-door A3 will receive improvements to its ESP stability control system, which will incorporate a variable steering assistance function to aid drivers in critical situations.

In Audi’s words: "If the vehicle’s tail is about to slide out and the driver correctly opts for a stabilising steering adjustment, resistance at the steering wheel will be reduced. However, if there is a risk of the critical situation being aggravated by the driver making an incorrect adjustment to the steering, resistance is increased."Another new feature is the so-called Audi "hill hold assist", which prevents the vehicle rolling backwards on an uphill incline – a handy feature previously offered by car-makers like Subaru.

Little more information on the updated A3 three-door is available, though Audi has confirmed the Golf V-based A3’s current powertrain line-up will continue.

That means engines ranging from a 75kW 1.6-litre four in the entry-level A3 1.6 Attraction ($33,650) to the 184kW V6 offered in the range-topping A3 3.2 Ambition ($72,000).

In between there is Audi’s 110kW 2.0-litre FSI direct-injection four-cylinder and a 103kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, along with the choice of front-drive or quattro all-wheel drive.

Transmission choices are just as varied in the three-door A3 range and include conventional five and six-speed manuals, a conventional six-speed semi-auto and the revolutionary new clutchless manual Direct Shift Gearbox that is standard on both diesel and V6 variants.