First introduced as a 2006 model, the Audi A3 is a rarity in America: A compact sport-luxury car. (Canadians get a wider selection of small luxury cars than we do, including the Mercedes B-class and Acura EL.) In a country where bigger is better, the A3 dares to offer high-end amenities and German cachet in a package that is fuel-efficient, space-efficient, and family friendly. Does it work? Read on. $26,060 base, $34,610 as tested, EPA MPG 23 city/32 highway.

Sirius Signs Audi Canada

Sirius Canada has just added Audi Canada to its growing list of exclusive, long-term vehicle agreements that will see its satellite radio receivers available as a factory option in 2007 model year vehicles.

Starting in early 2007, a number of Audi vehicles sold in Canada will offer a factory-installed Sirius satellite radio receiver, along with a three-month subscription to the service. These include the A3, A4 sedan (Avant and Cabriolet), S4 sedan (Avant and Cabriolet models), RS4, A6 sedan and A6 Avant, S6, Q7 performance SUV, flagship A8, A8 L, and S8 and A8 L W12, and the upcoming TT Coupe and Roadster. Sirius says that by late summer 2007, virtually all Audi Canada vehicles will be able to be equipped with Sirius satellite radio.

Audi A3 Features 2007

- Body side molding
- Body color front and rear bumpers
- Day time running lights
- Driver and passenger power partial-painted door mirrors
- External dimensions: overall length (inches): 168.7, overall width (inches): 77.1, overall height (inches): 56, wheelbase (inches): 101.5, front track (inches): 60.4, rear track (inches): 59.3 and curb to curb turning circle (feet): 35.1
- Front fog lights
- Complex surface lens halogen bulb headlights
- Luxury trim alloy & leather on gearknob and alloy on doors
- Black paint
- Fixed rear window with defogger and intermittent
- Roof spoiler
- Tinted glass on cabin
- Weights: curb weight (lbs) 3,660
- Windshield wipers with automatic intermittent wipe

2007 Audi A3 Interior Standard Features

- 12v power outlet: front and cargo and 1
- Air conditioning with climate control
- Roof antenna
- Peripheral anti-lift anti-theft protection
- Front ashtray
- Audio anti-theft protection: code
- Bose RDS audio system with AM/FM, Disc Autochanger and six-disc remote changer
- Automatic drive indicator on dashboard
- Cargo area cover/rear parcel shelf
- Cargo area light
- Cargo capacity: all seats in place (cu ft): 12.4
- Front seats cigar lighter
- Clock
- Full dashboard and floor console with covered storage box
- Delayed/fade courtesy lights
- Cruise control
- Front seats cup holders fixed , rear seats cup holders pop out
- Door ajar warning
- Door pockets/bins for driver seat and passenger seat
- External temperature
- Floor covering: carpet in load area
- Floor mats
- Driver and passenger front airbag with occupant sensors and multi-stage deployment
- Sports electrically adjustable driver seat with height adjustment, lumbar adjustment, four adjustments and tilt adjustment , sports passenger seat with height adjustment
- Height adjustable 3-point reel front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat with pre-tensioners
- Front seat center armrest
- Lockable glove compartment
- Two height adjustable active head restraints on front seats , three height adjustable head restraints on rear seats
- Headlight control with time delay switch-off, dusk sensor and auto off with ignition
- Illuminated entry system
- Internal dimensions: front headroom (inches): 38.1, rear headroom (inches): 36.9, front leg room (inches): 41.2, rear leg room (inches): 34.8, front shoulder room (inches): 54.3, rear shoulder room (inches): 52.8 and interior volume (cu ft): 89
- Low fuel level warning
- Low washer fluid level warning
- Remote power locks includes trunk/hatch, includes power windows and speed sensing
- Vehicle speed proportional power steering
- Front and rear power windows with two one-touch
- Front reading lights
- 3-point reel rear seat belts on driver side, passenger side and center side with pre-tensioners
- Rear seat center armrest with trunk access integral box
- Three asymmetrical bench front facing rear seats with zero adjustments
- Rear view mirror
- Steering wheel mounted remote audio controls
- Remote fuel filler door release
- Remote control remote trunk/hatch release
- Front and rear roof airbag
- Leather seat upholstery with additional vinyl
- Seating: five seats
- Service interval indicator
- Front side airbag
- Ten speaker(s)
- Leather covered multi-function steering wheel with tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment
- Tachometer
- Illuminated driver and passenger vanity mirror
- Ventilation system with recirculation setting, micro filter and active carbon filter

- 3,195 cc 3.2 liters V 6 front engine with 84 mm bore, 95.9 mm stroke, 11.3 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
- Premium unleaded fuel 91
- Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 27 and EPA city (mpg): 21
- Multi-point injection fuel system
- 14.5 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank
- Power: 186 kW , 250 HP SAE @ 6,300 rpm; 236 ft lb , 320 Nm @ 2,800 rpm

Audi A3 Handling, Ride & Braking Standard Specifications 2007

- Four-wheel ABS
- Brake assist system
- Four disc brakes including two ventilated discs
- Electronic brake distribution
- Electronic traction control via ABS & engine management
- Immobilizer
- Spacesaver steel rim internal spare wheel
- Stability control
- Strut front suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs , multi-link rear suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs

This long-term agreement with Audi Canada reinforces Sirius commitment to work with tier one partners to extend our reach across Canada and attract new subscribers to our premium110 channel offering, commented Mark Redmond, President and CEO, Sirius Canada Inc.

Direct-injection turbo engine for Audi A3

Audi has announced a new, 1.8-litre, turbocharged FSI engine for the Audi A3 and A3 Sportback. It will be available from the first quarter of 2007 and that's when you'll know what they'll cost. The 1.8 TFSI will be the first of a new family of engines combining the FSI direct petrol-injection concept with turbocharging in a new basic engine. Audi claims an output of 118kW and 250Nm .

Audi Canada Signs Exclusive Long-Term Factory Agreement with SIRIUS Canada

Audi Canada and SIRIUS Canada today announced an exclusive long-term agreement that will make SIRIUS Satellite Radio receivers a factory option in virtually all Audi vehicles sold in Canada. Audi Canada will offer factory-installed SIRIUS Satellite Radio receivers with a three month subscription to SIRIUS Canada's premium 110 channel satellite radio service.

Starting early 2007, multiple Audi Canada vehicle lines will be available with SIRIUS Satellite Radio including the category defying Audi A3, the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the extreme RS 4, the design-leading A6 sedan and A6 Avant; the sophisticated and powerful S6; the performance SUV from the creator of quattro - the Audi Q7; the premium flagship all-aluminum Audi A8, A8 L, and the 450 horsepower S8 and A8 L W12; and the upcoming TT Coupe and Roadster.

One of Us: Seidl Goes Mainstream With Audi A3 Tune

SIMBACH/LANDAN, Germany — Seidl Tuning normally tweaks high-performance products from BMW, Mercedes and Porsche. But its latest effort focuses on the more prosaic Audi A3 compact. Seidl focuses primarily on aero body add-ons, starting with new front and rear bumpers. The front bumper has massive air-intake cutouts flanking a new matte-black grille insert. The rear bumper incorporates a skirt and a diffuser for the dual exhaust. Side skirts are a bit more subtle. But the custom alloy wheels are distinctive, and are shod with ultra-low-profile performance rubber. Seidl has left the A3 cabin virtually intact, but the tuner has a full catalog of accessories to dress up the five-door hatchback and its performance-oriented sibling, the S3. What this means to you: Tuning takes on a more affordable twist.

Audi A3 S Line

So we took the keys to an Audi A3 S Line. Yeah, it's not as race-ready as the Europe-only 2-door S3, but the A3 S Line is still a damn fine automobile and we're glad that we Yanks can get it.

Our A3 S Line came equipped with pretty much every bell and whistle Audi offers. The A3 S Line's standard transmission is the six-speed DSG, and Audi's famed Quattro system sends the power from the 250 horsepower/236 lb.-ft. torque 3.2-liter narrow angle V6 out through all four wheels. Our car is also equipped with Audi's MultiMedia Interface (MMI) command center, heated leather seats with special stitching, Bose Symphony audio system and more. While you may be able to find many of these accoutrements on the standard 3.2, only the S Line will have the special things like the unique roof spoiler, front lip spoiler, fog lights and special badging.

New Audi TT Photos and Info

Last night Audi snuck a press release and dozens of photos of its hot new TT coupe across the wires. As evident by the photos, this is a completely redesigned model from the previous generation, with plenty of new performance goodies for sports car fans. The rakish looks don't hurt either.

There will be two engine choices: the base 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that's impressed us in the Audi A4 and A3, and, for those who want a bit more, a 3.2-liter V-6 that brings 50 additional horsepower to the table. The V-6 will also come with Audi's Quattro all wheel drive.

Expect the TT to appear in showrooms in early 2007. For now check out 13 more photos, including interior shots and three different exterior colors, after the link.

[Source: Audi]

New engines for Audi

There's an efficiency drive going on at Audi, as it has added three new FSI petrol engines to its range.

The A3 gets a 157bhp 1.8-litre turbo and the A6 now features a 207bhp 2.8-litre V6. A third unit - for the Q7 off-roader - is a 276bhp 3.6. FSI motors blend strong pace with good economy, claim bosses.

Audi to invest $15.7B through 2011, increase models from 22 to 40

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Audi AG, the luxury car maker owned by Volkswagen, said Monday it plans to invest $15.7 billion through 2011 and expand its line of models to 40 from the current 22.

"Investments in new models and product innovation is the life force of any enterprise," said the company's incoming chief executive, Rupert Stadler. "Only with attractive products can we ensure our success as a business."

Last week, Audi said that its November global sales were up more than 8 percent from a year earlier.

It predicted that it would sell some 900,000 cars by the end of the year, driven by demand for its A3, TT and A6 models, among others. Audi sold 829,100 cars last year.

Stadler is taking over as CEO from Martin Winterkorn, who last month was named CEO of Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen AG.

Audi A3 wows; price tag doesn't

A udis keep getting better, from the "entry-level" A3 to the top-of-the-line S8. They also keep getting more expensive.

Case in point: Our 2007 A3 3.2 Quattro S line, which carried a price tag of $42,300. You understand why we put the term "entry-level" in quotes.

Outside of the jaw-dropping sticker and a few quibbles, there isn't much to dislike about the A3 3.2 Quattro.

SHE: OK, just let me get this out of the way, so we can heap lots of praise on the A3. But didn't you tell me this compact five-door hatchback shares its basic running gear with the Volkswagen Rabbit? And doesn't the Rabbit start at just over $15,000? I really love the A3, but I'm having trouble figuring out where Audi put that extra $27,000.

HE: I don't have an answer that will satisfy frugal shoppers.

First Renderings of the Upcoming A3 Cabriolet

While these are not official images from Audi, given the track record of AutoSport Magazine, they ought to be pretty accurate. Looks like Audi may have a winner on its hands with this one especially if the S3 variant makes it to these shores.

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