Audi's booted A3 brings style to the small premium sector

The Audi A3 has been given the boot. The three box saloon version will take to the roads in the UK in September as the brand seeks to take over BMW's number one spot in the premium car segment.

Over the past 10 years, Audi sales in Britain have doubled to 123,522 in 2012, around 4,000 shy of BMW's total. Up to the beginning of this month, Audi had snatched the top spot with 61,350 sales against Beemer's 50,924.

It is hoped that the A3 saloon will help maintain the lead. With a distinctive coupe-like styling, this is Audi's first compact saloon in the UK although the car was originally developed for the Chinese and US markets which favour the more traditional three-box styling over hatchbacks.

For the UK, A3 product manager Rob Morris said the saloon will be very much a niche model compared to the hatchback, but it gives the brand a body style none of its rivals have.

He added: "We expect to attract customers moving up from smaller hatchbacks into something more premium as well as those downsizing from larger models. The majority of A3 sales will still be the hatchback with the saloon accounting for around 10 percent annually."

For Audi globally, the A3 is certainly an important model accounting for 20 percent of the brand's total sales according to product marketing chief Benjamin Holle. Since its launch in 1996 some 3.5 million have been sold.

The car comes to the UK at launch with 1.4- and 1.8-litre petrol engines and a 2-litre turbo diesel with prices aimed at undercutting key competitors. The range will start with Sport specification as standard and priced at £24,305, around £50 cheaper than the Mercedes CLA 180 sport and well below the £28,285 Volvo T3 R-design. It is also faster than both and at 109g/km has the lowest emissions.

A 1.6-litre turbo diesel will follow in December and the hot S3 quattro saloon is due in the first quarter next year.

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