Audi has clarified the changes to the entry-level A3 powerteam. A 2.0-liter turbocharged Miller Cycle engine has replaced the 1.8-liter turbocharged four used in 2016.
Follow us today...
When Audi debuted the 2017 A3 last week, if you look closely there seemed to be a big hole in the middle of entry level – the exact engine/transmission combination. At least, it seemed as if there was a problem at the time. However, if you look carefully, you would have seen a reference to a new engine/transmission pair for front-drive versions of the A3 that seemed slightly out of place. (Front-drive is Audi’s code here for entry-level.)
Monday, the Volkswagen subsidiary clarified things when it released powerteam specifications for entry-level models. The new engine/transmission combination offers not only more power but also better fuel economy than the 2016 version.
A story in Automotive News outlined the offering. Front-drive A3s will get a turbocharged version of Audi’s new modified Miller cycle engine. The 2.0-liter turbo four replaces the 1.8-liter turbo four that used formerly in front-drive A3s. There’s a new transmission aboard, too. A seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission. The new tranny replaces the previous six-speed, dual-clutch gearbox.
The new powerteam gives entry-level A3s a nice boost in the performance department. Power is up from 170-horsepower last year to 186-horsepower. Torque is up from 200-pounds-feet to 221-pounds-feet. Normally, when a more powerful version of an engine is introduced, there is some mileage tradeoff. The new combination, though, boosts fuel economy – in the city cycle. The A3s estimated mileage figures are 26 city and 35 highway, using the Environmental Protection Agency’s test cycle. The city mileage figure is up two mpg. The highway number is unchanged.
The price of the entry-level A3 starts at $32,150 as compared to $30,825 for 2016. The convertible version starts at $38,550.
Follow us today...