#Audi unveiled a new generation of its A3 compact car, in five-door #Sportback guise. An #A3 sedan will follow shortly after and there will once again be high-performance RS 3 versions of each. This time around we won't see an A3 Cabriolet, though.<br /><br />Timing for the market launch is unclear but we can expect at a minimum the new A3 sedan to reach dealers later this year as a 2021 model.<br /><br />The new A3 is more of a heavy update than a true redesign. The car shares its MQB modular platform with the outgoing A3 but features new systems for the all-wheel drive, suspension damping, and speed-sensitive steering.<br />Depending on the market, the new A3 will launch with a gasoline-powered 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 or a diesel-powered 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4. Transmission options will include 6-speed manual and 7-speed dual-clutch units. Specifications for the United States will be announced closer to the market launch.<br /><br />What we do know is that performance fans can once again look forward to S3 and RS 3 models. The S3 should come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 and the RS 3 with a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5.<br /><br />The interior of the new A3 is a very high-tech place to be. There are elements borrowed from Audi's larger models like a 10.1-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system that can recognize letters entered by hand and responds to natural-speak instructions. A digital instrument cluster is also included and a color head-up display is available.
