India-bound Audi A3 sedan facelift unveiled

German luxury car-maker Audi has given a midlife facelift to its A3 range globally. The facelift features cosmetic changes upfront in line with the A3's bigger sibling, the A4 sedan. The face gets a revised grille with sharp edges, flanked by restyled Xenon plus headlights. The front bumper has been tweaked to incorporate these changes. The side profile remains largely untouched. A new rear diffuser and discreetly revised taillights add freshness. The facelift is also offered with Matrix LED lighting technology as an option.

This being a midlife facelift, the new A3's interior has been carried over from the outgoing model. A new three-spoke steering wheel and updated MMI infotainment system has been added. The Audi virtual cockpit system, featuring a 12.3-inch TFT display, can be added optionally.

In addition, the new A3 offers traffic jam assist, which works together with adaptive cruise control (ACC). A stop-and-go feature, the optional system keeps the car at a safe distance from vehicles in front. Another new feature in the A3 is optional emergency assist. This system initiates braking to a safe stop if, despite warnings, no steering activity by the driver is detected.

The powertain range for the Audi A3 comprises six engines — three petrol and three diesel units. The additions are a 113bhp turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit and a 187bhp 2.0 four-cylinder turbo petrol. For India, the facelift is expected to carry over the 1.8-litre TFSI petrol engine and the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine. While the former develops 179bhp and 250Nm of toque mated to seven-speed S-tronic transmission, the latter churns out 142bhp and 320Nm of torque mated to six-speed S-tronic transmission.