Geneva motor show 2012: Audi A3 revealed

12 January 2012

  • New Audi A3 due at Geneva 2012
  • Interior revealed
  • On sale in spring

Audi A3

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The new Audi A3 has been revealed, ahead of its official debut at the Geneva motor show 2012.

See also: All Geneva motor show 2012 news

Images of the A3’s cabin were released at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. They show a dashboard design similar to that of the A1 and TT, with circular air vents and uncluttered look.

The new A3 has an updated version of Audi’s MMI control system. Compared with the system fitted to its current models, there’s a larger rotary controller. This functions as a ‘touchwheel’, with the ability for drivers to draw characters on the top of it to access various functions.

There are fewer switches grouped around it than there are in Audi's other models. Information is displayed on a seven-inch pop-up screen at the top of the dash.

Images from the new A3’s information display show a 3D image of the exterior of the car. These give a good idea of how the new A3 will look. The overall shape resembles the current car, but there’s a new-look front end, similar to that of the new A4


The three-door version of the A3 is expected to arrive in the spring. A five-door ‘Sportback’ hatchback will follow. Eventually, a Cabriolet drop-top will join the range and a four-door saloon is also a possibility. A saloon concept model appeared at the Geneva motor show in 2011, and a production version hasn’t been ruled out.

The new A3 will have an updated range of engines and a sub-100g/km model possible. A plug-in hybrid model is likely to be launched in 2014.