2005 Audi A3

A3 is characterised by the sporting elegance of a coupe and the versatility of a five-door vehicle, sophisticated technology and well-defined driving dynamics. With four and six-cylinder engines developing up to 250 bhp, front-wheel or quattro permanent four-wheel drive and – as an option – the revolutionary Direct Shift Gearbox DSG transmission, the technology lives up to the expectations raised by the sporty exterior of this special five-door vehicle – driving pleasure in a new guise.

A major new model in the compact class also means that the Audi A3 is consciously striking out along a new path of its own defining. It offers the emphatically sporty qualities and the athleticism of the three-door version with which it shares its drive train, dynamic suspension and wheelbase. At the same time – as well as two rear doors – it offers even more space and variability thanks to the fact that its body is a total of 83 millimetres longer than that of its three-door counterpart.

The highest-performance engine for this model, and also the top petrol engine for the A3 Sportback: the V6 engine with a displacement of 3.2 litres. The six-cylinder engine is particularly suited to a distinctly sporty vehicle such as the A 3 thanks to its outstanding torque and power characteristics. Its maximum output is 250 bhp, and the torque range is particularly impressive, peaking at 236 lb-ft between 2500 and 3000 rpm. This is just perfect for powerful pulling at all speeds as well as nimble acceleration – regardless of whether the driver opts for a 6 speed manual gearbox or the new, sporty Direct Shift Gearbox DSG. The performance figures of the A3 Sportback 3.2 quattro with Direct Shift Gearbox DSG are correspondingly impressive: it accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in just 6.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 mph (governed).

The dual-branch exhaust system both helps to cut emissions and makes a very presentable sound. Audi's acoustics specialists have created a sonorous sound which, without ever becoming excessively assertive, is entirely appropriate to the sporting potential of this power unit. The A3 Sportback 3.2 is equipped with quattro permanent four-wheel drive as standard.