Audi A3 saloon prices and specs revealed

Prices and specifications for the new Audi A3 saloon, which goes on sale for the first time this week, have been revealed.

Three engine options are available at launch. At the bottom end of the scale a 138bhp 1.4-litre TFSi is available for £24,305 in Sport trim or £26,455 in S line specification. This entry-level unit returns 60.1mpg on a combined cycle and emits 109g/km. 

Further up the range the 1.8-litre TFSi achieves 49.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 129g/km while putting out 177bhp and 184lb ft of torque. That option is the most expensive in the range at £28,105 in S line trim.

The only diesel unit to be available on the A3 saloon at launch is a 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine, which can power the car from 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds. It returns 67.3mpg, has CO2 emissions of 107g/km, and costs £26,425 in S line trim.

The engine line-up is expected to grow in coming months with the launch of a 104bhp 1.6 TDI unit and a 181bhp 2.0-litre TDI unit. Those options will launch in December this year and spring next year respectively.

The A3 saloon is available with either a six-speed manual or S tronic dual-clutch gearbox. Those cars fitted with the S tronic gearbox and Audi's optional adaptive vehicle dynamics system also get a free-wheeling function when the car is in efficiency mode to save fuel.

The A3 saloon shares most of its underpinnings with the A3 hatch and Sportback, and also gets the electro-mechanically assisted steering featured on those models. A 60-40 front/rear axle load distribution helps to improve ride and handling.

Front suspension on standard models is a MacPherson design, while Sport and S line versions of the car feature sports suspension which lowers the saloon by up to 25mm. All models get ESC as standard.

S line trim, which is expected to be specified on half of all A3 sales, adds a £2150 premium over Sport models, and adds 18-inch alloy wheels over the standard car's 17-inch wheels, as well as S line body styling and xenon headlights. Inside, drivers get the S line sports multi-function steering wheel and an enhanced luggage package.