A3 goes on sale in the US

Newswheel staff :: 27 April 2005 :: Filed under Crossover, Estate/Wagon, Hatchback, Audi, Audi A3, US,

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Will Audi's classy hatch break the mould?

Hatchbacks don’t sell well in the US. VW’s Golf is a classic example. Back in the old country, the saloon/sedan version of the classic Golf hatchback is seen as dowdy and dull. The sort of car that’s driven by old-age pensioners, usually with woolly blankets stacked on the rear shelf and probably infused with a faint smell of pee. In the US, it’s the opposite - the Jetta (known as the Vento in Europe), not the Golf is the big seller.

In that context it will be very interesting to see how the Audi A3 does stateside. Significantly, Audi has chosen the stretched “Sportback” model rather than the plain-vanilla three and five door body styles. It might just be different enough to distance itself from the hatchback masses. The engine line-up kicks off with the 2.0T direct-injection turbo lump, good for 200bhp, while pricing starts at a challenging $24,740. We suspect the A3 could do well in this age of ever increasing fuel prices. But we’re less confident it will set a trend - we certainly don’t think the US is ready for the the, er, interesting BMW 1 Series. Likewise Mercedes-Benz has ended its brief experimentation with the horrific Mercedes Sport Coupe in the US - it’s been pulled.

Linkage:
Audi A3 official website

America wasn’t ready for this…