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New Audi A3 set for series of emissions improvements

Date: 30 May 2012   |   Author:

A3

Despite being still three months from launching in the UK, Audi is already plotting a series of additions and improvements to the emissions of the latest version its most popular business car model, the A3.

By the end of this year, the 105hp 1.6-litre diesel will arrive, offering sub-100g/km emissions across all trim levels, rather than just in the most basic one as was the case with its predecessor.

However, there are also plans to get the car below 95g/km in time, while the Cylinder on Demand technology that increases efficiency by shutting down half of the engine's cylinders when they're not needed will advance across other four-cylinder petrol engines after its introduction next spring on the 140hp 1.4-litre unit.

The firm will also introduce a plug-in hybrid A3 a little over two years from now, utilising a rechargeable electric motor with back-up from a petrol engine for times when extra range is needed.

It will be Audi's first production venture into electric vehicles, though it has hybrid experience in mainland Europe, and an A8 hybrid launches in the UK this summer.

All the A3 launch engines met Euro5 emissions legislation rather than the Euro6 regulations that are looming, but the firm will launch its first Euro6 compliant unit next year with the arrival of the sporty S3 model that will offer in excess of 300hp.

The company's plan is to make the potentially expensive upgrade to Euro6 in the 12 months preceeding the new law's introduction at the end of 2014.

The changes to the 99g/km A3 should lead to it becoming a more popular choice in the new generation car, with its share of the model mix rising from 15% to 25%-30%.

The three-door will be around 60% fleet sales, with next year's Sportback around the 70% mark. The larger five-door model will continue to take the bulk of sales, with Audi predicting it will continue to account for around three quarters of A3 registrations following its spring 2013 launch.

Audi is also expecting drivers - especially those not covering big miles - looking at A3s around the 140hp mark to reconsider petrol engines thanks to the improved emissions of the 140hp 1.4 TFSI petrol arriving next year.

Expected to come in at under 110g/km, it would be close to the 150hp TDI diesel, and three benefit-in-kind bands lower due to the 3% diesel penalty, as well as having a lower P11D and diesel still enduring a premium over unleaded at the pumps.

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