2015 Audi A3 sedan configurator goes live

The 2015 Audi A3 sedan will be appearing in dealerships in a few months, and the trim and pricing details have been announced for the U.S. market. The engines on offer on this side of the pond are a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 170-hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder coupled with Quattro all-wheel drive, making 200-hp an 258 lb-ft of torque. A few months back we tried an A3 sedan with a European-spec 1.4-liter turbocharged gas engine, but sadly it won't be available in the states. That engine that seemed like a sensible option if you weren't getting into the slightly larger A4.

The Audi A3 will be offered in three trim levels, and with the base-spec already called Premium you know that you're not going to see a European-style "poverty spec" car on steelies with various delete plates covering the dash. The price difference between the two engines in all trim levels is $3,000 if you want the 2.0-liter four-pot along with Quattro, while the 1.8-liter TFSI engine comes with front-wheel drive.

In the base-spec A3 Premium trim with the negligibly smaller four-pot mill the price of entry is $30,795, for which you get front-wheel drive and a six-speed Audi S Tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission. A 2.0-liter version in the same trim will start at $33,795. The standard options on the base trim thankfully include leather seats with driver's power, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, folding rear seatbacks, and a panoramic sunroof. For an extra $1,900 you can add the Audi MMI Navigation system, aluminum interior trim elements for the interior for an extra $450, and an Audi music interface with iPod integration for an extra $350. A cold weather package with heated seats, mirrors, and windshield fluid nozzles will set you back a extra $500.

The middle trim level is Premium Plus, which starts at $33,695 when coupled with the 1.8-liter engine, and $36,695 when optioned with the 2.0-liter engine with Quattro. Standard on this trim level are the aluminum trim bits for the interior, keyless start, stop and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and 18-inch 10-spoke wheels. Here the options are bit more extensive, with the Audi MMI Navigation Plus package now featuring the handwriting recognition technology, a $2,600 option. Also available as an option on the Premium Plus trim is the driver assistance package, which comes with side assists, and rear view camera -- a $1,400 option. The Bang & Olufsen sound system is an extra $850, while the sport package with front sport seats and a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles is a relative bargain at just $550.

Audi
Leather seats are standard across the board, and in top trim the upgraded MMI with handwriting recognition tech is standard.

The top of the line trim for the A3 sedan is called Prestige, and cars in this trim level start at $39,595 for the 1.8-liter unit and $42,595 for the 2.0-liter unit. Here the 18-inch 10-spoke wheels are standard, as are full LED headlights, the Bang & Olufsen sound system with 14 speakers, an MMI navigation system with handwriting recognition, and the S Line exterior appearance which includes a tweaked front and rear fascia, new side sills, and S Line fender badges. Ticking all the options on the 2.0-liter TFSI version here gets one to $46,340.

You can configure the A3 of your, or someone else's, dreams here. The S3 sedan and the A3 cabriolet are scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. in the summer of 2014, with the A3 Sportback debuting exclusively with a gasoline-electric powertrain. Pricing for these models hasn't been announced yet.

By Jay Ramey