04. No More Audi A3 Hatch For U.S. Drivers
The Audi A3 hatchback has represented the German automaker's small car strategy in the United States for quite some time, but it would appear that the A3's personality is destined for a radical makeover in the near future. The Detroit Bureau is reporting that the Audi A3 hatch will be dropped from the U.S. lineup and replaced with an all-new A3 sedan.
The Audi A3 sedan is slated to make its American debut in late 2013, and it will offer better interior room and a longer list of high tech features when compared against the current Audi A3 hatchback. It is also expected that the A3 sedan will be lighter and more fuel efficient than the vehicle it replaces, and an electric version of the automobile will eventually go on sale as well. Diesel and gasoline engines will most likely continue to be available with the A3 sedan. The news comes at roughly the same time as Mercedes-Benz announcing that its first true entry-level automobile for U.S. buyers will take the form of a hatchback, differentiating it further from Audi's future offerings.