New Audi A3 revealed

The third-generation Audi A3 has been officially launched in Geneva – and we had a chance to take a closer look at the new BMW 1 Series rival at the VW Group preview night. UK order books for the A3 open this spring, with first deliveries from September, and prices starting from around £19,000.

Speaking at the preview evening Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler called the three-door A3 "just the starting point for the A3 family," hinting at the fact that five-door hatch, saloon and cabriolet versions are all on the way. Stadler also confirmed that a plug-in hybrid A3 will go on sale in 2014.

Videos: Watch our video of the new A3 at Geneva

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The A3 three-door has a wheelbase that's 23mm longer than its predecessor's, and it's 12mm wider, too. And while the increase in size means there's more room inside, the new A3 is actually 80kg lighter, thanks in part to the addition of aluminium body panels and the VW Group's new lightweight MQB platform.

Recent arrivals from Audi such as the new A6 and facelifted A4 and A5 ranges have taken an evolutionary approach in their design, and the new A3 is no different. It has sharper lines and a higher waistline than before, while the design of the front and rear bumpers are similar to those on the updated Audi A4. S line models get single headlight units with integrated indicators and foglights.

The most dramatic changes are inside, where there’s a wafer thin pop-up display, which rises from the dashboard dashboard. Technology highlights include wi-fi, adaptive cruise control and a trackpad on the centre console that boasts handwriting recognition.

From launch only three four-cylinder engines will be offered. The 1.4-litre and 1.8-litre TFSI engines and the 2.0-litre TDI have outputs of 120bhp, 177bhp and 141bhp respectively, but the most efficient choice is a 1.6 TDI that arrives later, delivering 74mpg and 99g/km.