Audi wil not offer the A3 hatch in the US, only the sedan will arrive here

Smart. Hopefully BMW follows suit and hurries up with a 1-Series sedan. They need a four door priced below the new 3-Series, which has gotten much more expensive in the new iteration.

Sorry chuckles, but it's gone up significantly no matter how you pay for it. In fact all their leases are higher than they've been in the past (I've had seven of them since 2002 -- a 330Ci, a 330i, a 328xi, a 535xi, an X3, an X5 4.8, and a Z4 35is).

really? That's funny, because here's Herb Chambers ad, the biggest dealer in Boston:

http://www.herbchambersbmwofboston.com/financing/lease-offers.htm

And here's their Mercedes ad:

http://www.boston.com/cars/specials/herb_chambers_mercedes/motorcars.html

A modestly equipped 328xi is $399/mo w/ $3k down IF you qualify for the $750 Owner Loyalty rebate. They're advertising a Mercedes C300 4MATIC for $299/mo with $2865 down. So the BMW is 33% higher, with more more down, and that's IF you qualify for loyalty. If you don't, add $21 to the payment.

A 528xi is $569/mo, again WITH the loyalty, and $590 without. An E350 4MATIC is $479.

That's a pretty big difference, and it goes on across the model lineup.

So... yeah.

would be nice to see a pic of the sedan not hatch

Here you go:

http://www.insideline.com/audi/a3/photos/audi_a3_f34_ns_61112.html

thanks F1, seems the article should have a pic was my point

I think this is a mistake. There is a market for small high-performance and well-equipped hatchbacks even in the USA and if Audi has already bothered developing the car, why not sell it?

Also what about the A3 e-Tron currently being trialed in the US? It is a hatchback and a great car.

Oh, well the next gen Golf is on the A3 platform.