Audi Confirms 2015 A3 Sedan to Debut at 2013 Shanghai Auto Show - Informal Preview Just Ahead of 2013 New York Auto Show

Just the Facts:

The 2014 Audi A3 sedan will make its global debut at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show, with U.S. sales set for the second quarter of 2014.

The A3 sedan will be informally revealed at a private event just ahead of the 2013 New York Auto Show.

The 2014 Audi A3 sedan takes aim at the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class sedan.

HERNDON, Virginia — The 2014 Audi A3 sedan will make its global debut at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show, with U.S. sales set for the second quarter of 2014, said Scott Keogh, Audi of America president, on Tuesday during a media conference call.

The 2014 Audi A3 sedan will be informally revealed at a private event just ahead of the 2013 New York Auto Show. In effect, the car will have two unveilings in the next few weeks. Joe Jacuzzi, an Audi of America spokesman, told Edmunds that powertrain specifications on the A3 sedan will be released at the New York show.

The 2014 Audi A3 sedan takes aim at the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class sedan.

The new CLA will arrive at U.S. dealerships in September 2013. The base CLA starts at $30,825, including a $925 destination charge. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG, the high-performance version of the entry-level CLA, will debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show and arrive in U.S. showrooms a few months after the base CLA.

When asked about A3 sedan pricing, Keogh said it will be "below the A4 today," but would not announce formal pricing at this point. The 2013 Audi A4 starts at $33,395, including an $895 destination charge.

Keogh said he expected the A3 sedan to be "far more popular in the States than in Europe." The next A3 is coming to the U.S. only in sedan format. The car is aimed at young Generation X and Y buyers, who currently make up 46 percent of Audi buyers here, he noted.

The Audi A3 concept sedan debuted at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show.

Edmunds says: The 2014 Audi A3 sedan is a key part of Audi's ongoing offensive in the U.S.
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cidflekken - 3/12/2013 9:32:06 PM

+1 Boost

If specs and pricing are right, this car will take off here. And it may turn into a pretty heated contest between the CLA and the A3 sedan. If Audi has a disadvantage it's that, from what I've read, only the sedan is coming here while the A-class will have the hatch.

Personally for me, it might come down to interior. I think the A-Class has a better interior at least against the concept A3 interior.

autobroker - 3/14/2013 9:02:11 AM

+1 Boost

My understanding is that M-B is only bringing the sedan version also, as we Americans haven't gravitated to the hatch like the Europeans have. So the battle will be identical body types. The base price for each at around $30,000 seems okay until you add normal comfort features. Before you now it, you past $35,000 and can hit $40,000 for a little car. $30,000 for normal luxuries without going over the top seems fair enough for a small car

GermanNut - 3/13/2013 9:22:20 AM

-3 Boost

More like Audi's A3 sedan will be a huge seller in the U.S. market and will be uniquely Audi in its design.

PQ40 - 3/13/2013 10:16:17 AM

+1 Boost

Uniquely Audi? lol. This will be a rebadged Euro Jetta for badge whores.

GermanNut - 3/13/2013 1:30:15 PM

+1 Boost

This car will be a HUGE hit in the U.S. The interior will be WAY more luxurious than the plasticky Mercedes-Benz CLA and the concept showed a more aggressive design strategy that Audi has hinted at previously.