Agent 001 Lands In The Middle Of Tech City For The Launch Of The 2015 Audi A3 — FIRST Pics!

One of the cool things about the automotive business is when an automaker decides to launch an all-new product. Typically, the company will pick a city that, more or less, speaks to its product. For the launch of the 2015 Audi A3, the four rings chose Palo Alto, California.

For those of you not familiar with the NoCal town, it's south of San Francisco and home to some of the most powerful technology companies in the world. And, it's also home to some of the world's most powerful tech C-level executives.

Considering Audi's marketing push to be a technological leader, it seems fitting.

Agent 001 took a quick flight from the Agent's home base in San Diego and landed up north yesterday. As you'd expect with the event starting, he snapped plenty of photos for YOU to take a look at.

The A3 is going to be a critical product for Audi to scale up its volume and we're looking forward to providing you with the download.

That said, check out the hand-selected photos below!


Keep your browsers pointed to AutoSpies.com for the latest!


2015 Audi A3 Launch

scenicbyway12 - 3/10/2014 11:53:24 AM

-1 Boost

It looks ten years old.

Car4Life - 3/10/2014 12:41:46 PM

+1 Boost

And one one appeared to be remotely interested in the car at the vent LOL

GermanNut - 3/10/2014 12:20:26 PM

+1 Boost

The A3 Sedan will be a game-changer for Audi in the U.S. and Chinese markets. Audi has launched a product that is better than the competition's in this segment.

Compared to the Mercedes-Benz CLA, the A3 sedan offers more standard equipment, a higher quality interior, better driving dynamics, more rear passenger room and is cheaper when optioned the same as the CLA.

With Audi's momentum in the U.S. being built gradually over the past 5 years, it is now time for the brand to push the accelerator even harder and the A3 Sedan is that vehicle.

BMWm4 - 3/10/2014 1:07:35 PM

0 Boost

call me crazy, yet it looks like a smaller A4. Nuttie, haven't you been proclaiming lately that AUDI was going to change their models so they don't look like oneanother.

Firewombat - 3/10/2014 1:34:04 PM

-1 Boost

Ok look, I know a lot of websites and forums online are saying this design is really boring and already looks really old, but I think it looks handsome. Certainly looks better than the current A4 or A3 hatch.

Only problem I have is that, looking at the sketches from the photos, this could have looked really modern and different from the rest of the line-up, which is a bit disappointing.

They should give whoever did the initial sketches free reign, goodness knows Audi needs it looking at their current line up.

This car is already extremely close to the A4 in size, and seeing as that car's sales in the US aren't near the competition, they better do something exciting for the next generation. Anything close to this won't cut it. And I already see massive cannibalization.

Now, if only there was some global plan from Audi to differentiate the styling between Audi's models, that could be seen in new releases like the A3 sedan and the new TT... oh, oh wait...

GermanNut - 3/10/2014 1:43:08 PM

+2 Boost

BMWm4 and Firewombat simply don't understand how the design process (and by extension the process of bringing a car to market is done). This new A3 sedan was in development years ago. Audi's press release regarding its new design philosophy came out in November of 2012.

The TT and A3 Sedan were never intended to be the models that introduced the world to Audi's new aggressive and differentiated design philosophy.

By the time Audi decided on its new design philosophy, the basics of this A3 Sedan were well underway and to do a total revamp (and further delay) the A3 Sedan would not have been wise considering the Mercedes-Benz CLA has already been on sale for some 4-5 months.

MicrosoftUser - 3/10/2014 1:49:29 PM

+1 Boost

The exterior design looks outdated already.

irishmike - 3/10/2014 1:57:13 PM

+1 Boost

The styling is evolutionary in the German tradition. It is understated and elegant. I like it.
If Audi can provide a good value by pricing it reasonably, it will succeed.
I am glad to see this segment developing. BMW will have limited success with the '2', since it is priced way to high for small coupe with a cheap interior.
The CLA has been criticized for poor quality interior, rough ride, and bland steering. MB needs more experience building smaller less expensive cars.
I like the styling of all three, but I like the Audi best so far.

Terry989 - 3/10/2014 2:01:45 PM

+1 Boost

No manual transmission option = no interest.

cidflekken - 3/10/2014 2:32:57 PM

+1 Boost

It's a handsome car. No one can doubt that. But is it dynamic enough to create the right "buzz" and "impact" that Audi wants? That remains to be seen. Also, in size and execution and price, it could easily encroach on the now-delayed A4 sales.

But I do agree that the sketches look amazing and it almost looks like it was originally intended to be more of a 4-door coupe than an upright sedan.

Firewombat - 3/10/2014 3:09:04 PM

0 Boost

The "basics" of an A3 sedan is a VW Golf. The groundwork was done, not that difficult to change the design, it's not like they had to design the car from the ground up.

GermanNut - 3/10/2014 3:32:17 PM

0 Boost

It's the same for the Porsche Macan. It's "basics" are an Audi Q5. The same can be said for a lot of the vehicles of Volkswagen Auto Group's different brands.

While it's no that difficult to change the design, it's definitely time consuming. It's not just a matter of putting a different design on the same skeleton. There is a lot more to consider such as electrics, lighting, materials etc.

Firewombat - 3/10/2014 3:34:51 PM

-2 Boost

I wonder if they'll build a Golf sedan? Oh wait, that's the Jetta. Oh wait, then what's this?

Fiat4life - 3/13/2014 5:26:30 PM

+2 Boost

I wonder if you testicles will ever grow and your voice gets deeper?

clams - 3/13/2014 5:28:54 PM

+2 Boost

hahahaha!!!

youngandaspiring7 - 3/10/2014 4:04:45 PM

+1 Boost

Every person that says new BMW models all look the same or are redundant but would not say the same for Audi right now is an idiot. Not at all saying this car is ugly.. it just looks so much like a shrunk A8 with that body line..

GermanNut - 3/10/2014 7:03:55 PM

+2 Boost

That's why Audi is changing its design philosophy to be more aggressive and differentiated. Gone are the days of a simple and inoffensive design that is just enlarged or shrunken based on the model in question.

JDMUSMuscle - 3/10/2014 7:08:32 PM

+1 Boost

Another boring looking Audi.

Seriously, this is like a poor man's version of Lexus CT.