The Audi A3 is getting a technical and visual refresh in the United States. The updates mainly focus on interior design, the integration of a panoramic display, and an expanded lineup of driver-assistance systems. The update applies to all body styles and powertrain variants in the compact-car range, including the sport-focused S3 and RS3.
At the center of the interior update for the A3 is a new cockpit layout with a so-called curved display. It consists of an 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit and a 12.8-inch MMI panoramic display. A wider trim inlay across the dashboard, running from the instrument cluster to the passenger side, creates a continuous horizontal design line.
On the left, you can see the new cockpit; on the right, the previous version. It’s clear that, unfortunately, the climate controls lose their physical buttons. The steering wheel previously used real buttons as well.
View Price on AmazonAccording to Audi, the interior can be configured with four material choices, including carbon fiber, Dinamica microfiber, and two textile fabrics called Impressum Black and Light Crepe. The center console has been revised so the phone storage compartment now faces the driver.
It includes a wireless charging function rated at 25 watts. The steering wheels use a mechanical roller within the multifunction controls. Buyers can choose between two double-spoke designs and a three-spoke wheel flattened at the top and bottom for S-line and S models.
The available driver aids have been reorganized and are offered in three package levels: Tech, Tech plus, and Tech pro. The integrated adaptive driving assistant plus combines adaptive cruise control with active lane guidance at speeds up to 80 mph. On models with an automatic transmission, the system manages longitudinal and lateral control using lane markings, road edges, and surrounding traffic.
It also enables automatic lane changes on highways after the turn signal is activated, as well as automatic slowing at red lights and moving off again when the light turns green. For the first time, the system uses swarm data to adjust speed to the average traffic pace on a given section of route.
Using online data, lane guidance can also be used in urban and rural areas even when lane boundaries aren’t clearly visible. This data-based feature is included at no cost for three years from delivery, and can then be extended for a fee.
For parking maneuvers, four wide-angle surround cameras provide a three-dimensional 360-degree view of the vehicle’s surroundings in the MMI. The Park Assist plus and pro systems recognize parking markings via camera and can steer the vehicle autonomously into parallel and perpendicular spaces, controlling steering, acceleration, braking, and gear changes.
Park Assist pro additionally offers a remote function that lets the driver control parking in and out from outside the vehicle via a smartphone app. A new feature called trained parking also allows up to five individual parking maneuvers—each up to 538 feet long—to be stored and replayed automatically.
Source: motor1.com
