2016 Audi A3 Gets More Standard Features, New Driver Assistance Systems And Technology
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The third-generation Audi A3 family has become quite the success story for Audi. In 2014 alone, the range of compact premium vehicles accounted for a healthy 22,250 sales in the United States, a 2,500 percent increase on a year-over-year basis. Not one to stand still, Audi is giving the A3 and S3 a wide array of new features and options for the 2016 model year.
To start, the 2016 Audi A3 gains several new standard features, including:
- Rearview camera
- Parking sensors
- Alu-optic interior trim details
- Heated mirrors and washer nozzles
Those are all in addition to the existing standard equipment that includes Audi pre sense basic, Audi xenon plus front lighting with LED DRLs and taillights, leather seating surfaces, Panoramic sunroof, as well as the ultra-thin retractable MMI display.
The 2016 Audi A3 also offers three new driver assistance features on the Prestige trim level, including:
- Active lane assist
- Audi pre sense front
- Audi adaptive cruise control
Available features continue to include Audi drive select, the newly-available S line style package, as well as 4G LTE connectivity and a Bang & Olufsen audio system.
Meanwhile, the 2016 Audi S3 is now offered with a Black Optic Performance package that includes:
- Audi Sport 5-V-spoke Titanium matte wheels
- Black optic exterior kit
- Audi magnetic ride
Available red brake calipers, S Sport seat package and 19-inch wheels round out the aggressive options of the sporty 2016 S3.
All in all, we expect that these aggressive host of updates and changes to the 2016 A3 and 2016 S3 will enable the model to continue to attract new customers to the Audi brand while staying at the top of the sales charts in the premium compact segment. And we can’t wait to see that Black Optic package on the 2016 S3 in person.
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CarPlay — I want to know 3 things:
Will the new 2016 US models have Apple’s CarPlay (or a way to upgrade/flash the system to support it)?
What engines will be available in the US?
What engines (if any) will be available with the “Sport Back” hatchback option?
I want to order one immediately, but need these answers. Do we need to get Snowden on this? It’s been impossible to get a real answer anywhere.
David,
CarPlay: no, not for 2016. At least not initially. It could arrive halfway through the model year, but there’s no way of knowing that right now.
2. Will it be upgradable: probably not, since CarPlay will likely use a different coprocessor.
3. Engines on hatch: it’s only available as a plug-in (e-tron) right now.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the info: I really with Audi would get their act together.
I’ve been reading promises of CarPlay from last year to this, and with no real information, and the little that is out there conflicting, I’m sick of waiting.
Same deal with engines, reports of diesel TDI in Sportback for 2016, then not, then on again, then not. And these are comments from Audi reps online.
Though I am not familiar with the specific details, it sounds like those Audi reps aren’t familiar with what they’re talking about since, as far as I am aware, there have never been any official announcements about the timeframe of bringing CarPlay to market. Similarly, nothing official has come out of Audi of America regarding power plants for the A3 Sportback other than the e-tron plug-in. Like you though, I wish both were available for the 2016 MY.
David – I forgot to mention this, which might be useful:
http://motrolix.com/2015/05/volkswagens-new-modular-infotainment-system-to-support-apple-carplay-android-auto/
There’s this now:
http://www.audiusa.com/newsroom/news/press-releases/2014/06/audi-apple-carplay-new-models
Earlier there was a German Audi official talking about the “2016 model year” and that all models “after the Q7″ would have CarPlay. I’ll see if I can find that link to post too.
Ah, yes. From that release:
“CarPlay will begin appearing in new models first released for Europe in 2015, for North American markets in early 2016″. Notice, those are calendar year dates, rather than model year. So if the A3 gets it for 2016, it will be a 2016 interim model year (2016i), or just a rolling update in “early 2016″.
And I did see the models “after the Q7″ statement. Since the A3 was before the new Q7, so it will probably get it in early 2016 as a 2016 model year (rolling update), or for the 2017 model year.