The Audi A3, offered in the U.S. exclusively with the five-door body style, raises its sporty profile with an accentuated design. Changes include the S tronic dual-clutch transmission and Audi magnetic ride, the suspension control system.

Dealer deliveries for the Audi A3 will coincide with the change of the model year, around September 2008, with pricing and equipment not yet finalized for the U.S.

A redesigned exterior with new visual details brings the vehicle’s stretched, sporty profile into the foreground. The front lid and fenders are more expressively styled, and the bumper and large single-frame radiator grille have been modified. A curved trim element in the headlamps known as the "wing" was also modified.

Changes to the interior include aluminum-look elements on the air vents, light switches and center console. The switches and controls beneath the audio system have been given a new look too. The instruments have black dials and red needles to reinforce the impression of precision and advanced technology, and a shift indicator displays the recommended gear in any given circumstances in the driver information system. 

As before, Audi is bringing the five-door A3 onto the U.S. market with two different gasoline engines. The 2.0 TFSI has 200 hp, while the 3.2 quattro with its six cylinders musters 250 hp.

The range of transmissions has been extended—the 2.0 TFSI engine is supplied as standard with six-speed manual transmission, and the 3.2 is available exclusively with the S tronic dual-clutch transmission, now also available for all engine versions. The driver can set it to operate in a fully automatic mode or change gears manually–either at the selector lever or with the standard shift paddles on the leather sport steering wheel.