Formula A3

Role branches within the Audi Group VW, according to the latest regulations volfsburgskogo Directorate - is a sport. Accordingly, the appearance of the new Audi A3 hatchback has become more expressive and dynamic. Edge on the sidewall of a deep "numb" on the wings of the rear lights, large rear rack ... particularly aggressive new look "treshka" full face, with "live" this impression is much stronger than in the photos. The hood hangs over the headlights, like eyebrows above the eyes. Because of this "face" of the machine varies depending on the angle of view. You look at the Audi below - it seems that the car you smiling. He got up, looked down at him - he frowned and looked neprivetlivo.I still say that Audi A3 was easily recognizable, it is impossible. During the presentation, I took a couple of times "three rubles" for a Fiat Stilo, then for the Audi TT ... Against the latter similarity Audi designers themselves certainly do not have anything. On the contrary, in the cabin of the new "treshki" even appeared in common with the TT stylistic elements - such as the famous slanted "amps" on the center console. Only in CT they are more powerful and trimmed with aluminum and A3 are "All-plastic." Despite the "sport" finishing touches, the interior remained moderately severe, classical. Inserts in aluminum or Kevlar in the A3 is not provided - only the "tree" of the two colors. In the basic version and Attraction "deluxe» Ambiente chetyrehspitsevy wheel, and only in the "sport" version of Ambition bagel has three spokes. In equipping the same revolution did not happen - on-board computer, separate climate control for driver and passenger, and xenon headlights are available for a fee. A unique proposal for a golf class can be considered unless the rear seat (also optional). By the way, behind compared to its predecessor became noticeably more spacious - it seems that most of those 65 mm, which was longer than the wheelbase has gone to increase the space for foot rear passengers. In addition, the new Audi A3 was "broader in the shoulders," and in the rear seat backrest folding armrest came with two cupholders. But ... A three-door car! And in order to get back, you need to push hard the front seat. In addition, he has turned a flat couch, like a store, and almost as tough. Too hard - even for a German merkam.S motor to start a "mount" acquaintance? The base model is equipped with an engine capacity of 1.6 liters, which is installed on the old A3. A "treshek" the famous 1.8 liter engine now will not be at all - a family of engines is retired! And naturally aspirated 125-hp engine, and its supercharged version of that developed from 150 to 225 power, but with the aftermarket "brains" - and even more ... Why? According to the engine-Audi, to replace this 20-valve engine (with five valves per cylinder) come 16-valve engines with new generation of more modern construction. And the first of these new powertrains - 2.0 FSI engine with a system of "layered" Direct Injection (Fuel Stratified Injection). Graphs of two-liter engine features a new look at the examples from the textbook. Torque to 3000 rev / min increases smoothly up to 200 Nm, is held at this level almost up to 5000 rev / min and gradually decreases as well. A general power curve into a straight line drawn from idle to maximum practically! Thrust, in full accordance with the characteristics - trolleybus. Acceleration - smoother you can imagine. Is that really the "top" is a mark of 5500 rev / min, there is barely noticeable pickup, was almost immediately interrupted by the rev limiter. On the one hand, this is great - enough to hold the motor in the coveted zone "of three to five", and immediate response to the movement of a comfortable floor the gas pedal is provided to you. On the other hand ... Skuchnovato.Krome, let's compare the "performance characteristics" 150-horsepower Audi A3 1.8T previous generation and the current Audi A3 2.0 FSI. With the same engine power the new hatchback is 100 pounds heavier, a second slower sprints "from zero to hundred" ... But fuel consumption, according to factory figures, down 1 l/100 km.Kstati, the benefits of technology "layered" injection FSI, a similar system of GDI Mitsubishi, appear not to "cardinality" modes, but at low loads, when injected into the cylinders sverhbednaya mixture of gasoline and air. That is, the easier the driver Audi A3 2.0 FSI pressing on the gas, the more it justifies the cost of creating a new engine. And they are great: lean-burn operation, producing an excessive amount of toxic nitrogen oxides NOx, demanded the use of three (!) Neytralizatorov.A another 2.0 FSI engine with its high compression ratio is only 11.5 for petrol and 98 octane. So how to go in the Audi A3 with this motor for 300 km from Moscow or St. Petersburg, and there is nothing dumat.Alternativa? With the exception of "direct" the 150-strong motor FSI, somewhere between 1.6 and gasoline-powered V6 3.2 (the latter known to us by Audi TT 3.2 DSG) in the line of engines of the new Audi A3 - only diesels. It is already known to us or engine 1.9 TDI 105 hp or a new two-liter 140-strong turbodiesel. Incidentally, both the engine - with the pump nozzles. But even with the 1.9 engine 8-valve cylinder head, and a new two-liter - already with four valves per tsilindr.Ya rode in a car with an engine 2.0 TDI. Class! Tiny loss in power compared to gasoline engine 2.0 FSI turbo liter more than offset polutorakratnym advantage in torque. On the road in Audi A3 2.0 FSI turbo in competition with no chance! In any case, the short straight between turns countless roads of Sardinia, including lifts. Turbo car accelerates with enthusiasm and ease, reach its gasoline brother! And even the sound of a diesel engine, I think, more "sporty" - is a powerful steady hum, not a frivolous gasoline zhuzhzhanie.Prichem moment characteristics of a diesel engine also has a "shelf", albeit not as wide as the motor FSI, - from 1750 to 2500 rev / min. As a result, both versions for a more dynamic driving should be increased to operate the lever 6-speed gearbox. But the purpose of switching a little different - at a gasoline car to keep the momentum in the "upper" zone, and diesel, by contrast, have to restrain from "twisting" of more than 4000 rev / min, when he abruptly "sour." It is a pity that the drive clutch on the new Audi A3 has the same character as the old car - pedal unhelpful, but its course is too large. Because of this suffering is not only the "purity" of the pick-up and switching, but also the convenience of landing - involuntarily pulls the seat so as to squeeze the clutch to the floor, and it turns out that the right leg is too sognuta.Upravlyaemost? McPherson type front suspension work in progress, and at the rear instead of the previous simple scheme with coupled levers appeared brand new multi-link design. By the way, the rear suspension design engineer responsible podvesochnik Ayhorn Ulrich, who created the famous Ford "mnogorychazhku" Focus - a few years ago he moved to Volkswagen. But the Audi engineers now emphasize that the calculation of the kinematics of the independent rear suspension in the first place do not pay attention to "steer" the rear wheels (which are of Focus), and the optimal distribution of the transverse and longitudinal loads on appropriately rychagam.Rezultat? German hatchback zanyrivaet readily into the corners of any slope, which abound in the tracks of Sardinia. The nature of control highlighted neutral - low-profile tires, thanks to extensive car develops a lateral acceleration neshutochnye and in the limit starts beeping all four tires. And if you lose at this point the gas is no "body language" of the rear axle does not happen too - the car simply goes to a smaller radius.No real "athlete" four Audi A3 can not be named. In any case, the "presentation" of the machine were quite soft, with noticeable body roll in turns, and without unduly severe reactions to steering. Option with sports suspension, which is characterized by 17-inch wheels, other springs, shock absorbers, stabilizers, more powerful and reduced by 15 mm ground clearance, significantly stiffer and less so as rolls in the corners. Steering wheel in the near-zero area a little more sensitive ... But in Russia, "sportpaket" can manifest itself worse than the "standard": it is too hard to turn the car will "jump" from one trajectory to nerovnostyah.Esche novelty of the new Golf platform - electric power steering, which, in comparison with power, saves fuel. Moreover, the electric motor rotates is not the steering shaft, as in most power assistance, and through the gearbox acts directly on the steering rack (similar, but slightly different design amplifier has Mazda RX-8). This was done for better accuracy and control forest of information content. In principle, the electrical power is working well, but the "burden" donut seems somewhat artificial. But why - I think? It is artificial - computer collects data from sensors on the steering effort the shaft of the steering speed, add in their calculation speed of the vehicle and calculates the necessary, in his view, the degree of "aid" to the electric motor. On the big move helps the driver power is less a "zero" steering becomes larger. In addition, the A3 is capable of compensating the parasitic electrical power efforts on the handlebars, arising from the oblique profile of the road or side wind. As a result of road bumps on the steering wheel is not just flattened - they do not feel at all! It's great, but at the disposal of unwanted vibrations and gone and part of the "road" of information. And I would like to feel a little like rolling the wheel ... In Russia, the new Audi A3 will sell in late summer, a few days after the Moscow Motor Show. And he bestseller, like its predecessor, not to be. After all, the new hatchback will certainly be more expensive than the old one (promise, not much). The "formula» Audi A3 new generation compared to its predecessor so far looks like this - plus 100 kg, less the second time acceleration "from zero to a hundred," minus one liter of fuel per 100 kilometers, all of which multiply indefinitely factor more expressive design. Attractive? Not ochen.Skoree all, the greatest demand, we will use stosilnye cars Audi A3 1.6 with the "automatic" (by the way, six-speed) - they will buy their ladies the owners of powerful Audi A8. And the rest, beautiful marquise ... The two-liter FSI engine will scare away buyers need to use the 98-m gasoline. Diesels have no respect. A pity. Because and quattro all-wheel drive transmission with electro-hydraulic Haldex clutch to drive the rear wheels, and unique automatic gearbox DSG with "continuous" switching long version will be equipped with or V6 3.2, or 2.0 TDI.Kakovy prospects? Apparently, the later will be a 200-strong two-liter engine turboversiya FSI, which will also be equipped with and all-wheel drive and gearbox DSG. And when we can expect a five-door version of the Audi A3? «A year and a half", - has answered this question a spokesman Audi. And mysteriously added, "But this is not just a version with two extra doors. Kompaktven? No more monocabs Audi will not do. And what would it be car, I still say you can not ... "I wonder!