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2013 LA Auto Show: Audi Wants You To Want An A3… But Still Want An R8 (Video)

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There are a lot of reasons to love Audi.  What’s not to like about the super luxury A8 sedan? Or the more sporty A7? Seriously how many people out there don’t like the R8?  If you are into luxury sedans or exotic cars that are livable then Audi is pretty much the way to go.  Although this year in Los Angeles Audi was actually putting most of their energies behind their new A3/S3 compact.  Yes, the little guy got center stage at the Audi booth this year!

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So why is Audi showering so much attention on the A3?  Well there are two answers to that really.  The first is that the A3 is getting a refresh in looks and performance for 2015.  The second is that the new A3 will also play host to a bunch of new tech including being the first car with 4G LTE connectivity as part of the next gen “Audi connect” system.  The Audi Connect system will also allow for the installation of existing apps as well as future Audi-developed apps.  Essentially the new A3 line could end up becoming a smart phone with wheels.

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What about the performance you say?  Well over the course of the next 18 months Audi plans to grant the A3 with 4 engine options: a standard 1.8 liter TFSI 170hp engine, a 2.0 liter TFSI 220hp engine, a 2.0 liter TDI clean diesel 150hp engine, and for the S3 a 2.0 liter TFSI 290hp engine.  For those who wish to really be environmentally friendly Audi announced that by early 2015 an A3 sportback e-tron PHEV (plug-in hybrid) will be available in the U.S.  It will run off a gasoline engine and a 100hp electric motor.  So, if anyone out there is interested in the A3 they will have many different flavors to choose from.

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Apart from the A3 Audi featured plenty of other vehicles in their exhibit including the awesome S7 and the new R8 with a factory “Sepang blue” matte exterior treatment.  In other words the Audi booth is just one big piece of eye candy with a carbon fiber wrapper.  Definitely worth checking out!  For now you can click any of the thumbnails above for a full size picture and you can scroll below for official videos from Audi of the A3 and S3.

Audi A3:

Audi S3:

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