At Leith Cars, there awaits a daunting task each Thursday morning for our weekly edition of Showroom and Tell. It is we who must determine which make and model of car truly distinguishes itself. With more than thirty dealerships, we could close our eyes, spin in a chair twenty times, and blindly select a vehicle that possesses an impressive quality. This week’s choice, however, was not derived from any arbitrary method – there’s a specific reason we chose this platform to tout the 2015 Audi A3.
Starting at 5:30 PM on April 3rd, the North Hills Commons will host an Audi A3 launch event.
The German automaker’s advertising campaign focuses on how its engineering and design promise to “stay uncompromised.” This serves to both reinforce the idea that consumers will not compromise on what they desire in a luxury vehicle and that Audi will not compromise the luxury it offers. In other words, the company guarantees that its entry-level A3 is the genuine artifact – a true Audi in design and performance.
Some of the standard features of the 2015 Audi A3 include a 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbo engine that generates 170 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, a six-speed auto-shift manual transmission with overdrive, ABS system, comprehensive airbag setup, and scads of other features expected from a luxury brand.
While we can certainly ogle the sculpted frame of the car or its performance capabilities, the technology is what most industry experts agree separates the A3 from others in its class. And Audi’s MMI operating system may be the most striking facet of the technology suite.
The Audi MMI system behaves as the nerve center, performing an array of functions. It affords you the ability to instinctively manage the navigation, entertainment, interior, and ride dynamics that enhance your driving experience. Though the system is complex, managing it is rather simple through utilizing the touch screen, dial pad, or voice control. Audi designed MMI for driving situations and placed great emphasis on accessible functionality – find a song, make a call, acquire directions, or any number of other requests can be fulfilled with minimal distraction from the road.
The 2015 Audi A3 will enter a competitive entry-level market that other brands, such as Mercedes-Benz, have already established rapport with consumers. Executives for the German automaker expressed supreme confidence that with smart marketing to get people at the dealership, the A3 will acquire business from both young buyers seeking their first luxury vehicle and older consumers who, for years, have committed to mass-making car manufacturers. With a starting price of $29,000, the Audi A3 seems like a natural choice.
What quality draws you the most to the A3?