Redesigned 2021 Audi A3 Sedan Puts On Big Boy Clothes And Adds A Manual Transmission

Now that electric vehicles outsell cars with manual transmissions, Audi could be forgiven for putting all its eggs in an E-Tron basket and scrapping the three-pedal configuration for good. Thankfully, Audi's parent company Volkswagen says it'll keep producing manual cars as long as people buy them, and with the redesigned 2021 Audi A3 sedan, it's putting its money where its mouth is by offering six-speed transmissions with every engine option.
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MDarringer - 4/21/2020 12:33:07 PM

+1 Boost

It's time for Audi to decide what to do the the abysmally poor selling A4567

vdiv - 4/21/2020 5:17:56 PM

-1 Boost

Make them all-electric ;)

cidflekken - 4/21/2020 12:54:39 PM

+4 Boost

Added fender bulges and some new head/taillights. Looks more refined, if not almost exactly like the current model.

Interior is a fail. It may have good materials, but I've seen it in videos under regular lighting and it looks econocar chic. Those vent bulges look outright tacky and not of a luxury brand.

F1_Driver - 4/21/2020 5:20:10 PM

0 Boost

After all, it is sharing the chassis with other VWs. Therefore, it's a dipped in gold VW.

ricks0me - 4/21/2020 2:01:52 PM

+2 Boost

Mild face lift ... yawn

mini22 - 4/21/2020 5:43:48 PM

+4 Boost

It gets back to German culture in terms of styling. This is Audi's identity. Again I mention Jaguar failing. They abandoned all of their heritage when the XJ and XF were restyled. The XE is simply a shrunken XF. But where's the heritage of the Mark 2? That maybe why the German's never get too radical in their styling. An Audi looks different from a Mercedes that looks different from a BMW. They all carry forward their heritage. Styling changes tend to be subtle. They figure buyers want what is familiar.

cidflekken - 4/21/2020 6:27:36 PM

+5 Boost

No. Subtle is for mid-cycle facelifts. Not for completely new cars. Mercedes seems to distinguish themselves the most from generation to generation. BMW and Audi, the least.

MDarringer - 4/22/2020 11:17:12 AM

+2 Boost

Subtle does not sell cars. Gorgeous sells. People want new. Marc Lichte's styling is Oldsmobile dull and unimaginative. The basic look of Audis hasn't changed much since the days of the 80/90/100 that replaced the 4000/5000.

carloslassiter - 4/22/2020 9:01:04 AM

+2 Boost

Not a fan of the massive jowls look - even worse when you exacerbate it with some extra trim there.

GermanNut - 4/22/2020 11:20:29 PM

+2 Boost

Audi once again delivers a redesigned model that looks almost exactly like the one it replaces. I'm surprised Audi continues on this trend as its sales have taken a huge hit in the U.S. over the past two years.

Brand identity does have value but there is a difference between maintaining brand identity and boring your prospective buyers with indistinguishable design changes. Audi is guilty of the latter and its sales are suffering in the U.S. and globally because of it.