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If it weren’t for the ‘T’ in its model designation, you’d never know that the 1.8-litre four in this A3 breathes through a turbocharger. Performance is delivered in such a linear fashion from peak torque way down at 1500rpm to peak power right up at 6200rpm that there is no increase in urgency as revs rise nor any sense of anticipation that the engine is about to ‘come on to the cam’.

Our tests showed a more-than-respectable 0-60mph time of just 7.7sec and, to prove the efficacy of it...Read the full article

quote: This must be one of the most refined and smooth four-cylinder motors ever invented. i totally agree with that. the 1.8 tfsi offered in the a3, a4 and a5 is one of the finest engines around!

I disagree with the reviewers comparisons to the VW Eos. The two cars are unrelated as the eos uses a combination of golf and passat platform parts and size-wise is on par with an audi a4 cab or bmw 3-series. An audi A3 cab is based merely on the golf MK5 platform and goes head to head with  a 1-series cab and will compete with the forthcomming VW Golf cabriolet (which will be sold alongside the eos).

A3 cabriolet actually works rather well..... if you don't mind the windows ending in different positions everytime you operate the 9 second hood.

Maybe an extra second is required.

I'm a new owner and waiting for a fix to a problem I pointed out at the begining of August.

May have taken time to bring it to market, but rushed if there is a software bug in the window operation.

 Don't get me wrong nice drive, although can feel the difference between A4 and A3 feel. Its more flexible and I think the 2.0 would be better.... suspect the new 1.6 will be struggle to not stall pulling away, but is the TFSI runing at to higher revs.  I seem to get to 6th gear very quickly and wonder what the other gears are for.

Looks great, and I am sure it will sell in decent numbers. In reality, this is a cruiser, so actual "sporty" performance is not that relevant. The only real question  is why they waited o late in tis product life cycle to introduce it - other than the fact the BMW 1 series was on its way!