By Simon McBride 31 December 2008
Audi has updated both the A3 and TT ranges for 2009. The A3 has received a new Black Edition which will be available on the three-door, five door Sportback and cabriolet versions.According to the German maker the new Black Edition combines dark and brooding looks with an exceptional specification that takes the top S line model as its basis, the new limited run A3 range can be ordered now priced from £22,215 OTR to £27,395 OTR, and will reach UK showrooms in early February. The Black Edition models feature a de-chromed front grille and, in the Cabriolet versions, black surrounds for the roll bars and the shoulder line. 18-inch S line design alloy wheels with an exclusive dark titanium finish continue the theme in all three variants, and in the hatchbacks privacy glass extends from the B-pillar. For the full effect, these features are combined with Brilliant Black paint at no extra cost, but the fashionable no-cost option of Ibis White and the extra cost metallic options Phantom Black, Misano Red and Monza Silver are also available. Also fitted to the A3 Black Editions are standard fit Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps. Audi has given the A3 Black Edition a black interior too.Inside the car is marked out with high gloss Piano black inlays, and the already extensive S line specification is enhanced by a high output Bose speaker system, acoustic rear parking sensors and an exclusive flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel. The S line package also offers sports suspension, part leather-upholstered sports seats, electronic climate control and an Audi Concert audio system with single CD player and MP3 compatibility. In Cabriolet Black Edition models, available exclusively with a black acoustic hood, it also includes fully automatic hood operation and a wind deflector. The new Black Edition specification is available in conjunction with the 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engines (160PS and 200PS) and the two advanced 2.0 TDI common rail engines (140PS and 170PS). It carries a premium of £905 over the equivalent S line model in each case which, when the additional equipment it offers is taken into account, represents a customer saving of £675 on the A3 Black Edition and £650 on the A3 Cabriolet Black Edition. While the TT range has also been given an update. The German maker has added new quattro four-wheel-driven versions of the Coupe 2.0 TFSI and Roadster 2.0 TFSI priced from £27,715 OTR. At the same time, S line specification will become available across the perennially popular TT range at an extra cost of £1,615 for four-cylinder models and £1,030 for the V6 versions. The new S line option has a new front grille, while this Variant also gets an exclusive S line front and rear bumper design, side sill extensions and chrome trimming for the exhaust tailpipes. Trademark 18-inch five-spoke design alloy wheels also replace the 17-inch Trapez design wheels in 2.0 TFSI petrol and 2.0 TDI quattro versions, and the 18-inch 10-spoke design wheels in the 3.2 V6 models. This S line option gets a sports suspension, which is lowered by 10mm and has a short-shift manual gearbox with its quicker, even more sporting shift action (unless the S tronic twin-clutch transmission is specified). Inside, the seats has S line on the sports seats, brushed aluminium inlays and a three-spoke multifunction S line steering wheel stamp the S line mark on the TT interior. The TT has electronic climate control, a Driver’s Information System (DIS) and a Concert audio system with single CD player. Standard and S line versions of the V6 models are further enhanced by full Fine Nappa leather upholstery (with S line embossing in S line models) and front seat heating. The TT range now encompasses turbo charged four-cylinder 2.0-litre TFSI (200PS) models available in front-wheel-drive or the newly introduced quattro four-wheel-drive forms, naturally aspirated 3.2-litre V6 (250PS) versions available exclusively with quattro drive and 2.0-litre TDI (170PS) diesels, also quattro driven. At the head of the range TTS models, powered by a 2.0-litre turbo charged TFSI engine delivering 272PS, have their own unique sports specification. You can get the Audi magnetic ride advanced adaptive damping system specified as an option for all TT models (a specially configured version is included as standard for the TTS). The ultra quick-shifting twin-clutch S tronic transmission is a standard feature of the new 2.0 TFSI quattro models, and can deliver its 0.2-second changes in all other TT models bar the TT 2.0 TDI quattro at extra cost.
Simon McBride
Categories: Fleet news , General interest , Audi
