While the A3 has only been around a few years and therefore still feels relatively fresh, Audi seems to be in a rush for a facelift mid-cycle. Car paparazzi have spotted a veiled prototype from testing the compact sedan on a rainy day. Judging from the massive front bumper (and fake) air intakes, it seems we are dealing with the S Line model. It’s not a complete S3 as it doesn’t have quad exhaust tips.
Painted Turbo Blue, the test vehicle has fairly small wheels by luxury car standards and appears to hide a “Quattro” badge on its corporate Singleframe grille. Surprisingly, Audi decided to hide the Four Rings both front and rear. Speaking of which, the facelifted A3 will likely sport the updated badge introduced last week with a flatter design and no chrome.
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The sticker on the front door says the A3 Sedan is on a research and development journey. Cosmetic changes tend to be limited as the only significant update we’ve noticed is on the back where the red reflector is vertical instead of horizontal. The fourth generation is still a new car, so Audi is unlikely to make drastic modifications to its appearance.
The facelift could come alongside the high-riding derivative we’ve been eyeing for quite a while. It will likely be called the A3 Allstreet to reflect the updated A1 Allstreet supermini for 2023 by changing its name from A1 Citycarver. The current car’s interior has been criticized for feeling plastic and not premium enough for a luxury car, but it seems unlikely that it will be discussed in the same generation.
This facelift or whatever else Audi has planned for the car won’t be the final update for the A3 as the Ingolstadt-based marque has promised to build its next-generation model. Unlike the current car, it would serve as an entry-level model after the death of the A1 in later years.
Audi will launch its last new ICE-powered car in 2025, and since the next-generation A3 may arrive after that, that only means the compact hatchback/sedan will turn into an EV.
