Audi A3 gets facelift: S3 shows new Sportback rear

With the introduction year 2020, the current Audi A3 is still quite fresh, but a facelift is still on the way. We already got a sign of this in November, when a camouflaged Audi A3 Limousine appeared in front of our spy photographer’s lens. That car already showed that Audi, as we are used to, is not going for a major change of course. Whether that also applied to the Audi A3 Sportback was still a guess. This still nicely filled S3 creates clarity.

The changes to the appearance are also fairly limited with the Audi A3 Sportback. As with the Limousine, the reflectors on the bumper will be oriented vertically instead of horizontally in the facelift. What is also striking is that the signature in the rear lights is different than we are used to. There are more loose elements to see, especially in the part that is on the tailgate. This did not seem to be the case with the rear lights of the first spotted Audi A3 Limousine, so that change may be reserved for the Sportback or even only for the S3 and RS3. In the headlights of this S3 we also see a somewhat different design than we now know from the A3 and it is different from the A3 Limousine.

The rear of the current Audi A3

Expect to find updated infotainment in the interior. We do not expect any major surprises on the motor level. In addition to the 30 TFSI and 35 TFSI, the Sportback will undoubtedly also have the plug-in hybrid 40 TFSI e and 45 TFSI e again. The Limousine may also receive it from the facelift. The S3, which is available as a Sportback and Limousine, has a 310 hp version of the 2.0 TFSI, possibly with a small scoop of power on top. We are still waiting for the first sign of life from the facelifted RS3 equipped with a 2.5 five-cylinder engine. The fact that Audi is already testing the S3 probably means that the unveiling of the regular facelifted A3 will not be long in coming.