The third generation of the Audi A3 was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
It was lighter, better equipped, and offered a better fuel-efficiency than before.

After the Dieselgate, the German brand had to develop and launch cleaner cars to prove that they are eco-friendly. The Audi A3 was a good starting point since it was one of its top sellers on the market. A lighter car with better fuel-efficiency was exactly what it needed.

The car was lighter by 80 kg (176.4 lbs) than the previous generation. It featured a better drag coefficient of just 0.32 due to its narrower frontal area and a raked windshield. The two, large, doors were sculptured to allow a better air-flow on the sides of the car and, in the back, a roof-spoiler was added for both aerodynamic and aesthetic purposes. The car had the same length and height as its predecessor, but shorter overhangs and longer wheelbase.

Inside, the A3 offered a dashboard tilted toward the driver. It was offered in three trim-levels: Attraction, Ambition, and Ambiente. Four large air-vents with a pin in the middle adjusted the air-flow inside the cabin. The front seats were bolstered even for the base model, while the optional seats in the Ambition (sportier) version were bucket-seats. The rear seats offered enough legroom for adult passengers and decent headroom due to the lowered bench.

The 2012 A3 was built on the new MQB platform shared with more cars in the Volkswagen Group. It was available with both gasoline and diesel units, with manual or automatic transmission. Some versions were offered with the quattro all-wheel-drive system.