Slick shifter

WITH a great deal of play on the word "sportiness", Audi launches its A3 Sportback next month. It is seen as a premium model, and, as such, must face premium competition, too.

This new Audi, with a price range of £16,010 to £24,625 through its 18-model line-up, will go head-to-head with the latest from BMW, namely the 1-Series, as well as Alfa Romeo's 156 Veloce sportswagon, Mercedes-Benz sports coupe C200K and Subaru's Impreza WRX sportswagon.

Audi UK doesn't see the challenge too difficult to overcome, pointing out that prices are competitive (only a few hundred pounds separating them) and highlighting the economy figures, the tax efficient emission figures and much better projected residual prices when the time comes to move the car.

The Sportback design, slightly longer at the rear than the saloon version, is designed to offer the best possible combination of pace and versatility in this premium compact sector.

With up to 250PS delivered via an absolutely brilliant motorsport-derived semi-automatic DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) transmission, the Sportback also brings the latest Audi single frame front grille to the compact class for the first time, as well as providing more rear passenger space and luggage room.

Like its three-door sibling, the Sportback offers the widest range of four and six-cylinder petrol and turbo diesel engines in its market segment, and mixes these with either five or six speed manual gearboxes, optional six-speed clutchless tiptronic automatic transmission or the DSG system.

There is no hesitation in praising the DSG system - it makes this car so exciting. Unfortunately, it is available only on a couple of models in the range, the 3.2-litre Quattro and the 2.0-litre turbo diesel injection models.

The UK launch of the Sportback was held this week in Scotland and lousy weather and road flooding meant extra care was needed. It put a dampener on really putting the Quattro through its performance capabilities, or any of the models come to that, but the conditions did mean lots of essential gear changes.

The Quattro transmission provides not only a conventional six-speed manual box, but also the clutchless manual gear lever, and on top of these, finger-tip paddles on the steering wheel.

You need to be a bit of a technical nut to fully understand how DSG works, but in pretty basic terms there are actually two clutch plates, against the normal one. In motion, DSG is simplicity itself: one plate deals with first, third and fifth gear changes, the other with second, fourth and sixth.

Both plates revolve as the car is moving, but only one actually drives the car until the next gear is needed, and the other plate then takes over.

The driver does not notice the changes. They are seamless and smooth, the only indication being with engine noise, silent in fifth and sixth and entertainingly growly in second, third and fourth. Surprisingly, the system has been around since 1985 and was originally fitted into Audi's S1 rally car and the 962 Le Mans car. Only costs have kept the system out of mass production cars until now.

The DSG system is no bigger or heavier than the conventional gearbox and will soon be appearing in other Volkswagen Group models, including Skoda and SEAT.

The Sportback range is also the first to offer a new turbocharged 2.0-litre FSI petrol unit with 200PS and an impressive 280Nm torque peak, a combination that allows the 2.0-litre car with the DSG transmission to charge from rest to 62mph in 7.1 seconds.

The ride is first class with roll virtually nil. The electronic speed related steering is incredibly helpful, too, assisting the driver through bends, and making it much easier to carry out tight parking manoeuvres.

Although there is much emphasis on sport, the new model is also a practical car, capable of seating five adults. The wide-opening rear doors are a blessing, but no more so than the extra knee and headroom.

However, it's a shame that the rear seats do not fold fully forward to provide a flat floor for any bulky luggage. Nonetheless, the boot space provides another 20 litres over the three-door model.

The range of engines for the Sportback, from 1.6-litre to 3.2-litre petrol, and from 1.9-litre to 2.0-litre diesel, are mounted transversely and drive the front wheel, so minimising engine and transmission intrusion into the passenger cabin.

Sportback will be available in standard, SE and Sport trim. Specification is virtually identical to the three-door but with the addition of rear electric windows for all models.

There is also a wide range of extras available, including a combined DVD satellite navigation system and MP3 music player. Next year there will also be a two-part open sky glass sunroof system.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel and T FSI DSG are expected to lead the sales demand, with Audi expecting to sell more than 32,000 throughout the range next year.

Audi cars available locally from Centurion Audi, Centurion Park, Clifton Moor, York YO30 4WW (Tel 01904 690505).

Verdict:

For: Extra room, the DSG transmission system and range of engines

Against: Nothing really

Details

Dimensions: Length 4286mm, width (including mirrors) 1659mm, height 1423mm, wheelbase 2578mm

Engines: Petrol powered 1.6-litre, 2.0-litre 3.2-litre (all-wheel drive) Quattro; diesel 1.9-litre, 2.0-litre

Economy: 1.6-litre petrol 35.3mpg combined; 1.6-litre turbo FSI 42.8mpg; 2.0-litre turbo FSI 38.2mpg; 2.0-litre T FSI Quattro 35.7mpg; 3.2-litre Quattro 26.4mpg; 1.9-litre turbo diesel 53.3mpg; 2.0-litre turbo diesel 50.4mpg

Prices: 1.6-litre basic model £16,010 on the road/FSI Sport £18,460; 2.0-litre FSI £17,820/FSI DSG Quattro Sport £22,705; 3.2-litre Quattro Sport £24,625; 1.9-litre turbo diesel £17,230/TDI Sport £19,230; 2.0-litre TDI £18,030/TDI Sport £20,030

Safety: Includes disc brakes, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, traction control

Updated: 09:46 Friday, August 13, 2004