Audi A3 Replacement To Become Full Electric According To Reports

An entry-level EV, similar in size to the Audi A3, will be launched in the middle of the decade as the German car maker ramps up its electrification shift. “We have set the course to go 100% electric,” said CEO Markus Duesmann, at Audi’s annual media conference today. “By 2027, we seek to offer an all-electric vehicle in each core segment.

The switch to electric power means standard versions of the A3 replacement will abandon front-wheel drive for the first time since the model’s introduction in 1996. The car, as with the current model it will replace, is expected to spawn more potent variants, such as the S3 and RS3. These are tipped to adopt a twin-motor, four-wheel-drive set-up.

The model is expected to be based on Volkswagen’s next-generation SSP (Scalable Systems Platform) architecture, which is currently code-named Project Trinity, though separate reports suggested that the platform was in trouble. VW said in the past that the SSP architecture will be an improvement over the current MEB platform, offering a driving range of up to 435 miles (700 km).

Audi cites the success of its premium electric models as confirmation the brand is on the right track. Sales of all-electric models increased by 44 percent year on year,” Duesmann said, “The high demand for our Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi e-tron GT1 and Audi e-tron models confirms that we are on the right track toward e-mobility.”

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