Audi will present an attractive technological concept car based on the coming generation of the Audi A3 at the 81st International Geneva Motor Show in early March 2011. The four-seater notchback sedan offers a glimpse of the future expansion of the A3 family.

Audi has released a few sketches of its Geneva-bound A3 concept, and in keeping with previous reports, the automaker is intent on bringing a sedan version of its smallest model to market.

Audi describes the A3 concept as a "four-seater notchback sedan" and measures in at 174.84-inches long – about six inches longer than the current five-door model. The front fascia is a further evolution of Audi's more aggressive snout, complete with full LED headlamps and new trapezoidal grille. The greenhouse is suitably squat, with an arching roofline that terminates in a thin, low-slung C-pillar to give it the de riguer "four-door coupe" shape.

More intriguingly, the powertrain is comprised of a turbocharged five-cylinder engine – likely pulled from the TT-RS – outputting 408 horsepower through Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. We'll have a full report from the show floor in less than two weeks.

Audi presents A3 concept in Geneva

* Attractive concept car as a four-seater notchback sedan
* Five-cylinder, 300 kW (408 hp) turbocharged engine with quattro drive
* Based on the successor to the Audi A3


Audi will present an attractive technological concept car based on the coming generation of the Audi A3 at the 81st International Geneva Motor Show in early March 2011. The four-seater notchback sedan offers a glimpse of the future expansion of the A3 family.

The sporty yet elegant design of the Audi A3 concept integrates the single-frame grille with its tapered upper corners and headlights with the latest generation of LED technology. The low, flowing roof dome and a coupe-like, low C pillar are among the defining features of the side view.

The Audi A3 concept is 4.44 meters (14.57 feet) long, 1.84 meters (6.04 feet) wide and just 1.39 meters (4.56 feet) high. These proportions emphasize the dynamism of the car's appearance, as do the performance figures for the drive unit. The five-cylinder turbocharged engine has a power output of 300 kW (408 hp). It distributes its power to all four wheels through a seven-speed S tronic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive.