The same can be said for the standard six-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission, which was easily kept in manual mode to ensure I was in the highest gear possible (Audi does not offer the A3 TDI with three pedals, sadly). It makes 202 PS at 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm from 1,750 to 2,750 rpm, routed through a new eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission said to be two to three percent more efficient than a conventional automatic. I was instructed to get into third gear at 16 mph, fourth at 26 mph, fifth at 32 mph, and the finally into the top gear at about 40 mph, never letting the Audi get below 41 mph on uphill climbs (otherwise the transmission would downshift on its own, regardless of me having it in manual mode). Oh, and you'd better get used to being passed. Gross old pickups, motorhomes, semi trucks, and even the odd oversize load convoy all passed by (I can now say I've been overtaken by a house, so that's neat). In fact, while we weren't out there drafting semi trucks, hypermiling clearly isn't the safest way to drive. There are beautiful fault block mountains emerging from the high desert plateau.
Managing the mountains in the A3 was an incredible experience, being able to throw the car into Neutral and just coast for miles and miles down mountain roads against some of the most beautiful backdrops I've ever seen. Wayne also offered tips about managing the route's long stretches of "whoop-de-doos," roads that would roll over hills, offering opportunities to pick up efficiency and momentum while going downhill, and then let the speed drop while coasting uphill. It's really disheartening to watch your fuel efficiency drop consistently - those high-50 numbers became 40s with a quickness. But really, all I cared about was using as little fuel as possible, as I still had a grueling second day ahead of me. I have witnessed other second rate detective accounts of incidents being widely disseminated on the same jumped up junta noticeboard where this post originated. According to Mercedes-AMG, the A45 will now reach 62 mph from rest in just 4.2 seconds, which is 0.4 of a second quicker than before.
The TDI's interior is unchanged from the rest of the A3 lineup, which means good refinement, a tight back seat, and all the onboard tech you could ask for in a compact Audi. The TDI's interior boasts good refinement, a tight back seat, and all the onboard tech you could ask for in a compact Audi. The A3's steering was predictably light, with the typically dead on-center feel of most compact Volkswagen/Audi products. The driver can take his/her hands off the wheel, and the car will take full control of the braking, accelerating, and steering. The BRUDER Sprinter with box body and DHL markings is equipped with a 2-section rear door the wings of which can be opened all the way to the box body. The A3 TDI checks all those boxes - it's a premium little fuel-sipper that I'd happily drive again and again, even if I'm not sweating my way to 60 mpg. But alas, there I was, 758 miles later, saying goodbye to the A3 TDI that had just carried me from Albuquerque on one tank of diesel, preparing to finish the drive to San Diego in a shiny new A3 Cabriolet (stay tuned for that writeup).
What started as 40 mpg became 50, and as the day progressed, I was well into the high-50s, feeling pretty darn proud of myself, exchanging high-fives of congratulations with my navigator because we were fully confident that there were no men in the world more efficient than us. I particularly like the feature «Stall Prevention, designed to help low-speed maneuvers with changing profile of engine ignition and prevent stagnation of unpleasant when there is a queue of traffic behind you. All models now feature an increase in the amount of standard equipment, while customers can also choose a new xLine model to further personalise their X3. However, it did show me just how capable the A3 TDI is when really pushed - you can drive this car 834 miles on one tank of fuel. 3 weeks due to snow, went to use it yesterday, got about 3 miles and it …
