Audi A3 2.0 TDI spied for the first time in Mumbai

The Audi A3 sedan has been spotted testing many times earlier in Mumbai. This time it was seen making rounds again in Mumbai but with a 2.0 TDI badge, indicatingthat apart from the 1.8-litre TFSI engine, the carmaker will also power the sedan with a 2.0-litre diesel mill.

Audi still hasn’t confirmed the engine specifications of the A3 sedan that will be introduced in the Indian market. However, apart from the TFSI engine that was revealed in February, we can now expect another variant of the Audi A3.

The four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel motor currently powers a couple of cars from Audi like the A4 and the A6. It is also seen in many other cars from its group like the Volkswagen Passat, Jetta and the Skoda Octavia. The same engine gets a different tuning in various cars, for instance, the mill churns out 143bhp of power in the A4 and 177 bhp in the A6. While the Passat delivers 167bhp with the same motor, the Volkswagen Jetta's engine is tuned to produce 138bhp of power.

Considering the A3 sedan to be small in size and proportions in comparison to these cars, we think the German carmaker might take fuel efficiency and other factors into consideration and calibrate the engine of the car accordingly. With its market segmentation as an entry-level car, the diesel variant of the A3 is expected to sell more than the petrol version.

The Audi A3 sedan has not been launched in India yet. It was displayed at the Auto Expo in February, but the one exhibited was powered by a 1.8-litre TFSI engine which is seen under the hood of the A3 in Europe. This mill churns out 178 bhp of power. Now with the appearance of the 2.0-litre TDI A3, we think Audi might offer the 1.8 TFSI in India but set the sales goals for  the diesel version much higher.

Image Courtesy: IAB