THE Audi A3 is getting an upgrade, focusing on the redesigned interior with a panoramic display as well as a wider range of driver-assist systems.

The A3 family is becoming more capable and more digital, and in the UK more affordable, as a new Technik trim reduces the starting price to £28,650.

Whether it is a Sportback or Saloon, a traditional petrol or diesel engine a plug-in hybrid or the sporty S3 and RS3 models.

A3 models will now come with a completely new cockpit layout. The centrepiece is the curved display, comprising the 11.9-inchAudi virtual cockpitand the 12.8-inchMMI panoramic display.

The dashboard decorative inlay is wider than before and forms a continuous horizontal line from the instrument cluster to the passenger door. There are four material options to choose from on selected models, namely carbon fibre, Dinamica microfiber, and Impressum black. The centre console also has a new look: themobile phone tray is now oriented toward the driver's seatand offers25-watt wireless charging.

All steering wheels in the upgraded A3 models feature aphysical scroll wheel integrated into the multifunction buttons. Regardless of the features, there is a choice of three different steering wheel designs: two double-spoke versions and a three-spoke, flat-top-and-bottom design for the Sline and Smodels.

The range of driver assist systems is also expanding. First isadaptive cruise assist plus(available on S3 Vorsprung & RS3 Carbon Vorsprung), which combines adaptive cruise control with active lane guidance at speeds of up to 130mph.

For vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the system assists with longitudinal and lateral guidance, taking road markings, roadside structures, and surrounding traffic into account.

On highways, the system can change lanes by itself when the turn signal is triggered. As a new feature, adaptive cruise assist plus enables automatic braking at red lights. If the vehicle has not come to a complete stop, the A3will automatically drive on when the light turns green.

For the first time, the longitudinal and lane guidance systems also use swarm data, meaning the vehicle adjusts its own speed to the average speed of the road.

With online data, adaptive cruise assist can maintain the vehicle's lane even without visible road markings, increasing comfort in rural and urban traffic. Use of online data for adaptive cruise assist is included for three years after vehicle delivery. Customers can then extend the term for a fee.

Four wide-anglesurround-view cameras(available on S3 Vorsprung & RS3 Carbon Vorsprung), provide a 360-degree image of the vehicle's immediate surroundings for easy parking and manoeuvring. The image is shown in 3D on the MMI, where multiple views can be selected and adjusted via the touch display.

For example, there is a fully interactional 3D exterior view, including a virtual bird's-eye perspective of the vehicle and its surroundings. Helpful guidelines make it easier to stay oriented while manoeuvring. When pulling into a car wash, for instance, a 3D view of the vehicle along with on-screen guidelines helps the driver position the A3 perfectly between the side rails.

In addition,park assist plusandpro(available on S3 Vorsprung & RS3 Carbon Vorsprung), use the cameras to detect parking lines, allowing the vehicle to pull in and out of parking spaces on its own.

The A3 handles steering, acceleration, braking, and gear shifting. Once the driver has activated the feature on the MMI touch display, they can sit back and relax while the vehicle is automatically guided into the parking space.

With park assist pro, aremote function(available on S3 Vorsprung and RS3 Carbon Vorsprung), is included. This means the driver can exit the vehicle before parking or wait until the vehicle has pulled out of the space before getting in. This is particularly useful in tight parking spaces, whether parallel or perpendicular to the road. The A3performs the manoeuvre independently as soon as the driver initiates the process in the myAudi app on their smartphone.

Another new feature in the A3 models istrained parking(available on S3 Vorsprung and RS3 Carbon Vorsprung), which allows the vehicle to memorise specific parking manoeuvres. If a carport or garage is difficult to access, the A3 only needs to be trained once and will be able to park automatically from then on. The vehicle steers, accelerates, brakes, and shifts gears by itself. The same applies to exiting a parking space. The MMI can store up to five parking manoeuvres over a distance of 50metres. Each manoeuvre can be given its own name.

In narrow streets or parking aisles with no room to turn around,reverse assist(available on S3 Vorsprung & RS3 Carbon Vorsprung), steps in. It records the last stretch driven forward - up to 50 metres at a maximum speed of 21mph - and automatically steers the car back along the same path in reverse. The system handles steering, while the driver remains in control of acceleration and braking.

Audi connect makes driving the A3 more convenient and efficient. A versatile range of digital services provide information before, during, and after every journey. New remote functions allow users to check not only the vehicle's parked location - displayed on a map in the smartphone app - but also the status of the parking brake, lights, and any doors or windows that may have been left open.

In addition, the myAudi app provides a full overview of mileage, fuel level, remaining range, tyre pressure, oil level, and service intervals. It also allows convenient remote control of the auxiliary heating as well as remote locking and unlocking of the vehicle.

With functions on demand, a wide variety of features can be added later. New to the lineup is a package that optimises bass reproduction, balances volume levels between sources, andimproves the quality of compressed audio signals. Also available isvirtual surround sound, which simulates a variety of acoustic environments - from concert hall to recording studio.

The A3 line-up is exceptionally versatile and covers a wide range of powertrains. Petrol and diesel engines are available in power levels of 116and 150ps.

The A3e-hybrid is offered as a plug-in hybrid with system outputs of 204ps. Its electric range is up to 88 miles on the combined cycle, and the battery can be fully recharged in around 30 minutes thanks to DC charging. Thetowing capacity of the A3e-hybrid models is now 1,700kg, which is 300kg morethan before.

The sporty variants S3 and RS3 offer particularly agile handling. Both models feature quattro all-wheel drive and the torque splitter, enabling fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels for enhanced driving dynamics.

The S3 is powered by a 333ps four-cylinder turbocharged engine, while the AudiRS3 features a 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder engine producing 400ps.

Both models are distinguished by theirspecific badge in the Singleframeand adigital daytime running light signature.

The updated A3 models will be available at Audi Centres at the end of September 2026. Prices start at £28,650 for the A3 Sportback, while the A3 Sportback e-hybrid is available from £39,980. The Audi S3 starts at £49,960 while the Audi RS 3 is available from £63,655.