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"Audi is using its new A3 Concept sedan to target rivals like BMW and Infiniti during this year&amp;#039;s 2011 Geneva Auto Show. In terms of overall proportions and size, the A3 Concept is reminiscent of the A4 sedan of two or three generations ago. That&amp;#039;s no great surprise, considering that this little Audi sedan will fill in the niche created as its larger sibling grew in both size and price.   The exterior of the A3 Concept is well-proportioned and appears very close to production format. In the sloping roofline there&amp;#039;s a subtle hint of the sedan/coupe styling seen in cars like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, and Audi&amp;#039;s own recently introduced A7 hatchback. The front fascia features LED headlights flanking Audi&amp;#039;s signature single frame grille that, in this concept car, has a healthy serving of chrome added to it. A pronounced character line runs from the headlights along the sides of the car, providing the 4-door with a sporty stance.   Video window may take a few moments to load...           The interior is full of all the leather and luxury you&amp;#039;d expect from Audi, one of the best in the business when it comes to crafting a classy cabin. The biggest news is what&amp;#039;s out back, specifically the addition of a trunk and loss of the A3&amp;#039;s hatchback. Measuring 174.8 inches in length, the Audi A3 sedan is approximately 6 inches longer than the current A3 4-door wagon.   A Sales Boost   Buyers in the U.S. and emerging markets, such as China, traditionally view notchback sedans (i.e., 4-doors with a trunk) as a cut above their hatchback equivalents. While we love the looks and utility of the current A3 sport-wagon, there&amp;#039;s no doubt this new small sedan will give the A3 a big boost in terms of overall sales. An A3 sedan is likely to target everything from fully loaded family sedans to more obvious rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Infiniti G37.    With base models of the current Audi A4 starting at roughly $33,000, having a smaller and cheaper sedan in its lineup will allow Audi to broaden its appeal. While the A3 Concept being shown in Geneva has a snarling 408-bhp 5-cylinder engine under the hood, expect U.S. models to come with a choice of two 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines, one gasoline and one diesel-powered.   A 7-speed S tronic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive\u2014also included in the A3 Concept\u2014are likely to be optional to keep the base price in check. Front-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission are likely to be standard on base models of the A3 sedan when it comes to market.   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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