One of the best engines in the range of A3's is the 2.0T FSI, (the same engine from the new A4,) which propels the A3 from 0-60 in just 7 seconds.

Audi's own A3 has suffered recalls in 2006 due to faulty air-bags in an estimated 48 cars.

The restyled Audi A3 offers lower CO2 emissions from 179g/km to 153g/km giving reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 15 per cent than the earlier model; the A3 will also do around 27 MPG.

The first model of Audi A3 was manufactured in 1996 and over the years the model series has enjoyed outstanding success with 230,849 vehicles manufactured in the year 2007 alone.

The Audi A3 was awarded 'Best Luxury Small Car,' by Business Week Magazine,' in 2006 and has gone on to become a serious contender in the arena of the small sporty hatchback.

Audi's benchmark hatchback the A3 is no stranger to the silver screen having appeared on numerous films and television shows such as 'Man with the Screaming Brain,' Femmes de Loi,' 'Mr. Beans Holiday,' and many more.

Audi A3 provides 21 miles per gallon in the city, 29 miles per gallon on the highway and an overall fuel efficiency of 24 miles per gallon.

Audi is the first manufacturer ever to earn three "Double Best Pick" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for their front and side crash test results on the A3, A4, and A6.

The Audi A3 features Magnetic Ride Suspension where instead of conventional damper oil, the shocks are filled with a special fluid that allows viscosity to be controlled by an electromagnetic field.

For those of you with safety in mind, the Audi A3 has an Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) which helps to make the vehicle easier to control in adverse conditions by reducing the danger of swerving and improving directional stability.