tailpipe
October 12th, 2010, 10:28
Ever since it arrived, a question a lot of people have asked is: is a an A3 just an expensive Golf. Or put the other way round, is a Golf just a dumbed-down A3?
The overlap is hard to avoid. The two cars seem identical in all but styling. How a car looks is often enough to fool most people, but more discerning buyers (RS6.com forum members amongst others) couldn't help feeling somewhat cynical and manipulated by the two brands. It was always hard to know which one to buy. In choosing a second car for our family, we solved the problem by buying the brilliant A2. At least we bought an Audi.
Indeed, the Golf/A3 platform has delivered sterling service in other Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda and SEAT models and in doing so it has made a lot of money for VW. My fear is that the Groups many brands are starting to morph into a single car with multiple badges.
The TT is a great machine. It has superb styling inside and out. it goes like a rocket, but somehow it has never had the kudos of more sporty marques. In the UK it is often called the 'poor man's Porsche'. Even though the TT-RS can make mincemeat of the Boxter on a wet winter road, road test reviews continually deny it 5 out of 5 stars because it utilises the Golf's underpinnings.
Now Audi comes along with the brilliant Quattro concept using a longitudinal layout in a lightweight chassis. The proportions and weight all shout A3. Of course, we know it is a shortened A5 platform with loads of aluminium and carbon fibre.
I just can't help wondering whether the time has come for Audi's next A3 to use the same platform as the Golf, but adapt it to a longitudinal engine layout, using more aluminium. More exotic versions can use carbon fibre, but regular versions can stick to steel. This would create real differentiation between the two models and brands while maintaining commonality of platforms?
The Quattro concept is very short at the front, so bonnet / hood length would not grow excessively. What do you think?
The overlap is hard to avoid. The two cars seem identical in all but styling. How a car looks is often enough to fool most people, but more discerning buyers (RS6.com forum members amongst others) couldn't help feeling somewhat cynical and manipulated by the two brands. It was always hard to know which one to buy. In choosing a second car for our family, we solved the problem by buying the brilliant A2. At least we bought an Audi.
Indeed, the Golf/A3 platform has delivered sterling service in other Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda and SEAT models and in doing so it has made a lot of money for VW. My fear is that the Groups many brands are starting to morph into a single car with multiple badges.
The TT is a great machine. It has superb styling inside and out. it goes like a rocket, but somehow it has never had the kudos of more sporty marques. In the UK it is often called the 'poor man's Porsche'. Even though the TT-RS can make mincemeat of the Boxter on a wet winter road, road test reviews continually deny it 5 out of 5 stars because it utilises the Golf's underpinnings.
Now Audi comes along with the brilliant Quattro concept using a longitudinal layout in a lightweight chassis. The proportions and weight all shout A3. Of course, we know it is a shortened A5 platform with loads of aluminium and carbon fibre.
I just can't help wondering whether the time has come for Audi's next A3 to use the same platform as the Golf, but adapt it to a longitudinal engine layout, using more aluminium. More exotic versions can use carbon fibre, but regular versions can stick to steel. This would create real differentiation between the two models and brands while maintaining commonality of platforms?
The Quattro concept is very short at the front, so bonnet / hood length would not grow excessively. What do you think?