2016 Audi A3 sedan facelift spied testing

The first of its name, Audi’s A3 sedan debuted at the 2013 New York auto show, after first appearing as a concept way back in 2011.

With styling themes borrowed both from its hatch sibling and the larger A4, the A3 sedan was developed as a new lifestyle-focused option in the premium small-car segment.

These new spy shots reveal that the A3 sedan will again follow the cues of its big brother the A4, picking up the latest and now more angular take on Audi’s familiar singleframe grille design.

Re-shaped headlights can also be seen under the light swirl-covered camouflage, along with a new front bumper design.

Changes at the rear are less distinctive, although it is clear that the A3 sedan’s tail-lamps will get new-look LED internals.

Above: the new 2016 Audi A4 sedan.

As with the new-generation A4 revealed earlier this year, the revised A3 sedan is expected to pick up the Audi Virtual Cockpit that also features in the TT, R8 and big new Q7.

Reports overseas suggest the refreshed A3 sedan will launch with a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine, producing around 140kW and benefit from the same fuel-saving cylinder-on-demand technology currently available with the company’s 1.4-litre engine.

Watch for the updated A3 sedan to debut early next year, with refreshed versions of the wider A3 range to follow.