The premium car manufacturer AUDI, which has historically chosen “Ahead thanks to technology” as its sales slogan, lived up to its meaning this time as well. The new G-Tron won’t just change your life, it could seriously change the world. Of course, I mean the entire G-Tron vehicle drive concept.
It is available for the A3, A4 and A5 series. According to available information, expansion to other lines is not planned. Our editorial car A3 was fitted with a petrol 1.4 with the TSFI system, or with the CNG drive system, which is strongly preferred as a fuel. CNG drive is the only option if the tank is not completely empty. Engineers in the GDR did not allow the driver to switch between fuels at will. Instead, they have developed a system that will take care of you flawlessly. As already indicated, CNG fuel is the primary fuel that the unit under the hood processes. At the same time, the system is so smart that in the event of frost, it intelligently switches the engine to the second drive option, i.e. gasoline, for a cold start. In such cases, the vehicle pumps gasoline until the temperature of the unit rises to a value where the fuel tanks switch back to the preferred mode of driving on CNG. The second such switching of fuel pumping can only be recorded if you run out of CNG stock. Whatever mode transition it is, you simply don’t recognize the fuel changes. When driving on gasoline, the engine is only slightly sharper and the expression is a little sportier. The sound changes really only minimally, so unless you’re a piano tuner, you don’t stand a chance.
What you will recognize, however, is the electronically adjustable chassis stiffness. The handling of this feature is brilliant. There are four modes to choose from – comfort, dynamic, auto and individual. You will notice the most significant change when switching between comfort mode and dynamic mode. The car literally “sings”, the steering becomes stiff, and only a minimal movement of the steering wheel can actually throw the car from lane to lane. Just watch out for unevenness, in dynamic mode you will really feel every stone. On the contrary, when driving in comfort mode, the car’s settings give the feeling as if you have moved to a higher class. The steering feel definitely does not match that of a sportback, but rather an A4 in the avant version.
In other words, the transmission of changes to the car’s characteristics and handling is indeed as premium as the brand itself.
Speaking of the engine, steering and overall performance of the A triple, I must not forget to mention the power unit in conjunction with the 6-speed gearbox. As one would expect from the entire AUDI portfolio, it is really precise and, in combination with the short backdrop, ranks as a “one two”. Number one is a gear that seems to have no end, which you will appreciate especially during quick starts and zigzagging through the city. Regarding transfers, we noticed one more interesting thing in the editorial office. The on-board computer is equipped with a function that advises you which gear to shift on the center display. We tested a lot of cars. Petrol, diesel, large engines, small engines in combination with manual transmissions and automatics. However, if you pay attention to the recommendations of the AUDINA function, what kind of gear to put in, you will be surprised, just like us, at how low the engine revs. In general, it can be said that the tachometer needle likes somewhere between 800 and 1200 revolutions per minute.
Such a driving mode then causes the on-board computer to show an average consumption of CNG in the city of 6.9 cubic meters per 100 km and 6.9 liters/100 km of petrol. Consumption outside the city is 4.4m3/100km and 4.3l/100km. Combined consumption in CNG 5.4m3/100km and 5.4l/100km gasoline. In other words, according to the operating cost budget calculators used, the consumption is somewhere between 80 shillings and 1 crown per kilometer driven on CNG.
On the other hand, the price of the tested version of the AUDI A3 G-tron is a bit more expensive, so you will be “at zero” somewhere after driving 160,000 kilometers, but you will still protect the planet.
The design of the car is captured by the manufacturer’s password itself. “There is only one direction. Forward.” And forward AUDI really is constantly heading. The latest version of the design language that expresses all the model lines is truly breathtaking and clearly says who is the most distinctive premium brand. In my opinion, this time he is a small step ahead of his long-time rival from Bavaria.
Muscular curves and a dynamic roof line give this five-door car an extremely sporty character. Its slim sides are defined by a strong line in the executed “tornado” leading in the shoulder areas and a dynamic molding in the lower part of the door. As for the rear, the new three-dimensional taillights, the unmistakable dividing line in the rear door area and the wide diffuser speak for themselves. For the first time ever, the AUDI viral cockpit instrument panel is also available in the compact class.
In conclusion, it is necessary to mention that the new A triple G – tron is really a car that we have not had for a long time to test. Whether we are talking about design, motorization, driving characteristics, interior processing or the entire infotainment system, in all these areas the engineers at AUDI have once again succeeded in confirming that they are and will be the top on the European and global automotive market.
