Audi hints at updated A3 and Q3 PHEVs for Australia

Audi Australia still won't say when it will bring plug-in 'e-hybrid' versions of its popular A3 and Q3 – though the brand's local product boss has hinted that the Australian arm is waiting on imminent technology updates.

Speaking with CarExpert at the launch of the new RS5 in Tasmania, head of product at Audi Australia – Matthew Dale – said the German marque's local team is waiting on updated versions of both the A3 and Q3 e-hybrids so that "we're not bringing an outgoing vehicle".

"What we've seen recently is is obviously there's a big shift in hybridisation in general. We've always been evaluating the the current product, but what we would do is if we were to take something, [we'd] take the latest iteration of that," Mr Dale said.

"There is one coming up – battery motor technology and everything starts to progress at such a rapid rate, what we're seeing is improvements in the product [during the] product lifecycle."

"So we're currently evaluating what would be the latest one out of Europe, and that's one that we would would like to bring to the Australian market for Australian customers, just so we're not bringing an outgoing vehicle and then in three months' time they launch a new one in Europe, and Australian customers feel out of out of sync with the rest of the globe."

As yet the enhancements for the Audi A3 and Q3 e-hybrids are still to be announced by the brand's global parent in Ingolstadt, though CarExpert understands the changes should be centred around battery and motor technology in the plug-in hybrid system.

The VW Group as a whole has slowly been moving its EV models to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries of late, particularly for the smaller ones, so it's possible the model year 2027-2028 (MY27-28) Audi e-hybrids could move their hybrid batteries to LFP chemistry.

Currently, the A3 and Q3 e-hybrids use a 25.7kWh (gross) lithium-ion battery pack, which offers up to 143km of WLTP EV range in the smaller A3, and up to 119km in the Q3.

LFP chemistry would be favourable for regular charging to 100 per cent, which is commonplace for PHEVs given their shorter range, as well as regular usage of DC fast charging stations – the VW Group 1.5 PHEV system offers up to 50kW DC charging.

It's also unclear whether these technology updates also bring the availability of all-wheel drive to MQB evo-based plug-in hybrids, as the VW Group's compact PHEVs are currently front-wheel drive-only.

The A3 and the Q3 are two key model lines for the Audi brand which don't offer proper hybrids beyond 48V mild-hybrid systems in their base powertrains. In the meantime, Audi has been steadily growing its PHEV lineup, now including the A5, Q5, RS5, A6 allroad and the Q8.

More broadly, VW Group brands Cupra, Skoda and Volkswagen all offer the 1.5 eHybrid PHEV system across various MQB evo-based models in Australia, including the Cupra Leon, Formentor, and Terramar; the Skoda Kodiaq and Superb; as well as the VW Tiguan and Tayron.

Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.

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