Facelift of the Facelift 2026

[Saral]

I see news today of a facelift of the 2024? Facelift A3

I was worried the next upgrade for the A3 might have been all electric as I'm not ready to switch yet and i don't really need a Q3

I'm liking what i see so far, new for the A3 the updated cockpit amongst other things

 

[Clarky2015]

Looks good doesn’t it. Apparently in showrooms from mid September in the U.K. but not sure when you can place an order. I’ll be popping down to my local dealer for sure

 

[Saral]

I like the look of it...but 120+ ppl on facebook don't seem to agree...they hate it.

 

[JKP]

Another hater here. I already wrote some rant on the RS3 side of the forum.

Happy I bought a new one not a long ago so I don't have to rush to shop now, trying to still get the old one with the spec I wanted, maybe with a take it or leave it deal. I so much prefer the old virtual cockpit, the way the MMI was integrated and the HVAC controls.

 

[Saral]

I totally get it, i think i was just excited at first that it was different to the previous model, as looking to get a new A3 next year and when i have had two cars with the same interior in the past it hasn't seemed like a new car as it was exactly the same as the last one.

It wasn't until ppl pointed out the lack of buttons which is a strange one considering the amount of flack that gets

 

[JKP]

It's funny they recently put the physical scrolls to the steering wheel controls all across the lineup and just after that they changed the A3 HVAC controls into the screen.

I guess they justify the cost cuttings by calling it unifying the fleet. Looks like there are way less single parts and pieces in the new dash so it must be cheaper for them to build. Also the same screen with same software everywhere. But somebody said on the RS3 forum that also the consumer price might even go down a bit.

 

[Vertigo1]

Ghastly. I've had seven A3s and will never get another.

The first facelift ruined the exterior. The horrid nose which "juts out" and makes the car look like it's sticking its tongue out. The repositioned front badge that's half in the bonnet. The redesigned model badging. All awful.

Now they've facelifted it again and this time ruined the interior with the awful "skateboard" display that serves no practical purpose over the "regular" VC and separate infotainment screen. They've also removed more physical controls in favour of touch-screens when the public is clamouring for the return of physical controls and other manufacturers are bringing them back.

The original 8Y looks better than both facelifts, inside and out.

</my2p>

 

[JKP]

I slightly prefer the exterior look of the facelift, I think my current one is the best looking of the three I've owned. The original one now looks a bit overstyled in places compared to the FL.

But the interior facelift now confirms there's all the reason to be happy with the current one. The all new model should be out when it's time for me to search for a new car, but I have zero faith it would be anything better than this last facelift, so I'll be out too. The problem is, I have no idea where to look at when the time comes. Merc and BMW aren't doing any better and I'm not at all interested in Far Eastern cars.

 

[Clarky2015]

What’s this new iteration going to be referred to as, the 8.75Y ?

 

[Clarky2015]

It's funny they recently put the physical scrolls to the steering wheel controls all across the lineup and just after that they changed the A3 HVAC controls into the screen.

I guess they justify the cost cuttings by calling it unifying the fleet. Looks like there are way less single parts and pieces in the new dash so it must be cheaper for them to build. Also the same screen with same software everywhere. But somebody said on the RS3 forum that also the consumer price might even go down a bit.

Looking at the Audi UK website, the OTR price for the new interior RS3 is about £2275 more expensive. However the base A3 is around £1600 cheaper OTR price wise.