Audi Promises to Sell A3 Sportback in North America by Next May

BMW Won't Sell 5-Door 1-Series in North America but Will Bring Other Models

While Volkswagen has been targeting BMW and Audi customers with its new Touareg and Phaeton models, BMW and Audi are

Deciding to focus on the other end of the price spectrum compared to the recently released Phaeton, Volkswagen's Audi brand plans to produce 75,000 compact A3 Sportbacks per year. (Photo: Audi Canada)

attempting to go down market with the introduction of the new 1-Series and A3 Sportback respectively.

Of course, Audi has long been in this market with its European-market A3 but the new sport wagon is a new departure, important considering BMW will feature a 5-door version of its smallest entry.

Audi AG recently stated that it plans to produce 75,000 A3 Sportbacks per year, according to a spokesman for the Ingolstadt, Germany carmaker.

As before, the compact A3 shares general architecture with the popular Volkswagen Golf. Compared to the outgoing A3,

Like Audi, BMW has plans to go down market with its rear-drive 1-Series. (Photo: BMW Canada)

however, the new Sportback is slightly longer while the car's most potent engine makes up to 250 horsepower. As is usual among Audi's, the Sportback will also make quattro all-wheel drive an option, with front-wheel drive coming standard.

BMW has not announced any engine upgrades for the rear-drive 1-Series, incidentally the only rear-wheel drive compact currently being sold anywhere in the world, but M versions of the next-in-line 2-Series coupe and convertible, built off of the same architecture as the 1-Series, are expected. BMW has not offered any clues as to an all-wheel drive "Xi" option either, but the company does have the technology to produce it if the components fit and the market demands.