It appears the A3 is getting jacked. Jacked up.
A prototype of the 2022 Audi A3 Allroad has been spied during winter testing in the Swedish snow.
First spied as a bright green prototype, Audi decided to go with a more discrete black exterior paint colour for this particular prototype.
This model is set to slot between the A3 hatchback and the Q3 SUV.
To point out the obvious, this prototype has received a suspension lift over the regular A3 hatchback that brings with it an off-road look. It’ll most likely feature Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system as well.
There are widened wheel arches, redesigned front and rear bumpers, different side sills, an altered grille design, as well as standard roof rails.
The camouflage on this A3 Allroad prototype corresponds to all of these alterations.
It’s expected the engine lineup for the A3 Allroad will roll over from the normal A3 hatchback.
In Australia there are two different petrol powertrains offered, a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system producing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, as well as a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 140kW and 320Nm.
Internationally, there are more powertrain options offered such as an inline three-cylinder petrol and a turbo-diesel four-cylinder.
It can be seen that this A3 Allroad prototype is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with its charging port on the front left wheel arch.
This powertrain is most likely the 40 TFSI e powertrain that’s unlikely to make its way to Australia in the regular A3 model.
It pairs a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, with an electric motor that produces 80kW and 330Nm.
Total system output is quoted at 150kW and 350Nm. There’s also a 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Audi claims this PHEV powertrain in the regular A3 can offer up to 78km of electric range on the NEDC test cycle, or 67km on the WLTP standard.
The current-generation Audi A3 has been delayed a number of times and is slated to arrive in early 2022.
Once it arrives it’ll be roughly two years since its official reveal in 2020.
This A3 Allroad will join the A1 citycarver that’s not available in Australia, A4 Allroad and A6 Allroad in Audi’s lifted lineup of vehicles.
A4 allroad 
A6 allroad
It’s closest rival would be the recently-axed Ford Focus Active with its high-riding hatchback aesthetic, along with the more SUV-like Subaru XV.
Early on it was suggested that the A3 allroad could use the citycarver nameplate but it’s expected the lifted A3 will use the more-familiar allroad nameplate instead.
At this stage it’s expected to debut in 2022 at some point and it’s uncertain if it’ll make its way to Australia.
MORE: Everything Audi A3
