Audi A3 Sportback, a five-door sporty car

A coupe but with five doors. Sporty looks but a spacious trunk. Don't they contradict each other? Well, that's what is being offered by Audi through its latest model, the A3 Sportback, which was launched in Jakarta in late April.

The coupe looks of the A3 Sportback are accentuated by its low roofline, and strengthened by the Audi hallmark single-frame grille at the front.

It's the longer tail end and wheelbase that contributes to the roominess of the trunk so that the driver has lots of room to stow away whatever he wants.

"This car is designed to meet the demand from active and dynamic young executives," said Gunadi Sindhuwinata, president director of PT Indomobil Sukses Internasional Tbk -- which oversees Audi distributor PT Garuda Mataram Motor, during the launch ceremony.

"The sporty design, powerful engine and multifunction trunk make this car useful for any occasion," he added.

From the seven types of engines offered by the Ingolstadt, Germany based carmarker -- 3.2 six-cylinder, 2.0 TFSI (turbocharged fuel injection technology), 2.0 FSI, 1.6 FSI 1.6, 2.0 TDI (turbo diesel injection) and 1.9 TDI -- only the 2.0 FSI with six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission is being distributed on the domestic market.

FSI technology was invented in 2000 and made its debut at the Le Mans race track in 2001 before it entered mass production in 2003.

The 1,984-cc four-cylinder engine can result in maximum output of 150 horsepower at 6,000 revs per minute (rpm) and maximum torque of 200 Nm at 3,500 rpm.

The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers in 9.7 seconds while its top speed is 209 kilometers per hour.

The engine is relatively economical as it consumes around 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers for combined use in the city and country.

Using unleaded 95 RON (locally known as Pertamax Plus), this car applies Euro 2 emission control, thus making it more environmentally friendly.

The A3 sportback also has a newly designed steering wheel.

Emphasizing its sporty character, the Audi A3 Sportback also has a double exhaust pipe, not to mention 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels.

Gunadi said the Indonesian quota for this particular car was limited to only 15 units this year due to "the high demand from other countries".

Despite the similar hatchback design, Gunadi rejected the suggestion that the A3 Sportback was a direct competitor to the BMW 120i in the premium compact segment.

"Both cars are different in character. I don't think they can be compared," he said.

Available in six colors, the Audi A3 Sportback carries a price tag of Rp 428 million (US$45,029) on the road.

-- Primastuti Handayani