According to Auto Express, Audi is developing an A3-sized electric vehicle set to launch in 2026. The compact e-tron will use an updated version of the MEB platform – the same foundation that powers the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born.
The C-segment Audi e-tron will feature a rear-mounted electric motor with the battery pack positioned under the floor. That’s the standard MEB layout.
Ingolstadt’s entry-level EV will likely offer the same battery options as the updated ID.3. Those include 58kWh, 77kWh, and 79kWh configurations.
A high-performance twin-motor version is expected down the line – similar to the 322bhp ID.3 GTX. Whether it’ll get all-wheel drive and carry the Quattro badge remains unclear.
Design Direction Still Evolving
No official images have been released yet. The upcoming model will probably share design cues with other MEB-based vehicles – high floor, tall roofline, short hood, and upright rear end.
Some reports suggest the design might echo the Audi AI:ME concept from 2019.
Other sources indicate Audi might pursue a more traditional three-box sedan shape instead of the concept’s radical proportions.
The A3 e-tron won’t heavily feature the design language being developed by Massimo Frascella, Audi’s new design chief. But there’s still time for minor adjustments before the 2026 launch.
Entry-Level Positioning
This EV will become Audi’s entry-level model after the company discontinues the A1 and Q2 next year.
The electric vehicle will essentially replace the current gasoline-powered A3, which is rumored to be discontinued in 2027.
That positioning puts it directly against the ID.3 and Born – though with Audi’s premium positioning and likely higher price point.
