Audi says the A3 sedan’s design is a bridge between a classic three-box model and the styling of a two-door coupe.

Audi hopes the A3 sedan’s sleek, coupe-like design will help the car win sales in Europe, where most buyers prefer hatchbacks to sedans.

The model is mainly aimed at the United States and China where sedans are popular, but Audi expects the car to attract young buyers in Europe with its 4G LTE advanced connectivity that creates an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot.

The feature, which will be available starting in November, will allow fast access to services such as navigation via Google Earth images and Google Street View, as well as online traffic information, Facebook, Twitter and the ability to listen to music via streaming or to hear incoming e-mails.

“The A3 sedan provides the most modern technology in our whole lineup,” said project manager Stefan Christ.

Audi expects 70 percent of A3 buyers to be conquest customers. “We want to attract buyers who have not thought about buying a car with a trunk,” said product and marketing manager Heiko Papst von Ohain. Audi forecasts that the sedan will account for 40 percent of all A3 sales.

The A3 sedan’s design is a bridge between a classic three-box model and the styling of a two-door coupe, Audi Chief Designer Wolfgang Egger said.

Audi invested more than 900 million euros in its factory in Gyor, Hungary, to build the A3 sedan for European and North American markets. The plant also builds the A3 convertible, RS3 Sportback and TT sports car.

The A3 sedan will be built for the Chinese market in a new Volkswagen Group factory in Foshan in the southern province of Guangdong alongside the A3 hatchback and VW Golf, all of which share VW Group’s MQB modular transverse platform.

The A3 sedan’s body parts are different than those on the A3 hatchback except the door handles, front grille and headlights.

The A3 sedan will be offered in Europe with 1.4- and 1.8-liter gasoline engines and a 2.0-liter diesel unit with a performance range between 140 hp and 180 hp.

A 122-hp, 1.4-liter gasoline engine and 105-hp, 1.6-liter and 184-hp, 2-0-liter diesels will go on sale toward the end of the year, along with Quattro all-wheel-drive versions.

All models come with front-wheel drive. The range-topper will be the S3 variant with a 300 hp, 2.0-liter gasoline engine.

FAST FACTS

Launch date: September (Europe); 2014 (China and U.S.)

Base price: 24,300 euros (Germany)

Lowest CO2 emissions: 99g/km (1.6 TDI, 105 hp)

Main rivals: Mercedes CLA, BMW 3 series

Target buyers: Customers age 30 to 45 attracted by high-tech and design.

What’s good: Roomy interior, wide selection of engines and transmissions, excellent refinement.

What’s bad: Surcharges for smaller options; No plug-in or CNG models planned.