Available in three-door and five-door variants, the new A3 1.9 TDI is priced from £16,660 OTR and will fall under the proposed 120g/km CO2 limit, which permits exemption from the congestion charge.

Audi said the measures taken to minimise emissions in the A3 would also be employed in the creation of more efficient versions of other models in the “near future”.

The new A3 delivers 62.7 mpg-plus fuel economy with CO2 output of 119g/km and has a top speed of 120mph.