It was on this day in 2003 that the second-generation Audi A3 first went on sale in the UK to much fanfare.

Billed as the first car to bring premium brand qualities to the compact hatchback sector, the refreshed A3 - offering a range of high-tech engines - debuted at the Geneva Motor Show and was well-received by motoring critics and buyers alike.

Over the next decade, sales of the Audi A3 helped the compact hatchback sector boom in popularity and it is credited for changing the way premium manufacturers thought about small cars, with both BMW and Mercedes going on to dramatically improve their offering in the sector.

An equally well-received third generation Audi A3 was unveiled in 2013, winning that year's What Car? ‘Car of The Year’ award prior to being named the ‘World Car of The Year’ in 2014.

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