The 2016 Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid will start at $38,825 when it goes on sale in the U.S. this fall.

That price includes a $925 destination charge, but does not include any applicable Federal, state, or local incentives that may reduce the effective final cost of the car.

The A3 Sportback e-tron (to give it its full model name) will be offered in three trim levels, including the base Premium, the $42,925 Premium Plus, and the $47,725 Prestige.

DON'T MISS: 2016 Audi A3 e-Tron Plug-In Hybrid: U.S. Arrival Now October

Specifications for the individual trim levels, Audi says, as well as final EPA efficiency ratings, will be released closer to the car's on-sale date in October.

The A3 e-tron has been on sale in Europe since late 2014, and was originally slated to arrive in the U.S. earlier this year.

Even with a bit of delay, this A3 will still be the first Audi plug-in model offered in the U.S., beating the 2017 Q7 e-tron plug-in hybrid SUV and the all-electric R8 e-tron to the punch.

2016 Audi A3 e-tron

2016 Audi A3 e-tron

While other versions of the A3 are sold in the U.S. only as four-door sedans or two-door convertibles, the e-tron will be available only as a Sportback five-door hatchback.

The powertrain is the same as the one offered in Europe, consisting of a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine and six-speed dual-clutch transmission, with an electric motor and an 8.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.

Total system output is estimated at 204 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque--unchanged from the rating for European models.

ALSO SEE: 2016 Audi A3 e-tron: First Drive (Jul 2014)

That allows the A3 e-tron to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds. The top speed previously listed for European models is 138 mph operating as a hybrid, and 80 mph in electric mode.

Audi expects charging to take 2 hours and 15 minutes using a 240-volt, Level 2 charging source.

The carmaker did not, however, release the car's EPA-rated electric range, its efficiency in MPGe while operating in electric-only mode, or its fuel economy when operating in hybrid mode. Those will presumably come closer to the A3 e-tron's on-sale date.

2016 Audi A3 e-tron

2016 Audi A3 e-tron

The carmaker will coordinate the installation of home charging stations through Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, if buyers choose, as well as separate solar-power installations from SunPower.

An available smartphone app will allow owners to set charging times and remotely adjust the climate control, as is customary for many plug-in electric cars.

MORE: 2017 Audi Q7 e-Tron Plug-In Hybrid Will Be Gasoline, Not Diesel, For U.S. And China

Notable standard features will include a rearview camera, keyless engine start/stop, automatic dual-zone climate control, and LED interior lighting.

Optional equipment will include Audi's MMI infotainment system with a 7-inch dashboard screen, and a host of electronic aids that include adaptive cruise control, active lane-keeping assist, and forward-collision mitigation.

The 2016 Audi A3 e-tron goes on sale in October, and Audi says it will be distributed nationwide, not just in California and the handful of states that share its tougher emissions rules.

_______________________________________________

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.