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I have a new 2013 spec A3 fitted with the electromechanical parking brake, i.e. there's an electrical switch to apply the parking brake and also to disinguage it. I do not have the hill-assist system fitted. This is an optional extra. So to apply the parking brake I pull up the switch and when I'm pulling away forwards it seems to disinguage itself with no further action from me. I find however that if I'm pulling off in reverse it doesn't disinguage itself. I have found I can get it to disinguage by lifting my clutch a little and effectively rocking the car which seems to disinguage it. You can force it to disinguage by pushing the switch however in order for this to happen you need to depress the footbrake. So here's the problem: If you're trying to pull off in reverse up a hill, you need your foot on the footbrake in order to release the parking brake. So you can't be applying a few revs and using the clutch because your foot is on the brake pedal (unless you employ some fancy footwork). This seems a bit of an error to me in the application of the parking brake system fitted to the car. You can purchase the hill assist system but this is a cost option and obviously you needed to have had selected it on purchase. If its needed in order to be able to pull off on a hill then it should have been a standard fitment. It was much easier with a manual handbrake, you could apply as much pressure as you wanted as and when you wanted it. With this new electrically controlled system, its either on or off. Bit of a drop off on an otherwise great car!