Audi will be showcasing the A3 Sportback e-tron at the ongoing Geneva Motor Show.
The car uses plug-in hybrid technology to generate 206.8 PS of system power and 350 Nm of torque, and accelerates from 0-100 kph in 7.6 seconds with a top speed of 222 kph (in hybrid mode). As per the ECE standard for plug-in automobiles, the average fuel consumption of the five-door model is 1.5 litre per 100 km with CO2 emissions of 35g/km. In pure electric mode, the car has a range of up to 50 km with a top speed of 130 kph. The A3 Sportback e-tron uses a parallel hybrid setup. The combustion engine is a 1.4 litre TFSI developing 152 PS peak power and 250 Nm peak torque. The TFSI works in tandem with an electric motor developing 101.9 PS peak power and 330 Nm peak torque.
A new six-speed e-S tronic transmission powers the front wheels. The electric motor develops peak torque from start to around 2,000 RPM, while the TFSI develops its peak torque from 1,750-4,000 RPM. The car stores its energy in a lithium-ion battery system housed in a space-efficient crash-protected location on the floor under the rear seat. The high-voltage battery is encased in an aluminum-based housing, and has a capacity of 8.8 kWh with eight modules giving a total of 96 cells. The car’s interiors are finished in Cloudy Gray with the S sports seats highlighted by contrasting stitching. The aluminum door sills have e-tron logos, which are also found as part of the badging on the gear knob and steering wheel. Boot space is 280 l, which goes up to around approx. 1,000 l with the rear seats folded down.
The Geneva Motor Show 2013 launch of the A3 Sportback e-tron will serve as a look at the future of mobility as envisaged by Audi with plug-in hybrid technology for electrifying the drivetrain being a defining component of the brand’s strategy.
