Audi will roll out the A3 Sportback E-tron, its first plug-in hybrid, in Europe this month and here in Ireland at the end of this year.
The plug-in hybrid will compete with cars such as the battery-powered BMW i3 in a bid to win customers looking for environmentally friendly vehicles. Audi believes they are the best solution for low-emission vehicles because they don't face the same range constraints as battery-powered vehicles. Plug-in hybrids use a conventional internal combustion engine but can also run on electric power with zero emissions.
The A3 Sportback E-tron can be driven under electric power for up to 50km (about 30 miles). Using the petrol engine, it has a 600km range. BMW's i3 has a driving range of up to 160km, rising to 300km for the version with a range extender. The A3 Sportback E-tron has a 150hp 1.4 direct injection turbo petrol engine and a 102hp electric motor housed within the six-speed dual clutch transmission. The combined system power is 204hp; top speed is 222km/h in hybrid mode and 130km/h in pure electric mode. Average C02 emissions are 35g/km.
The A3 Sportback E-tron will be followed by other plug-in hybrids, beginning with the Q7 next year followed by the A6 long-wheel base saloon for China and the A8.
