The Audi A3 e-Tron has many of the good characteristics that the “good ol’” fuel driven vehicle has - it’s sporty but sophisticated, and impressed our guys at the Challenge Bibendum as one of the best vehicles they had access to; and the guys from Autoblog.com in the English commentary in the video, said it was easily the most refined car at the show. It’s an Audi after all.

It’s still hard to get over just how quiet these vehicles are, and an amusing episode at the end of the take shows how sound producing technology needs to be developed for pedestrian safety. The fact that you can pull up right behind a person and they don’t even know you’re there, is a bit freaky really. Still, we’re looking forward to slightly quieter streets in the future if the market continues to take to electric vehicles.

This Audi A3 e-tron had a synchronous electric motor with a peak of about 136 hp and 270 Nm of torque, with another 82 hp as a constant supply. The 26.5 kW lithium ion batteries are placed in the central and rear part of the car, under the rear seats and where we would normally find the fuel tank. The battery weight is about 300 kg taking the A3 e-tron up to 1,592 kg. The range should be about 140 km.

Overall, the feeling we get is of being on board a sporty but comfortable car and the battery placement lowers the centre of gravity for a better drive feel and sportier ride. That doesn’t make for a future revolution on the car market, though, and especially the problems of not hearing an approaching vehicle will have to be solved quickly if we’re to be using these in the near future.

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Another one of Audi’s very long videos shows us all the design of the new Audi A3 e-tron concept. At least we know what a hybrid A3 sedan will look if it makes it to market. The model uses plug-in technology with a 1.4 TFSI engine with 211 hp and a rear electric motor with another 27 hp.

Unfortunately for Audi, despite the use of carbon fibre components, the A3 e-tron is not a lightweight vehicle at 1,720 kg. If the model gets to market in about 2013, we guess Audi will be working on getting that figure down in the meantime. The model uses a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and can do 54 km in electric mode alone. For all the close-ups, see the video.

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One of Europe’s favourite hatchbacks has completely evolved in recent months, with the Audi A3 becoming an A3 sedan concept and now joining the Audi e-Tron family with a hybrid powertrain concept. The A3 e-Tron Concept fits out the new sedan and not the hatchback with a 1.4 TFSI engine with 211 hp and an electric motor which provides another 27 hp.

The eletric motor on the A3 is powered by 12 kW lithium ion batteries placed behind the rear seats. Electric range is 54 km and the A3 e-Tron comes with a seven-speed, dual clutch gearbox and launch control. The sprint to 100 km/hr takes 6.8 seconds and top speed is 231 km/hr.

The chassis is based on the RS3 Sportback and includes MacPherson suspension and 20-inch wheels. Made from plenty of CFRP, including the single frame, front splitter and rear extractor, the Audi A3 e-Tron concept still weighs in at 1,720 kg due to the battery pack. There are no details available as to whether this is an all-wheel drive model or not, and Audi hasn’t released any production plans yet but it could appear sometime in 2013 after a 2012 A3 sedan debut.

Audi A3 e-tron Concept

Continue reading: Audi A3 E-Tron Concept

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