Audi has revealed the interior of the next Audi A3 at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), currently ongoing in Las Vegas, where the German carmaker also brought some already known model of its range as well as the Urban concept car. Frankly, the dashboard of the new A3 looks elegant but pretty minimal. Among its most distinctive there is the electrically deploying dash-mounted 7″ LCD screen - which allows for 3D graphics - and the original “Phone Box”: it is an area located in the center console that works as a signal amplification chamber, passing the signal of the mobile phone to an antenna mounted on the outside of the car. This device allows for better reception, less dropped calls and faster data speeds. The electronics of the car are based on a MMX board (Multi-Media eXtension), a plug-in module whose highlight is a powerful 1.2 GHz Tegra 2 processor, courtesy of Nvidia. The new 2013 Audi A3 will be officially unveiled at the next Geneva Motor Show, in March.

The other highlight at the Audi’s stall in Vegas is the Urban Concept, a futuristic compact two seater powered by a 20 hp electric engine. This model can go from 0 to 60 km/h (37.2 mph) in about 6 seconds and reach a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), with 50 km (31 miles) of range and charging time between 20 minutes and 2 hrs, depending on the voltage. Rumor has it that Audi Urban could actually become available to the general public in 2013 in the form of a 999 units limited edition series, but there is no official confirmation on the matter.

Here is an exclusive photo gallery of the Audi stand at the 2012 CES (courtesy of our buddies at Autoblog.it) as well as an official photo gallery released by Audi with the new interior of the next A3.

View the full Audi at the 2012 CES photo gallery
View the full 2013 Audi A3 interior photo gallery

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During a recent Audi Urban Concept test, British CAR Magazine collected some interesting information about the future of this model, which was first unveiled as a concept roadster at the latest Frankfurt Motor Show. The compact two-seater from the German carmaker (although some tester said it is more like a single-seater with barely enough room for a passenger) could actually become available to the general public in 2013 in the form of a 999 units limited edition series. Moreover, with each model coming with a quite inviting 9,999 € price tag, the line is meant to open the doors for a new range of Audi-badged electric vehicles.

It is still unclear whether this new Audi Urban Concept will be equipped the same 20 hp electric engine powering the concept version we saw in Frankfurt - which would make it street legal for 16 years-olds in many countries - or will rather switch to the more powerful 40 hp unit that was used during Car Magazine’s test. It is known that in its original 20hp configuration this mini-car could go from 0 to 60 km/h in about 6 seconds and reach 100 km/h top speed, with 50 km of range and charging time between 20 minutes and 2 hrs, depending on the voltage available.

According to what Car Magazine’s testers reported, the car is actually very agile and fun to drive, as it weights less than 500kg. However, the actual model is still well into its testing stage with E-Tron system and Q5 Hybrid components, while frame and suspensions settings are still undergoing development too.

Picture | Autoblog.it

View the full Audi Urban Concept photo gallery

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If there was one car company ready to rock with a number of models at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show that company was Audi. Here we have two large galleries of live pics from Frankfurt of the new Audi Urban Concept and the Audi A2 Concept - probably the two most important models debuting here.

In the meantime, if you like electric things but with more power, the first Audi R8 E-tron is also debuting, as are the restylings of the Audi S6, S7 and S8 which is also a lot of performance to take in. As you might see from these pics, both the Urban Concept and A2 Concept leave us a little perplexed, although at least in the former we can take it as a way-out study in urban mobility.

In the meantime the Audi A2 Concept design doesn’t improve on further acquaintance and we can see quite a few tweaks being made here before it makes production. Still the interior was nice and the lights are pretty cool, too, so we’ll follow this closely in the future to see just where Audi takes its design when closer to production.

Audi live at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show: part one

Audi live at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

Continue reading: Audi A2 Concept and Urban Concept live at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

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Audi has released the official pics of the Urban Concept and Urban Concept Spyder which will be shown at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Audi urban concepts are two-seater models (in a 1+1 configuration) which demonstrate a slice of Audi’s vision for future mobility.

According to Audi, and we can see why in the design, the Urban Concept models combine concepts from the world of autocar racing and citycar mobility. The Spyder version has an almost vintage feel where the emotion of open-top motoring is added to a citycar model (although here’s hoping that in all that city traffic a significant slice of the other cars is electric, too).

A brand new Audi platform has been used, reducing weight for a sporty drive and using materials like CFRP for the cockpit. Concept design features include 21-inch oversized wheels and plenty of LED lights. The interior of the car is based on a new architecture which, will its minimal components, focuses on form and some practicality, especially in terms of driving positiong for the driver. The Audi Urban concepts are driven by two electric motors with lithium ion batteries. More details will come from the Frankfurt show.

Continue reading: Audi Urban Concept and Urban Concept Spyder pics

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The Audi Urban Concept will be revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and while we’re not sure what to make of it yet, it could prove quite the curiosity at the show. The 1+1 model combines a sporty “fun car” with a practical usage and will be Audi’s design concept for future electric urban mobility.

The lightweight Urban Concept uses carbonfibre reinforced plastics and lightweight metals, and should also appear in a Spyder version. That makes for a mini Urban Concept range from Audi, although lopping the top off the coupé won’t change the mechanics - both Urban Concept models are equipped with lithium-ion battery-powered electric motors.

So far it looks like Audi is kitting out its concepts with some neat technology including sophisticated suspension, LED lights and 21-inch wheels. More information should come from the Frankfurt show hall and we’ll be interested to see where Audi takes this concept in the future.

Continue reading: Audi Urban Concept also in spider version

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This Audi prototype is called Urban Concept and it will be displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. In terms of production, this two seater doesn’t resemble anything this maker has done so far and it combines elements that we would normally find in sports cars with others typically associated with compact and fun vehicles.

This concept car’s shapes as you can see are quite radical and thanks to the abundant use of CFRP fibres and ultra-light metals its weight is incredibly low. There are no doors, you can get in only through the roof section once it has slithered back to the rear, therefore getting in can result in a quite tricky operation for those with a larger frame.

The Audi Urban Concept comes with a sliding cockpit made of CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced polymer), LED lights and 21-inches wheels. In terms of engines this vehicle has adopted two different electiric e-tron motors featuring a lithium-ion battery. More information will be made available in the upcoming weeks so watch this space.

View the full Audi Urban Concept Sketches Photo Gallery

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