Today the automaker’s green onslaught has gone up another notch with the unveiling of the A3 e-tron Concept at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. That makes it three new e-tron prototypes or concepts from Audi in the last three weeks alone (the previous being the A5 e-tron quattro and A3 e-tron prototype).
Unlike the aforementioned A3 e-tron prototype, the new concept features the design of the next-generation 2013 Audi A3 body built around an advanced plug-in hybrid drivetrain rather than the straightforward battery-powered electric drivetrain.
The setup consists of a turbocharged 1.4-liter TFSI gasoline engine putting out 211 horsepower and matched to a lightweight electric motor. This electric motor only gets a 20 kW (27 horsepower) rating but Audi claims it’s enough to power the hefty 3,792 pound concept for a distance of up to 34 miles, emissions free. It’s powered by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery that can be charged using a regular household power outlet.
Working together, the gasoline engine and electric motor accelerate the concept to 62 mph from rest in 6.8 seconds and see it reach a top speed of 144 mph.
Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1058594_audi-a3-e-tron-concept-packs-plug-in-hybrid-drivetrain
Audi Illinois
