Tag: A3 Sportback

  • 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Goes On Sale

    2015-Audi-A3-Sportback-e-tron-THUMB2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is a five-seater, plug-in hybrid, delivering zero emissions while on the run. The car will go on sale from the beginning of August and all deliveries are expected to happen from January next year. The electric power of this vehicle makes it possible to achieve 176.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 37g/km. It has a combined output of 204 hp (150 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of system torque. In addition, the car is capable of reaching the 100 km/h from standstill in just 7.6 seconds. The Vmax here is 137 mph. What is also important to mention is that A3 Sportback e-tron furthermore can travel up to 31 miles under purely electric power and speed of 81 mph, while its total range is of up to 584 miles.

    This spacious five-door hatchback is driven by the combination of the 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine and an electric motor. The modified unit has a peak power output of 150 hp (110 kW) and it is connected by a clutch to a 75 kW electric motor. The latter is integrated into a six-speed S tronic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. As already mentioned the combined power of those two units is 204 hp (150 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft).

    There are several ways for managing vehicle’s response. Precisely, four key settings take car for this: the EV mode, which gives priority to electric drive; the hybrid auto mode that is perfect for long journeys; the hybrid hold mode that keeps electrical energy stored in the battery for later use; and the hybrid charge mode, which utilizes the combustion engine as a generator to charge the battery.

    When the driver chooses a particular mode it appears on the powermeter’s display in the instrument cluster. There can also be seen system’s overall output and the battery charge, the operating ranges and consumption figures.

    Audi has implemented in this car its ultra lightweight construction philosophy. The result is that the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron weighs only 1,540 kilograms. Furthermore, it features comprehensive additional equipment such as LED headlights and daytime running lights, special ‘turbine design’ 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, light and rain sensors, MMI navigation plus with hard drive-based mapping and Audi connect online services.

    There are two charging leads developed for the A3 Sportback e-tron. The first one is appropriate for public charging points, while the second one – for domestic use. The charge status of the A3 Sportback e-tron can be also monitored via smartphone with the e-tron app. More importantly, using a domestic socket it takes four hours to fully charge the battery of the car. When a wallbox is connected or a public charge point is used, the charging time is reduces to two hours and fifteen minutes.

    2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron has a starting price of £34,950.

    Source: Audi

  • Audi A3 Sportback g-tron Supports Renewable Energies

    Audi-A3-Sportback-g-tron-THUMBAfter the recent introduction of 2014 Audi A3 e-tron the brand is now ready to enter the A3 Sportback g-tron. The latter is a compact five-door car, powered by the CO2-neutral fuel Audi e-gas. This new Audi vehicle innovatively combines ecological balance, economy and high-tech solutions.

    To go further into details, the Audi A3 Sportback g-tron is equipped with the full gamut of company’s technology expertise. Starting from ultra-lightweight technology, and infotainment, and ending with the driver assistance systems. However, what is the most important feature here is the state-of-the-art CNG drive technology, with included fuel storage.

    The fuel storage has two tanks under the luggage compartment floor. Each of them can hold seven kilograms (15.43 lb) of CNG at a maximum 200 bar pressure. At the same time each tank weighs 27 kilograms (59.52 lb) less than its conventional counterpart.

    Even more, the tanks consist of a new type of matrix, where the inner layer comprises of gas-impermeable polyamide polymer, while the second layer – of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) that gives the tank its extremely high strength. In addition, the third layer is made of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), which provides rugged protection against damage from the outside. High-strength epoxy resin is used to bind the fiber reinforced materials.

    Another highlight in the A3 Sportback g-tron is the electronic gas pressure regulator, which is compact and lightweight and therefore reduces the high pressure of the gas flowing from the cylinders down to around five to nine bar in two stages.

    For instance, if the pressure in the tank drops below ten barr, the engine management system automatically switches over to gasoline operation. The model is fully bivalent, this means that its performance figures are identical in CNG and gasoline modes.

    Furthermore, the CNG provides a range of around 400 km (248.55 miles), with gasoline providing another 900 km (559.23 miles). All in all, the total range is approximately on a par with an Audi TDI.

    The information of the fuel level is visible on two displays in the instrument cluster. The driver information system also displays the current fuel consumption based on the particular operating mode.

    The engine under the hood of this Audi is based on the new 1.4 TFSI, which develops 110 hp (81 kW) and 200 Nm of torque. Key modifications relate to the cylinder head, turbocharging, injection system, and the catalytic converter.

    The Vmax here is 190 km/h (118.06 mph), with an acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62.14 mph) in 11 seconds. Additionally, the fuel consumption here is also impressive: the five-door car consumes on average less than 3.5 kilograms per 100 km of CNG or Audi e-gas – the fuel that is generated from eco-electricity in the Audi e-gas project. CO2 tailpipe emissions are less than 95 grams per km (152.89 g/mile) in gas mode.

    What is more attractive however, is the greenhouse gas balance in a well-to-wheel analysis that accounts for all factors from the fuel source to the car’s wheels. When the A3 Sportback g-tron is powered by Audi e-gas, no more CO2 is released. Buyers of the Audi A3 Sportback g-tron will presumably obtain the e-gas at the public CNG refueling stations via an ecological accounting¬ method.

    This so called e-gas project makes Audi the first automobile manufacturer to develop an entire chain of sustainable energy carriers. The start of the chain has electricity produced from renewable energy sources and the end products are hydrogen and the synthetic Audi e-gas.

    What is more, the construction of the world’s first industrial plant to produce synthetic methane (e-gas) from CO2 and renewable electricity is almost complete in Werlte in Germany. The Audi e-gas plant will make a way for tapping into the natural-gas network with its huge capacity as storage and transport system for hitherto excess electricity capacity.

    The CO2 used in Audi’s e-gas plant is a waste ¬product from a nearby biogas plant, operated by power utility EWE. The CO2, which would otherwise pollute the atmosphere, is chemically bonded into the fuel at the Audi e-gas plant. In addition, it is expected that the e-gas plant will annually produce about 1 000 metric tons of e-gas and will chemically bind some 2,800 metric tons of CO2.

    In other words, the CO2-neutral e-gas derived from the plant will be able to power 1 500 new Audi A3 Sportback g-tron vehicles every year. The electricity-gas technology is an aim to significantly foster the expansion of renewable energies.

    Source: Audi

  • Audi A3 e-Tron

    Audi has revealed A3 e-Tron, which is based on the Sportback version of the model.

    Audi A3 e-Tron is powered by an electric motor developing 136PS (100 kW) and 270Nm (200 lb-ft). This power unit weighs around 65kg and offers 82PS (60 kW) of continuous power. All power is send to the front wheels through a single gear transmission. The acceleration is pretty good for an electric vehicle – 0 to 100 km/h in 11.2 seconds and top speed of 145 km/h (90 mph).

    The electric motor receives power from a lithium-ion battery pack, which is placed in the floor of the luggage compartment and under the rear seats. The batteries weighs 300kg and can supply 26.5kWh of energy at 380 volts. Still, A3 e-Tron offers 265 liters of luggage space. The power is enough for a range up to 140 km, however, if A3 e-Tron is in dynamic mode, the range drops very fast. The other mode is Efficiency and it offers full range.

    On a regular, 230V socket, the Audi A3 e-Tron requires 9 hours to fully recharge. If there is a 400V socket, the time is dropped in half.
    Audi A3 e-Tron

    Source: Audi

  • Audi A3 range expanded with the new 1.6 TDI engine

    With its new 1.6 TDI engines, Audi demonstrates once again that driving pleasure and efficiency are not mutually exclusive. With consumption of just 4.1 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (57.37 US mpg), the A3 1.6 TDI with an output of 77 kW (105 hp) emits a mere 109 grams of CO2 per kilometer (175 g/mile). (more…)

  • Audi Sportback Concept

    Audi is unveiling the Sportback concept show car at the 2009 North American International Automobile Show. With systematic refinements to the brand’s characteristic design elements, the five-door model offers a glimpse at the Audi’s future design vocabulary. With its pronounced coupé-like silhouette and large rear hatch, the 4.95 m long (16.24 ft), 1.93 m wide (6.33 ft) and only 1.40 m high (4.59 ft) vehicle is boldly progressive for the luxury class. (more…)

  • The Audi A3: Fresh dynamism increasing driving pleasure

    The Audi A3 and A3 Sportback, the premium compact models from Audi, are raising their sporty profile with a raft of improvements and an accentuated design. Innovative technologies such as the S tronic dual-clutch transmission with seven speeds and Audi magnetic ride, the suspension control system, makes for even greater driving pleasure. Its sharper, more striking design lends even greater expression to the A3 family. (more…)

  • Oettinger A3 Sportback

    In the 60th. year since its Founding, the tuning house OETTINGER will be presenting in the coming days the new aerodynamic package for the Audi A3 Sportback. The complete package is sporty yet elegant and consists of a grille insert (in two versions – brushed aluminium or matt black, EUR 395.00), a complete front apron (EUR 695.00), sill extensions (Set: EUR 425.00), a rear skirt for all tailpipe variations (EUR 375.00) and a rear spoiler. All components are manufactured in RIM and demonstrate a perfect fit and an impressive OEM finish and quality.

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  • Audi Cross Coupé quattro

    The silhouette is typical Audi; the design of the study, painted in Liquid Silver, is highly reminiscent of the sporty models produced by the Ingolstadt brand. The proportions and the large 20″ wheels point clearly towards the offroad potential of the Cross Coupé quattro. A new element is the fabric folding roof, which, when it is open, gives optimum levels of headroom and fresh air. The hood is opened and closed electrically. (more…)