Audi released some information about its Geneva presence and an electrified A3 is part of the plan.

The company said it is working intently to electrify the drivetrain using plug-in hybrid technology.

To demonstrate this, the brand with the four rings is showing the Audi A3 e-tron at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The close to reality concept car has a total of 204 horsepower of drivetrain power. In Audi’s words: “sporty performance is guaranteed.”

Audi said the A3 e-tron is “a true Audi”. The company supports this claim by saying the A3 e-tron sprints from 0 to 100 kilometer per hour (62.14 mph) in 7.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 222 kilometer per hour (137.94 mph).

According to the ECE standard for plug-in hybrid automobiles, the five-door model consumes on average just 1.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (156.81 US mpg). In pure electric mode, the Audi A3 e-tron reaches a top speed of 130 kilometer per hour (80.78 mph) and has a maximum range of 50 kilometers (31.07 miles).

The combustion engine is a modified 1.4 TFSI producing 150 horsepower. A clutch links the TFSI engine to an electric motor with an output of 75 kilowatt. The disc-shaped electric motor is integrated into a newly designed six-speed e-S tronic, which transfers the power to the front wheels.

The electric motor delivers its peak torque from start to around 2000 rpm, and the TFSI’s maximum pulling power is available in a range from 1,750 to 4,000 rpm.

Audi said the A3 e-tron can be driven with just the combustion engine, just the electric drive or in hybrid mode. The driver can choose to have both electric and combustion engine active at the same time, for a “boosting” effect; when the driver lets go of the accelerator, they both deactivate temporarily (“gliding”). In this way motor braking torque is eliminated and efficiency increases.

At the Geneva Motor Show, the Audi A3 e-tron will provide a realistic glimpse into the way Audi sees the future of mobility.

The German company stated that the electrification of the drivetrain, above all using plug-in technology, plays a deciding role in the strategy of the brand.

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Audi’s R18 e-tron quattro will be celebrating both a debut and a farewell this coming weekend: it will contest the 12-hour race at Sebring (Florida) for the first time and at the same time, it is provisionally the LMP1 sports car’s final appearance in the North American endurance classic.

Audi said the race at Sebring is staged under special circumstances for the German company: the merger of the two U.S. championships, the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and GRAND-AM, sees new regulations coming into force from 2014.

In the future, no Le Mans Prototypes (LMP) of the top category can compete in this race.

As a result, events come full circle for Audi in Florida: in 1999, the brand’s first LMP sports car celebrated its premiere at Sebring – now two LMP1 sports cars with the four rings provisionally contest a race there for the final time.

Audi Sport Team Joest fields two Audi R18 e-tron quattro prototypes. The current World Endurance Champions and Le Mans winners Marcel Fässler (CH) and Benoît Tréluyer (F), who are supported by Oliver Jarvis (GB) at Sebring, drive an R18 from 2012. Lucas di Grassi (BR), Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB) start in the new R18 e-tron quattro from 2013, which celebrates its race premiere at Sebring.

The Sebring race track is located on a former military airfield, which Audi transforms into the ‘home of quattro’ this year and therefore picks up the threads of a successful chapter of motorsport history: for the first time since 1989, when drivers like Hans-Joachim Stuck and Walter Röhrl raced from victory to victory with the Audi 90 quattro in the IMSA-GTO series, Audi Sport contests a factory event in the USA with a racecar equipped with four-wheel drive.

The Audi R18 e-tron quattro is the first hybrid sports car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its front wheels are powered electrically and thus make the R18 a special type of quattro.

After Audi customer racing’s winning start to the season with the one-two finish for the Audi R8 GRAND-AM in the 24-hour race at Daytona, Audi now targets another victory in the USA – despite difficult conditions as the race cars from the American Le Mans Series enjoy several advantages with regard to weight and engine power.

In the 13 outings to date in the sports car classic at Sebring, Audi has claimed 22 podium finishes, including ten overall victories. Three Audi drivers, Michele Alboreto/Dindo Capello/Stefan Johansson, mounted the podium at the premiere on March 20, 1999. The Dane Tom Kristensen is the race’s most successful driver with six wins. Marco Werner holds the lap record at Sebring, the trio Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish the distance record.

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The Audi A1 e-tron extended-range electric vehicle will undergo additional testing this year in the NPE (National Platform of Electrification) in Germany.

These test will include UQM Technologies’ PowerPhase systems which provide the electric drive in the e-tron.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is promoting this program to demonstrate and further develop the viability of electric vehicles.

Audi will participate in the regions of Bavaria/Saxony, Berlin-Brandenburg and Baden-Württemberg, addressing different focal topics in each area.

“The key attributes of our electric motors and controllers offer the same advantages in extended-range electric vehicles as they do in electric-only applications,” said Eric R. Ridenour, president and chief executive officer of UQM Technologies, Inc. “Our higher efficiency systems provide the potential for longer all-electric mode and an overall improved fuel economy in extended-range vehicles.”

Extended-range vehicles, like the e-tron or the Chevrolet Volt, rely on the electric powertrain for propulsion and use an internal combustion engine (ICE) to charge the battery pack.

For example, the Audi A1 e-tron extended-range all-electric test-fleet vehicles use UQM PowerPhase Select 125 systems to drive the wheels at all times. The ICE in the car is used to generate electricity to extend the range as needed. The maximum all-electric range of the A1 e-tron is 30 miles, while the maximum combined range in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) is 155 miles.

In addition to efficiently supplying power to drive extended-range and electric-only vehicles, energy is captured by the PowerPhase system through regenerative braking, returning electricity to the battery pack during deceleration and braking.

UQM offers a number of PowerPhase systems for full-electric and extended-range applications. These include the PowerPhase Select system used in the A1 e-tron, plus the PowerPhase Pro 100 and 135, along with the all-new PowerPhase HD 220 introduced this year for commercial vehicle applications.

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Audi confirmed the A3 Sportback e-tron Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for the U.S. market at the same time it announced the arrival of the A3 sedan.

Audi of America, Inc. officially announced plans March 26 for the arrival of the all-new 2015 Audi A3 sedan.

Coming to showrooms in the first quarter of 2014, the Audi A3 sedan will offer various powertrains, including a 1.8 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI, 2.0 TDI clean diesel and the high performance S3 with a high-output 2.0 TFSI.

Audi of America also confirmed that it will be adding to the A3 family by offering the A3 Sportback e-tron, first shown at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

This PHEV A3 demonstrates, according to Audi, the production intent of e-tron using plug in hybrid technology, a practical first step towards electrified driving which mitigates the range anxiety concerns associated with most full battery electric vehicles.

The e-tron name denotes any Audi electric vehicle with plug-in capabilities. The A3 e-tron shown in Geneva displayed a power train with a combined 204 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

“The Audi A3 will set the new benchmark among entry-level luxury sedans,” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. “This A3 line-up redefines the standards of its class in dynamics, efficiency, technology, craftsmanship and performance.”

The A3 model line will offer four different engine variants including the 170 horsepower 1.8 TFSI, and 150 horsepower 2.0 TDI clean diesel, and a low and high-output 2.0 TFSI used in the A3 quattro and S3 quattro respectively.

Horsepower figures for the 2.0 TFSI engines will be available closer to launch. All engines are linked to the standard 6-speed S tronic transmission.

New to the A3, the Audi drive select allows the driver to adjust throttle response, shift points, and the electromechanical steering effort. Similar to other Audi models, Audi drive select has four settings that include Auto, Dynamic, Comfort and Individual.

Audi will release at a later date fuel consumption estimates and exact on-sale dates.

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Audi will be testing a new long-tail version of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid sports car in Belgium.

Round 2 of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will be held May 4 at Spa, in Belgium.

Audi Sport Team Joest wants to optimally prepare for the Le Mans 24 Hours, the pinnacle of the season for the sports prototypes. The Le Mans race will be held June 22 and 23.

Two versions of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro that, also visually, can be clearly distinguished from each other will be running at Spa.

The winners of the opening round, Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (F/DK/GB), and the current World Endurance Champions Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F), will both be starting with the aerodynamic variant that was victorious at Silverstone.

This original version generates optimal downforce for track types such as the 7.004-kilometre circuit at Spa.

A third Audi R18 e-tron quattro, driven by Marc Gené/Lucas di Grassi/Oliver Jarvis (E/BR/GB), on the other hand uses an aero package that has been optimized for the high-speed Le Mans track and can be recognized by its lengthened rear section.

Audi said the comparison will not be focused on absolute lap times. Instead, the team will analyze the time differences to be expected between both models on individual track sectors.

The focal point for spectators will again be the thrilling battle between Audi and Toyota.

In addition, practical aspects of using the second body version will be reviewed and data generated for the fielding in the race at Le Mans.

Audi believes the focal point for spectators will again be the thrilling battle between World Champion Audi and challenger Toyota. In the seven races that have taken place since last June, the score is at 4-3 for the sports cars from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm in the competition with Japan.

The Spa 6 Hours will be held on Saturday of the first weekend in May. The full race can be watched on audi-liveracing.com.

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Audi Canada has announced base pricing for its all-new 2015 A3 sedan.

This latest addition to the portfolio represents the entry level to the Audi brand of luxury vehicles and the brand said the A3 it will offer a combination of standard features including a panoramic glass sunroof, leather seating surfaces and AUDI MMI technology, all at a base MSRP starting at CAD$31,100.

“The Audi A3 sedan represents a new opportunity for Audi Canada” said Wolfgang Hoffmann, President, Audi Canada. “It will allow us to expand our offerings to Canadians and showcase lightweight materials, technology and sporty characteristics to a whole new segment.”

Per Audi, the A3 sedan is the first offering in the soon to be expanding Audi A3 family. It will be joined later in 2014 by the Audi A3 Cabriolet, A3 TDI clean diesel, the high-performance S3 sedan and in early 2015, the A3 Sportback e-tron gasoline electric hybrid (PHEV).

Audi Canada said even the base model of the all-new premium Audi A3 comes equipped with standard features that include Bluetooth technology, Audi pre sense basic and a panoramic glass sunroof.

The A3 also marks the first time, per Audi, that a vehicle in this segment will offer MMI technology, Audi active lane assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go and a Bang & Olufsen audio system. The A3 in Canada will also feature standard leather seating surfaces and exceptional ergonomics.

The A3 sedan will offer powertrains for a wide variety of entry-luxury customer tastes, including a 1.8 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI, 2.0 TDI clean diesel, and a high-output 2.0 TFSI offered in the S3. For superior traction and handling, Audi said the A3 will also offer the Audi quattro all-wheel drive system which distributes power to the wheels that need it most.

All engines are mated to the standard 6-speed S tronic transmission, which provides the driver immense shifting flexibility and driving pleasure with smooth, dynamic acceleration and virtually no interruption to the power flow.

The A3 will be available in Canadian dealerships for sale in April 2014. Official fuel consumption ratings will be unveiled closer to launch.

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Just as carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz and others are touting LED headlights as an improvement over HID, Audi and BMW have one-upped the game with a pure-light solution – lasers.

Lasers offer as much as twice the visibility range of a conventional light with five-times the brightness of previous technology, says BMW of the optional upgrade over the i8′s standard LED headlights.

At the same time, the laser beam is controlled so as not to blind oncoming drivers or passersby – though no doubt staring into them is not recommended.

The laser diodes are 100 times smaller than other light-emitting surfaces, and in short, these are some amazing headlights.

Audi R18 e-tron quattro LMP1 race car with laser headlights.

Of its tech, Audi says it uses a blue laser beam which backlights a yellow phosphorus crystal lens through which the light beam is then emitted.

The mix of yellow and blue equals white.

“This new light source provides even more homogenous lighting of the road,” says the automaker of the R18 hybrid track racer’s pioneering effort.

Between the two German car makers, BMW says it is the first to introduce laser light for production car headlights, and these are only known to be available on its pending i8 plug-in sports hybrid.

BMW has been chronicling its laser light project for the past couple of years in anticipation of the i8 launch, and we’ve posted a video done by Paul Tan and one posted Dec. 18 by BMW for more info.

In Audi’s case, only the R18 e-tron quattro race car is featuring laser light technology, with no production cars yet known to be getting it, but this ought to be a matter of time.

“By using this new lighting technology Audi is setting yet another milestone at Le Mans,” said Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board for Technical Development of AUDI AG, at the official presentation of the new R18 e-tron quattro. “Laser light will also open up completely new possibilities for our production models in the future. Once more, motorsport at Audi accelerates a new technical development for our customers.”

Audi laser light tech.

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Audi is launching a five-year, €22 billion ($30.4 billion) investment initiative of which 70 percent will be dedicated to new models and new technologies, between 2014 and 2018.

The company explained the expenditures will flow into new models, innovations and the continuous expansion of the worldwide production network. 70 percent of the investments is intended for new models and technologies.

Audi added the German production sites will also benefit from the largest technical development and investment program in company history – more than half of the planned investment will go to the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm sites.

“With this investment program we are launching our next stage of growth,” said Axel Strotbek, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Finance and Organization. “In the future, we will be investing increasingly in new products: 70 percent is intended for the modernization and expansion of the model range and for our portfolio of technologies.”

To achieve its goal of two million deliveries per year, the manufacturer of premium cars said it wants to expand its product range from the current 49 models to 60 different models by 2020. In addition to developing new models and alternative drive concepts, the current investment program also provides for the next generation of fuel-efficient engines. Audi said this will enable the company to meet stricter emissions legislation worldwide.

As for what is coming soon, in addition to the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron and A3 Sportback g-tron, the brand with the four rings plans to launch the third generation of Audi TT Coupé on the market in 2014.

The Audi Group will build its first Audi factory in North America, in the Mexican city of San José Chiapa, where the Audi Q5 is scheduled to roll off the production line starting in 2016. So far, 26,000 people have applied for jobs in Mexico, where more than 1,000 new Audi employees will be hired in 2014 alone.

Furthermore, Audi has plans to begin producing again in Brazil, starting in 2015. In São José dos Pinhais, the Ingolstadt-based car manufacturer will produce the new A3 Sedan and the Audi Q3.

At the Hungarian site in Győr, the largest engine manufacturing facility in the world, the company is continuing to invest heavily following successful completion of a full vehicle production plant.

In Foshan, China, the company’s second plant in the Middle Kingdom is about to begin production. Audi has already delivered more than 460,000 cars to customers in China this year.

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The Audi allroad shooting brake PHEV concept is making its debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

The two-door car is a hybrid crossover; Audi said its hybrid drive, which is as powerful as it is efficient, makes a new form of quattro drive possible – the e-tron quattro.

“The show car combines sex appeal, highly efficient e-tron-quattro technology that produces 300 kilowatt of power yet only consumes 1.9 l/100 km (123.80 U.S. mpg) of fuel and cutting-edge electronic applications,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of AUDI AG, Technical Development. “We are offering very concrete glimpses of the near future in this show car.”

Audi added the compact two-door show car combines a host of visual elements of future sports car models with the Audi-typical allroad concept and “shooting brake” car body form.

Audi explained the plug-in hybrid drive delivers 300 kilowatt (408 horsepower) of system power and a system torque of 650 Nm (479.42 pound-feet). The show car, which weighs around 1,600 kg (3527.40 lb) without the driver, launches from a standstill to highway speed (62.14 mph) in 4.6 seconds, and its forward acceleration does not quit until it is electronically limited at 250 km/h (155.34 mph).

The compact crossover has a low fuel consumption figure of 1.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (123.80 U.S. mpg) based on the relevant ECE standard. Its total driving range is up to 820 km (509.52 miles).

The Audi allroad shooting brake concept is powered by the 2.0 TFSI gasoline engine providing 215 kilowatt (292 horsepower) of power and generates 280.27 pound-feet of torque. Audi describes the transverse mounted two-liter four-cylinder with a large turbocharger as a high-end engine: in part-load operation, indirect injection supplements direct gasoline injection to improve fuel economy and the exhaust manifold that is integrated in the cylinder head enables high-performance thermal management.

The 2.0 TFSI is combined to a disc-shaped electric motor via a decoupling clutch; the electric motor provides 40 kilowatt of power and 199.14 pound-feet of torque and is integrated in the six-speed e-S tronic transmission. The dual clutch transmission sends power to the front wheels.

A second electric motor, which is separate from this drive unit, is mounted to the rear axle. It supplies 85 kilowatt and 199.14 pound-feet of torque at low and moderate vehicle speeds. Audi added it can also be operated in tandem with the motor and engine at the front axle if the hybrid management system decides that all-wheel drive makes sense, essentially making the Audi allroad shooting brake an e-tron quattro.

Located just forward of the rear axle is a lithium-ion battery that consists of eight modules. Audi said this liquid-cooled battery has an energy capacity of 8.8 kilowatt-hour, which is enough for 50 km (31.07 miles) of all-electric driving. An Audi wall box is used for stationary charging; it can operate with different voltages and plug connector types, and it regulates the energy transfer conveniently and intelligently.

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Motorsport is changing and racing drivers, just like everyday daily drivers, will now need to pay more attention to the amount of fuel and energy they are using.

When the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid-diesel race car will be pitted against its competitors in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Audi factory drivers will have to deliver an additional quality, explained Audi; not only will they need to master the races in a flawless, fast, reliable and intelligent manner as before, but they will need to do so in a highly efficient one as well. Otherwise, penalties are a possibility.

While the Audi Sport engineers were challenged to pay attention to maximum efficiency with every component, driving the latest sports car requires a sensitive touch as well, said Audi.

“Reproducing lap times with accuracy down to a tenth, has long been a hallmark of professional race drivers such as ours,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “But in 2014, we’re making even higher demands on our WEC drivers. Lap by lap they have to meet an exact consumption target while continuing to battle for the best position on track. So the fans will continue to see thrilling action in the future.”

Audi stated two examples of the new requirements: only a limited amount of energy per lap may be fed into the car’s powertrain through the hybrid system – 2, 4, 6 or 8 megajoules per lap at Le Mans, depending on the class. If these limits are exceeded, 10-, 40- or even 60-second stop-and-go penalties threaten in the case of repeated violations. The same penalties apply if the permissible amount of fuel per lap is repeatedly exceeded. Likewise, the fuel flow rate and the engine’s boost pressure are checked.

“For drivers and engineers, it’s crucial to understand the complexity of the new rules and to apply this knowledge to racing situations in an optimum manner,” explains Leena Gade, who as a race engineer for Audi won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2011 and 2012. “This requires a flawless information flow. We’ve got to keep the drivers informed of whether they’re staying within these limits over the radio.”

The Audi Sport squad said it has successfully been testing this. If a driver is slowed by a vehicle heading into a turn, it may be advantageous to initially follow this car to save fuel and to only overtake it exiting the corner. But approaching a turn more gently also has effects on the car’s handling.

“The drivers are no longer putting the tires and suspension under load as systematically as before,” says Leena Gade based on her observations. “That’s why the car’s dynamic response is different.”

To Audi factory driver Lucas di Grassi, who was involved in the tests of the new car at an early stage, the new task poses an intriguing challenge.

“It doesn’t seem like I’d have to fundamentally change my driving style now,” analyzes the Brazilian race car driver. “Even in the past there were situations in which we had to watch our fuel consumption in order to put certain race strategies on track. Now we’re driving as fast as possible without ever losing sight of the set consumption limit. And if we do exceed the limit once, then we’ve got two laps to compensate for the excess by reducing our consumption. So here’s another challenge being added to our task list which means we’ve got to be both efficient and fast. Even though consumption may heavily vary, the lap times are very similar and that’s why we’re running at similar speeds. It’s basically about saving a lot of energy in some sections – for instance by lifting earlier – without driving a lot slower on a whole lap. I’m impressed about how well and precisely Audi Sport has already been handling these tasks and is always able to help us with specific calculations and advice. Our sport will continue to be great fun. It’s just that we’ll be using a lot less energy in it than ever before.”

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In 2014, Audi’s two diesel-hybrid R18 e-tron quattro racecars competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will be relying on electrified four-wheel drive.

“Innovations only become pioneering achievements when they’re successfully used and others start to adopt them,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Audi, like no other manufacturer, has repeatedly achieved such feats ever since the debut of quattro four-wheel drive in 1980.”

Audi stated in the DTM, as well, Audi was the first team in 1990 to use four-wheel drive in racing, just like in Super Touring Cars, starting in 1993. In the past two years, on achieving the string of success in the WEC, the brand proved that e-tron quattro – the combination of a hybrid system with four-wheel drive – offers significant advantages.

In the WEC championship, before 2014, Audi had been allowed to use four-wheel drive only above 120 kilometers per hour (74.5 mph). This year, this speed-related rule no longer applies.

Audi said four driven wheels promise to deliver traction advantages particularly at low speed, for instance when the driver accelerates on exiting a tight corner.

Audi provided some information on this year’s new e-tron system, stating a fundamentally new Motor Generator Unit (MGU), combined to a differential, sits in the monocoque at the level of the front axle. Two drive shafts connect the system to the front wheels. Under braking, the kinetic energy of the racecar is converted into electric current, which flows into a flywheel energy storage device located in the cockpit next to the driver. During acceleration, the recovered energy is converted again by the MGU and powers the front wheels.

“We’ve developed the entire hybrid drive from scratch again for 2014,” explained Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Technology at Audi Sport. “Specifically, it’s become even lighter and more efficient than before. As of 2014, a single e-machine connected to a front-axle differential is longitudinally mounted. Furthermore, these front-wheel drive components are completely integrated into the monocoque of the R18 e-tron quattro.”

While the quattro systems of Audi’s factory-fielded rally models and touring cars between 1980 and 1997 used a mechanical connection in the form of a drive shaft between the front and rear axles, the power distribution to the front and rear wheels in the e-tron quattro four-wheel drive system is governed strictly by an electronic control unit, added Audi.

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Audi will reportedly introduce an e-tron version of its flagship A8 limousine, set to debut sometime next year as a 2016 model.

Audi’s new 3.0-liter TDI V6

According to Auto Express, the A8 e-tron will be a full plug-in hybrid that uses Audi’s new 3.0-liter diesel V6 as its heart, rather than the gasoline V6 currently used in the regular A8 Hybrid, which should mean better efficiency than before. Peak output is rumored to be around 370 horsepower and well over 500 pounde-feet of torque, and the A8 e-tron should be able to travel around 30 miles in electric-only mode. Without electric assist, that engine currently produces 240 horsepower and 428 pounds-feet of torque in various Audi products.

Both upcoming plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class will retain their gasoline V6 engines, which should give Audi the edge in fuel efficiency and potentially CO2 emissions ratings as well.

Having already confirmed or introduced e-tron versions of the compact A3, mid-size A6 and R8 supercar, the company has promised to make electrified versions of every model it sells by 2020. The new diesel hybrid system will most certainly appear in the aforementioned A6, along with the next Q7 SUV.

The current 2014 A8L TDI gets a combined 29 mpg and starts around $82,500, so should the e-tron version come to North America, the easy money says there should be a sharp hike both in fuel efficiency and in price.

Motor Authority

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Audi scores awards with its plug-in hybrid strategy.

The German automaker scored first place with the A3 Sportback e-tron and the TT offroad concept car at the eCar Awards by Auto Bild and Auto Test magazines.

The Audi A3 Sportback e‑tron was the winner in the “Best Plug-In Hybrid – Production Vehicles” category while the Audi TT offroad concept made the best impression in the category of “Best Plug-In Hybrid – Concept Vehicles.”

Audi sent Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development of Audi AG, to accept the eCar Award at the Paris Motor Show.

“Our Audi A3 Sportback e‑tron has impressed our customers with the everyday practicality of its plug‑in hybrid drive system. It stands for performance, sportiness, comfort and efficiency,” said Hackenberg.

The company introduced the Audi TT offroad concept at the Beijing International Automobile Exhibition in April. Its plug-in hybrid drive system integrates two electric motors and 300 kilowatt (408 horsepower) of total system power.

54 electric cars competed in this fifth edition of the eCar Award. Readers of Auto Bild and Auto Test voted in eleven categories.

Audi stated the A3 Sportback e-tron is rated to have a combined fuel consumption between 1.7 and 1.5 liters per 100 kilometers (138.4 to 156.8 mpg).

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The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron has been named the car with the most stable residual value in its class.

This according to Auto Bild magazine and market research institute Schwacke, in Germany.

The A3 e-tron stood out with the best residual value forecast among the compact cars, receiving the title “Wertmeister 2015.”

Every year, Auto Bild and Schwacke select the cars in each class that are expected to depreciate the least during the following four years. The winners take the “Wertmeister” title.

Wertmeister can be translated to English as World Champion.

The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is the winner in the “Compact Car” category with a residual value of 57.3 percent.

The Audi A3 e-tron is the first plug-in hybrid from Audi, combining per the German company sporty power with impressive efficiency and abundant driving enjoyment with unrestricted everyday utility.

In Europe, the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is rated with a combined fuel consumption of 1.7 to 1.5 l/100 kilometer (138.4 to 156.8 US mpg).

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Audi has revealed its all-electric e-tron quattro Concept on the eve of the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Three electric motors, one on the front axle and two in the rear, put out a total of 429 horsepower, though 496 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque are accessible while using the SUV’s boost feature. The sprint to 62 mph comes in 4.6 seconds, while top speed is limited at 130 mph.

A 95-kwh lithium-ion battery pack allows the E-Tron Quattro to travel 311 miles on a single charge, while getting electricity back into the battery will take 50 minutes using a fast charger. Wireless charging via an in-ground charging plate is available with the concept while a large solar roof provides some electricity as well.

Actuated aerodynamic elements on the hood and on the vehicle’s flanks move to direct air differently at speeds over 49 mph to help improve aerodynamics. Matrix laser headlights are also seen on the concept, a technology Audi is developing for its production vehicles.

Finally, piloted driving technologies found on the concept include radar sensors, a video camera, ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner. Using these, a computer puts together a complete model of the vehicle’s surroundings so that all of the assistance systems for piloted driving can access it. Audi says that this technology is production ready.

The Audi e-tron quattro concept should hit the market by early 2018.

This article originally appeared at AutoGuide.com

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Audi coined the e-tron name in 2009 for an electric concept car based on the R8 supercar, and apparently likes it so much all future battery electric vehicles will carry the name with no other letters or numbers attached.

The information comes from a recent interview that British car magazine Autocar had with Audi CEO Rupert Stadler.

“It is comparable to the first Audi quattro, which was known simply as the quattro. In the long term the name e-tron will stand for a pure electric driveline structure,” Stadler told the publication.

First up will be an e-tron SUV previewed at last year’s Frankfurt auto show (above photo), slated for a 2018 launch.

The pure electric SUV will be followed by an electric full-size sedan and a smaller SUV as part of Audi’s plan to have three EV offerings by 2020.

As with the quattro name, Sadler confirmed that the e-tron name would also appear in combination with the luxury automaker’s traditional model nomenclatures.

“We will have models with the usual names, for example A6 e-tron, A7 e-tron, A8 e-tron and so on,” he said.

Audi has already used the name on the A3 Sportback e-tron, Q7 e-tron gasoline electric plug-in hybrids (the latter not sold in the U.S.), as well as the recently cancelled R8 e-tron electric car.

SEE ALSO: More Being Revealed on Audi’s Sporty and Electrified Product Launches

Autocar reported that Sadler also provided the first official hint that Audi is working on an up-market electric powered sedan to challenge the Tesla Model S. He said, “I do believe that it makes sense for the Audi brand to be positioned in the top premium segment with this driveline technology.”

It’s likely that the e-tron lineup will use the Volkswagen Group’s MEB (Modular Electric Toolkit) platform, which made its first appearance in Volkswagen’s I.D. concept at the recent Paris Motor Show.

This aligns with Volkswagen Group’s announcement to offer dozens of electric vehicles in the coming years, as the company plans to move away from diesel and gasoline drivetrains in favor of environmentally friendly vehicles. And put the Dieselgate scandal behind them.

Autocar

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Audi has confirmed its all-electric e-tron quattro SUV will come to market next year with “300 miles” range, and possibly more.

Introduced as a pre-production concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2015, the production version will be among the first premium all-electric SUVs, joining the Tesla Model X and the planned Jaguar I-Pace.

For its part, Audi says the luxury vehicle to be sized between a Q5 and Q7 will be “the first real premium manufacturer doing a premium electric SUV.”

Tesla has had quality control issues with its Model X “SUV,” which others describe as a crossover, but Audi appears to be nearly snubbing Tesla in not recognizing the fast X which is priced in the “premium” segment, and surely a competitor.

Interior from concept vehicle.

As for the e-tron’s “300 miles” range, Audi has not disclosed what test cycle this estimate is based upon, but it could well be the generous European NEDC cycle. This standard typically estimates higher – and unrealistic – range than the U.S. EPA cycle.

There is no formula to precisely estimate under EPA what the e-tron may deliver. If Audi is basing its claim on the NEDC, real-world range may be in the neighborhood of 250 miles assuming the battery is the same size as in the pre-production quattro, or 95 kWh.

Audi’s timing also benefits from what many believe will be continued investment in charging infrastructure both in Europe and the U.S.

“It’s not our job to invest in charging points. We are pushing and organizing this, though, and working with partners on it,” said sales and marketing chief Dietmar Voggenreiter to Autocar. “No cars, no infrastructure, but in the next two years there are lots of investments,”

Voggenreiter noted also that an SUV is important for the e-tron because it is the most on-trend body style.

“A lot of customers have been asking when we’ll bring this car to market,” he said. “There is certain demand in the premium segment and we’re not being first to market for the sake of it; it’s the right product. It’s a real SUV, with Audi design language.”

The all-wheel-drive e-tron SUV will likely have three motors — one in the front and two in the rear – and is to be built on the platform its corporate cousin Porsche is developing for the Mission E sedan.

To be produced in Belgium, it promises to indeed be high-tech, with typical Audi build quality.

Assuming it gets here in 2018, it will arrive in time for greater infrastructure and competitors in the works to to start fleshing out the electric SUV segment – even if Audi does not acknowledge Tesla as the “first” it says it will be.

Autocar via Inside EVs

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Jaguar recently gave a closer look at its battery-electric I-Pace concept it plans to debut in 2018 by setting it loose on the streets of London.

Introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, the I-Pace is Jaguar’s first all-electric vehicle and second crossover SUV, following the larger conventionally powered F-Pace.

“Driving the concept on the streets is really important for the design team,” said Jaguar director of design, Ian Callum. “It’s very special to put the car outside and in the real world. You can see the true value of the I-Pace’s dramatic silhouette and powerful proportions when you see it on the road, against other cars.”

If the I-Pace production SUV follows the concept, it will have a pair of synchronous permanent magnet electric motors, one integrated into each axle that will provide four-wheel drive that are paired with a single-speed epicyclic transmission.

Each motor produces 200 horsepower with a combined 516 pounds-feet of torque that Jaguar estimates can rip off a zero to 60 mph time in just 4 seconds for those in a hurry.

Power is stored in a liquid cooled 90 kilowatt-hour lithium battery that the automaker expects will have an EPA real world driving range of around 220 miles.

A 50 kilowatt direct current (DC) charging point can replenish the battery to 80 percent in 90 minutes and to 100 percent in just over two hours.

The London I-Pace SUV is very close in appearance to the concept shown in LA, and while it has a passing resemblance to the larger F-Pace the exterior styling is a dramatic departure from previous Jaguars, giving a hint at what to expect in the future.

It has a compact body and is fairly low to the ground for an SUV, but it still seats five while offering plenty of cargo space.

SEE ALSO: Jaguar Designer Talks About the I-Pace EV

A cab forward design with short and rear overhangs and short hood combine to maximize interior space for occupants, improve visibility and enhance driving dynamics.

Sweeping lines along the sides and a tapering waistline give the five-door SUV a coupe-like profile, leading to a sharply angled rear hatch window with a hydrophobic coating – so there’s no need for a rear wiper.

Tail-lights feature a ‘chicane line’ signature, a new Jaguar design element that replaces the more traditional E-Type round design.

Inside, materials are a mixture of Windsor leather, Alcantara, unvarnished walnut and carbon fiber. The roof is a full-length glass panel with embedded LEDs that illuminates at night.

The I-Pace introduces a new cockpit design direction based around three display screens. A 12-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard with a 5-inch screen below it for infotainment and climate controls. Instruments are presented to the driver on a configurable 12-inch virtual cluster augmented by a color head-up display.

Gears are selected by buttons that are integrated into a floating center console that emphasizes the SUV’s flat floor and lack of transmission tunnel.

The I-Pace will take on Tesla’s Model X, the Audi e-Tron and a production version of the Mercedes Generation EQ concept shown at the Paris motor show last September.

From what’s known about the car so far, it appears that the Jaguar I-Pace has the potential to be a real contender in the luxury electric car space when it arrives in 2018.

Business Insider

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Audi wants an electric supercar, and the company would like to have it sooner rather than later.

The information comes from Peter Mertens, new to Audi and its head of technical development. Mertens told Car and Driver that “it is part of our plans.” He added that he wants to have that supercar in a hurry too.

“The question is, ‘Would I like to make it happen sooner?’ and the answer is, ‘Yes, of course,'” he said.

SEE MORE: Second-Gen Audi R8 e-tron EV Gets 280 Miles Range

Assuming it happens, it wouldn’t be Audi’s first shot at an electric supercar. The brand debuted the R8 e-tron in 2009 to much fanfare. But then the electric car, based on the R8, was quickly and quietly dropped. No production models left Audi control. The second try, based on the second-generation R8 saw fewer than 100 built and sold. That car, launched in 2016 had 456 horsepower and 679 pounds-feet of torque.

Audi is now creating e-tron models that aren’t just electrified versions of existing production cars. That makes it likely that a new super e-tron won’t be R8 based, but will be its own vehicle. An 800-volt system, double the voltage of lesser e-trons and similar to what Porsche is putting in the Mission-E is possible. Mertens said “800-volt puts a significant extra cost on the bill. We need to evaluate whether customers will be prepared to pay that. In segments like super sports cars, it will be yes, no doubt about it.”

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The second e-Tron model in Audi’s growing line of electric vehicles will be built at the brand’s Brussels factory, starting in 2019.

“With the decision on the Audi e-tron Sportback, we are showing that Audi takes the issue of electric mobility seriously,” said Dr. Hubert Waltl, head of logistics. “A second battery-electric model will lead to optimal capacity utilization at our plant in Brussels.”

The e-Tron Sportback will join the standard e-Tron in Audi’s EV lineup – an all-electric SUV set to start rolling out of the same factory in 2018.

First revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show in April, the e-Tron Sportback is a sleek grand coupe with four doors. The concept arrived with 430 hp (or up to 500 hp in boost mode) and, naturally, all-wheel drive.

With a low center of gravity, thanks to its low-mounted liquid cooled lithium-ion batteries and, the e-Tron Sportback concept was good for a 0-62 time of just 4.5 seconds. Along with the performance, Audi’s second EV was expected to go 310 miles on a charge.

The e-Tron (this is the SUV now), meanwhile, is being touted by Audi as the first real premium SUV powered exclusively by electricity, a claim that, along with a recent Berliner billboard, targets Tesla directly.

The e-Tron Sportback is the second of three electric cars Audi said it will produce by 2020.

A version of this story originally appeared on Fourtitude

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