German carmaker Audi opened the ordering books for its first plug-in hybrid, the 5-door A3 Sportback e-tron, through some 410 Audi dealers in Europe – including 105 in Germany – from a basic price of 37,900 euros in Germany (a leasing program is available). Deliveries start this winter.

Power

Power comes from the four-cylinder, 1.4 TFSI direct-injection gasoline (petrol) engine (110 kW, 150 hp, 148 bhp) combined with an electric motor giving the A3 Sportback e-tron a total output of 150 kW (204 hp, 201 bhp).

With the 1.4 TFSI engine's maximum torque of 250 Nm (184.4 lb-ft, 25.5 kg-m), the combined maximum torque reaches 350 Nm (258.1 lb-ft, 35.7 kg-m).

The 0-100 km/h (62.1 mph) acceleration time is 7.6 seconds, with a top speed of 222 km/h (137.9 mph).

The electrical system includes a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery with 8.8 kWh capacity and the drivetrain of the front-wheel drive model has a six-speed S tronic gearbox, an integrated drivetrain decoupler and an intelligent hybrid management with multiple driving modes.

Audi indicates that the A3 Sportback e-tron can drive up to 50 kilometers (31.1 miles) with the electric power alone. With the combined mode, the range is announced at over 900 kilometers (559.2 miles).

Consumption

The main consumption and emissions figures (NEDC standard for plug-in hybrid vehicles) of the compact (lower medium segment) A3 Sportback e-tron are announced below, bearing in mind that detailed information is available, free of charge, about the official fuel consumption figures and specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars, in the “Guide to fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electricity consumption of new cars,” at all sales outlets and from DAT (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH).

• Combined fuel consumption with both gasoline engine and electric power: 1.5 l/100 km, equivalent to 156.8 US mpg, 188.32 miles per imperial gallon, or the possibility to drive 66.7 kms per liter of fuel.


• Combined fuel consumption with the combustion engine alone: 4.5 l/100km, equivalent to 52.27 US mpg, 62.77 UK mpg, or the possibility to drive 22.22 kms per liter of fuel.


• Combined CO2 emissions: 35 grams per kilometer (56.3 g/mile).


• Combined CO2 emissions using just the combustion engine: 104 grams per kilometer (167.3 g/mile).

The luxury brand says that the employees of all European Audi dealerships where the model is sold, are receiving special training in sales and service relating to electric vehicles.

This training – since mid-July up to the end of this month – is addressed to around 2,000 sales, service and used car employees from all over Europe, at Audi's Training Center next to Munich. 300 other German high-voltage technicians and service advisors from Audi will undertake a technical training course at the Service Training Center in Neckarsulm.

Charging

Charging the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron can be done via a charging point at the dealership, within the public charging infrastructure or at the customer’s home. For the latter option, Audi offers in Germany an individual installation service whereby a technician checks the electrics in the customer’s home, makes any adjustments that may be required and installs the charging dock, which is designed for safe, convenient charging.

Customers in Germany can also switch to environmentally friendly electricity, known as Audi energy, which comes from hydroelectric power stations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The A3 Sportback e-tron offering is completed by an individual installation check, the “e-tron plus” special package and “green” power from Audi. The “e-tron plus” package includes in Germany the charging dock, a cable for public charging points, MMI navigation plus, Audi connect and phone box.

To reassure its potential customers, the premium brand of the Volkswagen group says that in future, every e-tron dealer will also have at least one charging station that e-tron customers can use, even after their purchase.