Already on sale in Europe, the U.S. version of the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is set to arrive this October as a 2016 model.
Audi’s e-tron program has been in the making for quite some time, but we have yet to receive an e-tron in the States. The charging connection for the A3 Sportback e-tron is located behind the four rings in the Singleframe grille. The plug-in variant of the A3 hatch combines a turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four producing 150 horses and 184 ft-lb of torque with a 102-hp electric motor. As a plug-in electric vehicle it qualifies for federal tax incentives of only $4,168 (because of the battery pack size), and may qualify for local breaks.
The Audi A3 e-tron is equally happy operating in electric or gasoline mode.
Although EPA economy stats are still pending, Audi is now estimating that with a fully charged battery, the new A3 e-tron Sportback will be able to travel 16-19 miles on EV power alone and have a total range of up to 492 miles. Audi has fitted the e-tron with a front-wheel drive power-train, instead of all-wheel-drive, as the automaker believes this would make the vehicle lighter, resulting in an increased all-electric driving range, as stated by a company spokesman. The Audi A3 e-tron Sportback Premium opens at $38,825, the Premium Plus starts at $42,925 and the range-topping Prestige is $47,725.
The Audi A3 E-Tron plug-in hybrid price list for all three trim has been announced and it might be a little more than what we’ve expected. The battery pack is packaged beneath the rear seats, meaning trunk space is undisturbed. If you only have access to 120-volt outlets, then it will take about eight hours to charge the battery, which is still not awful. Interested buyers can also purchase a 240-volt home charging station created by Bosch Automotive Service Solutions to charge up the plug-in hybrid in around 2 hours. Like virtually all EVs and plug-ins, this new eco-oriented A3 will offer a smartphone app that allows owners to remotely check on the charge status of their vehicles as well as precondition the cabin temperature to help save energy.
That price is for the A3 e-tron Premium model, which comes standard with features like HID headlights, automatic climate control, a backup camera, and keyless entry with pushbutton start.
