http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/2014-audi-a3-e-tron-drive/1211988

 

Sounds good, hopefully this tech will make it's way to Skoda eventually.

I do like the look of this, I know that the tech will also be released in the Golf next year as the Golf Bluemotion Twin Power and it is said that it can go into any VAG car using the MQB platform so an Octavia hybrid could be on the cards at some point.

Isnt this just a copy of the Volt ?

Isnt this just a copy of the Volt ?

 

Other than the fact it has a gearbox and the engine drives the wheels you mean?

 

The Volt/Ampera is fully electric and the engine is only a generator for the batteries.

 

The Audi is the same as a Prius.  Regular car with a hybrid drive system and a "plug in" facility to charge the battery so you can do more than one mile before it runs out.

Other than the fact it has a gearbox and the engine drives the wheels you mean?

 

The Volt/Ampera is fully electric and the engine is only a generator for the batteries.

 

The Audi is the same as a Prius.  Regular car with a hybrid drive system and a "plug in" facility to charge the battery so you can do more than one mile before it runs out.

 

What have they done to it to make it so much better than a Prius though? Isn't the MPG on a Prius actually no better than a diesel?

What have they done to it to make it so much better than a Prius though? Isn't the MPG on a Prius actually no better than a diesel?

 

Bigger battery and plug in facility so it has more electric range.

The Prius comes with the same kit now too, they released a "plug in" one of those a short while back so they don't only store power under braking now and have a short electric only range.

 

You'll find the quoted "mpg" includes all the electric range and then some on petrol/diesel for whatever the test is.

But on a long trip you'll soon use the electric range up and do the rest at whatever MPG an A3 with 300kg of ballast normally does less a bit of regenerative braking.

 

It does make a lot of sense, if you want to cover all your bases with no charging worries.  And pay for it.

Regular trips covered on the cheap and distance trips covered as with a regular car without the planning of an EV needed.

 

Seems a lot to go wrong down the line though, all the gubbins of an electric car and a petrol car together.

Definitely an ownership prospect under warranty.

 

It does make a lot of sense, if you want to cover all your bases with no charging worries.  And pay for it.

Regular trips covered on the cheap and distance trips covered as with a regular car without the planning of an EV needed.

 

Bang - that right there makes sooo much sense if you don't have a set in stone daily commute. It appears to get pretty good reviews also, weirdly, iirc it was Autocar that said it handled better than any other A3 model also!

I must admit I kind of like this.

With all new tech, it has to fit your lifestyle, or you end up buying something for the sake of it.

Ours is a one car household and used by both of us, predominantly urban miles going to work and back and other general workhorse jobs. 80% of our journeys are less than 30 miles I would guess.

The other 20% are fairly lengthy journeys, typically 100-350 mile round trips, and one of the reasons EV hasn't really appealled to me.

I reckon I could do the bulk of my urban miles fairly cheaply on the EV, and reserve the petrol for those longer, less frequent, trips.

I think I will keep a close eye on this.

on a totally separate thought, I wonder if you could easily map the petrol engine, giving a very frugal EV, and a pretty rapid hot hatch all in the same car

Emissions aside, I can get 600 miles out of my CR 2.0 vRS if I try hard and it's nowhere near £30k.  I do like the idea of the Ampera/Prius though and when the tech is sorted out so the Leaf (and no doubt others) can do a sensible distance as a daily driver, I'd consider that too. 

Emissions aside, I can get 600 miles out of my CR 2.0 vRS if I try hard and it's nowhere near £30k.

It only has a 40l tank though and will only cost £25k as you get a 5k government grant.

For some people it will work well, for others less so.

For some people it will work well, for others less so.

 

This is the key point.

 

As a LEAF owner I have to listen to people drone on about how it wouldn't suit them.

But there are a lot of cars on the market, all appeal to a section of the public.

 

I don't drone on about how a two seat convertible doesn't suit me with a family, which is why I didn't buy one!

Just choose the right tool for the job.

LoL, probably gets about 35mpg in the real world.

 

At least teh tax is cheap (for now).

Edited 24 September, 201312 yr by Aspman

What I like about this Audi is that it also performs (200BHP!). Seems a lot more practical for the real world than a glorified milkfloat with a range of 90 miles and a price tag twice that of the "normal" version of the car.

 

I hear what Bossfox is saying but I think for the reasons above this car could potentially sell in bigger numbers than all-electric cars.

 

Will be interesting to hear real world MPG figures once people own them.

What I like about this Audi is that it also performs (200BHP!). Seems a lot more practical for the real world than a glorified milkfloat with a range of 90 miles and a price tag twice that of the "normal" version of the car.

 

I hear what Bossfox is saying but I think for the reasons above this car could potentially sell in bigger numbers than all-electric cars.

 

Will be interesting to hear real world MPG figures once people own them.

 

Your comment about twice the price looks to be a bit out.

If the "glorified milkfloat" is a LEAF the prices are now £20k-£25k with the top spec one very well equipped with options many VAG cars can't have.  Surround 4 camera system and heated steering wheel spring to mind.

So it's probably only £5,000 over the cost of a regular fueled car of a similar size and spec.

 

Where these plug in hybrid drive cars score well is performance.

You've got instant torque from the electric motor from standstill and then the turbo higher up.

It's a good combination and makes for a quick car, despite it carrying 300kg over the petrol version.

0-60mph in around 7-8 seconds is always going to feel brisk, particularly as the electric off the line pull will be strong.

 

The LEAF, for comparison, is around 10 seconds 0-60mph.

Not too shabby for daily use but no sports car.

Although it does feel quicker than it actually is.

Until the charging map fills up it's going to be a niche product, where a electric/petrol is far more flexible.

 

For the E-Tron quoting 188MPG is misleading IMO, because that's under a set test.

Most likely it'll use no fuel at all on local runs and then do about 45mpg on a long run. (1.4 DSG A3 with 300kg of extra kit)

Makes good sense for business users with low BIK rates.

New A3 sucks though. I've got an A3 saloon at the moment and I hate it purely based on interior and driving position. 31k should produce better results.

This probably doesn't add much to this conversation, I think I'm just venting my displeasure.

New A3 sucks though. I've got an A3 saloon at the moment and I hate it purely based on interior and driving position. 31k should produce better results.

This probably doesn't add much to this conversation, I think I'm just venting my displeasure.

 

I hope you haven't broken your RS5 already.

I hope you haven't broken your RS5 already.

Just some niggles. Here is the A3 I have:

Just some niggles. Here is the A3 I have:

 

Well hopefully nothing serious.

I know the S5 wasn't exactly fault free. (or was that the S4, I can't honestly remember)

Handy thing warranties.

 I've got an A3 saloon at the moment and I hate it purely based on interior and driving position.

 

A3 saloon? Where did that come from?

 

 

Your comment about twice the price looks to be a bit out.

If the "glorified milkfloat" is a LEAF the prices are now £20k-£25k with the top spec one very well equipped with options many VAG cars can't have.  Surround 4 camera system and heated steering wheel spring to mind.

So it's probably only £5,000 over the cost of a regular fueled car of a similar size and spec.

 

Can't have or don't have? I'm sure that if the (VAG) market wanted a heated steering wheel they could implement one.

 

 

 

For the E-Tron quoting 188MPG is misleading IMO, because that's under a set test.

 

 

But aren't all MPG results conducted under a "set test"? Aslong as you compare apples with apples the results can be benchmarked against each other

A3 saloon? Where did that come from?

 

Can't have or don't have? I'm sure that if the (VAG) market wanted a heated steering wheel they could implement one.

 

But aren't all MPG results conducted under a "set test"? Aslong as you compare apples with apples the results can be benchmarked against each other

 

It's his courtesy car.

 

 

Can't.

We are talking about a £20k-25k car here.

I specced an A6 allroad to the tune of £70k and surround view cameras and heated steering wheel were not on the options list for the UK.

Neither was a parking heater to warm the car up before you come out.

I've not seen any VAG car (although I mostly look under 50k) that could have these features.

Parking heater is an option in certain markets, but not in the UK.  Even Yeti can have parking heater in some EU areas!

They like us getting in cold cars with frosted up side windows in the morning.

 

 

Indeed Coops.

But the MPG figures for hydrid drive cars vary even more wildly from "offical" MPG claims for petrol or diesel cars.

If you do local trips you don't use petrol.

If you do mostly motorway trips your 188mpg will be more like 45-50mpg.

It's his courtesy car.

 

Can't.

We are talking about a £20k-25k car here.

I specced an A6 allroad to the tune of £70k and surround view cameras and heated steering wheel were not on the options list for the UK.

Neither was a parking heater to warm the car up before you come out.

I've not seen any VAG car (although I mostly look under 50k) that could have these features.

Parking heater is an option in certain markets, but not in the UK.

They like us getting in cold cars with frosted up side windows in the morning.

 

Meant from the POV of when did Audi release a saloon version of the A3, not his courtesy car!!!

 

Take your point but again if VAG wanted to they could probably make these options available if they felt inclined to do so, but yes in this context see what you are saying.

It's just pointless, all that complexity to get around the VED system.

If the VED system took account of the true full-life and in-use emmissions, they wouldn't have bothered.