Recently, Ed Kim, AutoPacific’s Director of Industry Analysis, was given a sneak peek at the Audi A3 e-tron plug-in electric. Earlier this week, Ed’s impressions were prominently featured in Audi’s featurette about the car. This video was released in conjunction with the automaker’s official announcement about the A3 e-tron’s U.S. test program at the 2012 TED Conference in Long Beach, CA.
The A3 e-tron will be distributed in select markets in the U.S. to help Audi get real world data about how electric vehicles are used in everyday life, ultimately aiding in the development of future plug-in vehicles from Audi.
Audi, rightly so in our opinion, believes there is no one silver bullet in the quest for greater efficiency. As such, the automaker is exploring just about every available alternative powertrain technology out there as potential components of a greater solution. Those can include electrics, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, diesels, or even very efficient gasoline engines.
Watch below to see Audi’s A3 e-tron in action, and Ed’s thoughts on some of the issues surrounding electric vehicles.
Sometimes things start out great and end up only OK, or perhaps worse. The smell of coffee in the morning. Most Superbowls. A full bottle of Patron. We recently had the opportunity to experience the Audi e-tron and came away excited by the vehicle, but wondering why we got to see so much of it.
3Posted by Dave Sullivan on November 1, 2011 at 4:21 am
There are two things that I have daydreamed about for years. The first is an Audi RS 4 Cabriolet in my garage. The second is to have a place to drive that RS 4, like, say, maybe, my own personal race track? My dream got about as close to reality as it ever will a few weeks ago in a remote part of the Catskill Mountains.
The Audi A3 is conclusive proof that green vehicles need not be boring or uninvolving transportation. Frankly, it’s amazing that it has taken as long as it has to get fun yet extremely frugal vehicles into the marketplace. Years of having to maneuver around hybrids like Prius driven by hypermilers have led so many people to simply assume that fuel sipping vehicles are incapable of possessing any excitement.
Fortunately, our European friends across the pond have never felt that way. Much higher fuel taxes have resulted in fuel economy being a big priority in Europe, but that has never justified boring cars there. Quite the opposite, actually.
0Posted by Dave Sullivan on June 3, 2011 at 12:59 am
I have a confession to make. I was cautiously optimistic with the idea of the A7 when I first heard that Audi had green lighted the program. Yes, I am fond of hatchbacks but one image was burned into my brain: Accord Crosstour. The Crosstour was a great idea on paper and a gave people who worship at the church of hatchback another option. Sadly, the final product hasn’t been much of a sales success as Americans shun hatchbacks. I won’t mention the fact that many crossovers today are actually hatchbacks but calling them that would be a marketing faux pas. The Crosstour is looking like another nail in the coffin of slow selling hatchback designs for the US market. Could the company that brought us the R8 strike out like the Crosstour or hit a home run to change the hearts and minds of hatchback haters? Read on to find out.
0Posted by Dave Sullivan on May 12, 2011 at 3:03 am
Volkswagen is excited with the work they have completed thus far on the Golf blue-e-motion battery electric vehicle. So excited, in fact, that I was recently able to drive one in Germany.
0Posted by Dave Sullivan on March 29, 2011 at 2:05 am
Flagship – (ˈflæɡˌʃɪp) - The best or most important one of a group or system. Source: Dictionary.com
Often we hear of automakers make claims about their flagship vehicles. When you start to break apart these claims you might find that the word flagship is one thrown around rather loosely. An opportunity to drive the flagship of the Audi brand presented itself and I discovered what truly sets the Audi A8 and A8L apart from the rest of the flagships.
0Posted by George Peterson on September 28, 2010 at 2:45 am
Think Audi A3, BMW 1-Series and Volvo C30 and you can better understand the competitive set Lexus is targeting with its all new CT200h 5-door hatchback to be launched in February 2011. Also think of the CT200h as a product really designed for the European market where it is right-sized and right-styled.
The competitive set in the USA sells less than 1,500 units per month now – or about 18,000 per year – small potatoes in a 12,000,000 unit industry. Lexus is going after 1,000 units per month – immediately intending capturing 40% of this small segment. Can they do it?
Given pricing in the low $30,0oo range, the CT will undercut the IS 250, but Lexus management tells us it won’t squeak in under the $30K barrier which could prove to be a psychological threshhold.
0Posted by Stephanie Brinley on June 1, 2010 at 6:57 am
I’m in love. With my husband, of course, but also with the Audi R8 5.2. For a few days this spring, an R8 V10 graced our office fleet, and my driveway. Four days and three days of automotive bliss, in my book. Days of taking any excuse, and creating a few, for getting on any road. Despite its complexity, technology, and power, from its aluminum space frame to 525HP 5.0L V10 engine to its LED headlights and magnetic ride adaptive damping system, is a civilized and powerful conveyance. The only competitor for my affections in this category is a Porsche 911 Turbo, and the Audi has a sexier wrapping, better navigation, and iPod integration. Since I’m dreaming in any case, I’ll take one of each, thank you. Audi R8 is massively capable and one of the easiest high-powered street cars I’ve driven. It made me feel like a hero, and while I can hold my own, I know too many truly excellent drivers and I know where my limits are. I preferred the Sport setting for suspension. It is stiffer, but not uncomfortably so. One of the beauties of the system: If you come across a particularly rough stretch of road, turn Sport off and the normal setting will dampen the harshness instantly. Get past that quarter-mile stretch of mild frost heaves, put it back to Sport, and you can be just as instantly happy again. In my three days, I stayed in Sport mode searching out sweeping off ramps and looking for safe acceleration opportunities.
0Posted by Keagan Patrick on May 18, 2010 at 9:00 am
It’s not really under debate as to whether or not the Audi S5 is a beautiful road going machine… (both inside and out) It really ‘is’. The current debate now centers on which vehicle the S5 comes closest to competing with and will we will miss the S5′s outgoing 4.2L V8?
The short answer is a (3″) wider 335i with x-drive and NO we are not going to miss the 4.2L V8… except for maybe the exhaust note.
This particular S5 was equipped with everything from a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system to a navigation system and backup camera. The normally aspirated 4.2L V8 does slap you with a $1,300 gas-guzzler tax but if you can afford the car at $53K plus ($66,450 as tested) we’re pretty sure you can afford the tax. Well, all right, so maybe you are like many of our 40,000+ new vehicle respondents who say they want the same or better performance as now with better fuel economy. Not to worry!!! Audi promises to deliver the S5 with a 3.0L Supercharged V6 instead of the 4.2L V8…
Sid P., Washington – $100
Ken G., Nevada – $100
Brad T., Wisconsin – $100
Tom M., Virginia – $100
Kathy F., New Jersey – $100
John M., Massachusetts – $100
Mike M., California – $100
Carol R., Texas – $100
James D., Georgia – $100
Martha B., New Jersey – $100
Kerry B., Pennsylvania – $100
Audi R8 is massively capable and one of the easiest high-powered street cars I’ve driven. It made me feel like a hero, and while I can hold my own, I know too many truly excellent drivers and I know where my limits are. I preferred the Sport setting for suspension. It is stiffer, but not uncomfortably so. One of the beauties of the system: If you come across a particularly rough stretch of road, turn Sport off and the normal setting will dampen the harshness instantly. Get past that quarter-mile stretch of mild frost heaves, put it back to Sport, and you can be just as instantly happy again. In my three days, I stayed in Sport mode searching out sweeping off ramps and looking for safe acceleration opportunities.
