At the 2012 Auto Expo Audi had a very rich booth showcasing a good number of cars. Of all the products displayed there, Audi A3 e-tron was one good looking notchback sedan. First unveiled in Shanghai, the car made its way the Auto Expo and graced the show.
The A3 e-tron is a four seater plug-in hybrid sedan that fully integrates Audi’s technological advancements like MMI operating system,high-end infotainment system and a new drivetrain. If looks are your primary concern, the car has got all that you are looking for. Based on Audi’s design language of sporty elegance the car is very edgy and has sharp body lines.
image – Audi A3 e-tron notchback sedan
The car has a single frame grille which is integrated into the front end giving it a very elegant look. The car’s frame has been made of CFRP(carbon fiber-reinforced polymer) and the aggressive looking headlamps merge with the upper corners of the single frame.
image – Audi A3 e-tron notchback rear
The headlamps sport one of the most advanced LED technology innovated by Audi itself. Just above the spoiler at the front, there is a full-length CFRP air intake that incorporates a splitter to increase the downforce on front wheels. On the rear the beautifully sculpted flat tail lights culminate towards the inside.The rear fender has a diffuser insert made of CFRP and metal surrounding the two large exhaust tailpipes.
image – Audi A3 e-tron notchback sedan side
The A3 e-tron has enough aluminium on every part of its body including the doors, engine hood and tailgate. So its lightweight, rigid and has been bestowed with precise handling and excellent vibrational comfort.With enough use of aluminium even the overall weight stands at 1720 kg.
image – Audi A3 e-tron notchback sedan interiors
The use of aluminium is visible on the interiors as well. A large instrument panel made up of solid aluminium includes well finished control functions. Even the high quality sound system in doors and rear shelf has aluminium trim panels. The car has automatic climate control with four large jet type AC vents situated on the dashboard. A compact, flat-bottomed, three-spoke multifunction steering wheel is beautiful and innovative in all senses. The tachometer on the instrument cluster has been replaced by a power meter that has a needle indicating the total system output on a scale of 0 to 100 percent. The green and orange indicators clearly tell whether the car is drawing power from the electric motor, the combustion engine or both.
The car’s most interesting part, the drivetrain, constitutes of two power units: a 211 BHP 1.4 TFSI four-cylinder engine turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine and a an electric motor with an output of 27 BHP coupled to a seven speed S-tronic automatic transmission. So the combined output becomes 238 BHP which when applied together, makes the car reach from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds. Also the combined effort of the two motors give the car a top speed 231 km/h. Other technologies include a regulated oil pump, the intelligent Audi thermal management system, a Start Stop System and an energy recovery system. The lithium-ion batteries alone give the car a range of 54 km.
Audi A3 e-tron Exclusive Pictures From 2012 Auto Expo
image – Audi A3 e-tron At Auto Expo 2012
image – Audi A3 e-tron At Auto Expo 2012
image – Audi A3 e-tron At Auto Expo 2012
image – Audi A3 e-tron At Auto Expo 2012
image – Audi A3 e-tron At Auto Expo 2012
image – Audi A3 e-tron At Auto Expo 2012
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2012 Auto Expo Exclusive Coverage
