2018 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron®
Overview
When you purchase an Audi, you get the best of modern automotive engineering, but when you purchase the 2018 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron®, you get the best of the future of driving technology. The e-tron features the styling and precision craftsmanship that you would expect in any Audi model, but it’s also a platform for the latest in performance and fuel efficiency.
The Perfect Ride for…
Those that want the luxury and confidence of driving an Audi as well as the peace of mind of driving an economical and conservative plug-in hybrid. The e-tron only takes up space where it’s needed and intelligently handles its capable powertrain to get the most capability out of the least fuel consumption. Not only does the e-tron save at the pump, but it also asks an attainable starting price for an Audi at $39,500.*
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Under the Hood
The 2018 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), which means it combines a conventional gasoline combustion engine with a rechargeable battery-powered electric motor. The engine is a 1.4-liter turbocharged TFSI® engine, and it's paired with a 75 kW liquid-cooled, permanent-magnet-driven electric motor. The e-tron’s 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery can be recharged in about two hours and fifteen minutes with the included 240-volt charging unit (just like charging a cell phone). This combination delivers 205 hp and 258 lb-ft of instantaneous torque, especially the low-end torque that’s most useful when it’s most needed, all while delivering the high-end power you would expect from an Audi.
You’re getting other advanced technology, too, including a six-speed S tronic® dual-clutch automatic transmission, (which provides smooth shifting while always finding the most efficient RPM for each gear), an electric brake booster for full braking in EV mode, (which also works with the e-tron’s regenerative braking to conserve otherwise lost energy from the vehicle’s brakes as you come to a stop), and you’re getting a Drive Mode selector, which offers three different driving modes to suit a range of road conditions, allowing you to balance performance with fuel efficiency.
Of course, you still get Audi-level capability. The 2018 e-tron may be a PHEV, but it’s no golf cart. It boasts a top speed of 130 mph and accelerates from 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds. You get all that, plus enviable savings at the pump. Using the combined gas engine and electric motor, the e-tron gets an estimated 83 MPGe combined.** That electricity consumption can sometimes be difficult to relate to gas, but another way the EPA expresses fuel economy for electric vehicles is kilowatt-hours. The e-tron uses 41 kWh per 100 miles of travel.** Considering the average cost of electricity in the US is 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, that means the e-tron can travel 100 miles on $5 worth of electricity. How does that sound for your wallet?
Key Features
MMI® Touch
Inside the e-tron, Audi-level refinement continues. A motorized 7-inch LCD screen elegantly extends from the dashboard when you need it, offering the interface for numerous infotainment features as well as available driver assistance features. Drivers can effortlessly operate the interface using the brand-exclusive MMI® touch, a touchpad interface conveniently located in the e-tron’s center console. The touchpad’s handwriting-recognition technology can read the writing from your fingers to safely input search terms for addresses, routes, local businesses, and anything else you might need to find with the vehicle’s available navigation system.
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Audi pre sense®
It’s an Audi, so you can expect 2018 A3 Sportback e-tron to come standard with pre sense basic, a suite of radar-guided driver assistance technology that will help keep you and your passengers safe from potential hazards on the road. Take, for example, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), one of the central elements of the Audi driver-assistance systems.
Using two radar sensors at the front of the car, the system regulates the speed and interval of the vehicle ahead by accelerating or braking in a speed range of 0 to 155 mph. In heavy, stop-and-go traffic, for instance, the ACC automatically slows the car to a stop. After a brief stop at a traffic light, the vehicle will then accelerate, following the car ahead. After a longer stop, the vehicle uses imaging data to determine any potential dangers, such as pedestrians crossing the street. More features are included in the standard pre sense basic and the available pre sense front package.
Room for Cargo
Let’s not forget one of the other unique features about the A3 Sportback e-tron: the Sportback. Five passengers can sit comfortably in this four-dour sedan, and the 13.6-ft3-rear cargo area means they can all bring their luggage. If you have to haul even more cargo, the split-folding rear seatbacks fold down to increase that rear cargo area volume to 33.7 ft3.
Alternative Options
So, you love Audi, but maybe a PHEV doesn’t suit your needs. We have plenty of new Audi models to suit you. The 2018 Audi A3 also comes in a conventional all-gas version. Thanks to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the A3 produces 186 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, more than enough to get you from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 130 mph. If you need more cabin space and all-terrain capability, the recently redesigned Audi Q5 is the exemplary modern luxury SUV. All trim levels of the Q5 come standard with the legendary quattro® all-wheel drive with ultra® technology, which combines driving dynamics with efficiency.
* Starting MSRP of $39,500 for a Premium 2018 A3 Sportback e-tron® with automatic transmission. Prices exclude $975 destination, taxes, title, other options and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.
** EPA estimates. Your mileage and emissions will vary and depend on several factors, including your driving habits and vehicle condition. See www.fueleconomy.gov for details.
Image Credit: Audi