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Report: Electric Audi A1 won't be produced

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Hatchback, Audi

Audi A1 e-Tron - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report out of Italy, Audi boss Rupert Stadler has said that the Audi A1 e-tron concept will not see production. Apparently the house of Audi believes that the conventional A1 will be sufficiently frugal and kind enough on the environment with its stop/start and brake energy recovery system. Additionally, there seems to be some issues with the A1's platform and its ability to house all the necessary EV components. If true, 'tis a shame - that cargo-floor-mounted Wankel engine paired with lithium-ion batteries was supposed to be good for 154 mpg, and the A1 e-tron is a package we would have enjoyed by being so green we made grass jealous.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Audi A1 e-tron

[Source: Autoblog.it (translated)]

Report: Electric Audi A1 won't be produced originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi working on successor to A2?

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Audi, Rumormill, Electric

Audi A1 e-tron concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Seeing the Audi A1 and A1 e-tron concept at this year's Geneva Motor Show provides proof that the quad-ring automaker is putting a much larger focus on its small car offerings. With that in mind, new rumors are cropping up about a possible successor to the A2 - the quirky little hatch that never came to the U.S. and only had minor success in Europe.

"There's clearly room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1," Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told AutoWeek during the Geneva Motor Show. The new A2 would likely be A1-based and use an electric powertrain, possibly sourced from the A1 e-tron concept. European media has reported that the A2 successor is expected to debut by 2014, and no word has been given about a possible U.S.-spec version. However, with Audi keeping the A1 away from American soil, it's likely that the A2 would be a Europe-only affair, as well.

Gallery: Audi A1 e-tron concept

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Audi A1 e-tron

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Audi working on successor to A2? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2010: Audi A1 e-tron Wankels its way to the show floor

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:52:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Electric

Audi A1 e-tron concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

No, Wankel is not really a verb. At least, not that we know of. But it is the last name of the man who designed the rotary engine, and we think our man Felix would be more than pleased with the latest application of his barrel-shaped internal combustion powerplant. In case you missed it before, that would be as the range-extender buried inside Audi's new A1 e-tron electric vehicle, which is currently on display at the Geneva Motor Show.

As we told you before, Audi's smallest e-tron features a 12-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack that feeds a steady stream of electrons to a front-mounted electric motor with 102 peak horsepower. The aforementioned Wankel rotary engine features one lone rotor, displaces 254cc and sits just aft of the battery pack under the rear seat. Why a Wankel? Audi says the complete package weighs in at just 154 pounds and puts out a nice, steady stream of power at a constant 5,000 RPM. Check out our gallery of live images from the show floor in Geneva below.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Audi A1 e-tron

Gallery: Audi A1 e-tron concept

Geneva 2010: Audi A1 e-tron Wankels its way to the show floor originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi A1 e-tron runs like Volt, advances ER-EV concept

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:35:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Electric

Audi A1 e-tron concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

After teasing us with a few goodies yesterday, Audi has just released technical details on its new A1 e-tron concept that debuts later today at the Geneva Motor Show. As we already knew, the A1 uses an extended range electric architecture like the Chevrolet Volt, but with a compact and power-dense Wankel rotary engine/generator to keep the battery alive after power from the grid is depleted. The diagrams released by Audi show that the Wankel is mounted in the car's rear behind the T-shaped battery pack that sits mostly under the rear seat.

The lithium ion battery pack has a capacity of 12 kilowatt-hours, which is claimed to provide about 30 miles of range on a charge. Unlike the 1,000+ pound pack in the original e-tron concept, this unit weighs in at just 330 pounds. The electric motor provides a standard output of 45 kW or 61 horsepower, though peak power of 75 kW or 102 hp is available in short bursts and keeps the car's 0-62 mile-per-hour time around 10 seconds. The motor and all of the power electronics reside in the car's front where the internal combustion powerplant of a conventional A1 would normally be found.

The Wankel weighs in at just 154 lbs and displaces just 254 cc of volume in its single rotor. The whole unit is small enough to sit below the cargo floor of the A1. Running at a constant 5,000 rpm, the rotary motor can extend the A1 e-tron's range to 130 miles. Why not longer? The fuel tank holds only 3.17 gallons. With the Wankel running, Audi says the A1 e-tron will return about 124 miles per gallon U.S.

Of historical note, the first ever production car with a Wankel rotary engine was introduced by NSU back in 1964. NSU later merged with Auto Union, which also included Audi, the sole surviving brand of the group.

Gallery: Audi A1 e-tron concept

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi A1 e-tron runs like Volt, advances ER-EV concept

Audi A1 e-tron runs like Volt, advances ER-EV concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Preview: Audi A1 e-tron is extended-range EV with Wankel rotary generator

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Electric

2011 Audi A1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi still hasn't released any images of its new electric A1 e-tron concept, but it has revealed some details of the car. Unlike the two previous e-tron sports car concepts that were both pure battery electric models, this one is a range-extended EV. Like the Chevrolet Volt, the A1 e-tron uses a smaller battery pack that allows it to go up to 31 miles on a single charge with no emissions.

Once the battery is depleted, an internal combustion engine kicks in to drive a 15-kilowatt generator and keep the A1 going. However, unlike the Volt or Fisker Karma, the A1 is using a single-rotor Wankel engine to drive the generator. While Wankels are not renowned for their fuel efficiency (much the opposite in fact), in this application it could work well thanks to its high power density.

The range with the Wankel running is bumped up by another 124 miles to a total of 155. With only a 15kW generator available to sustain the battery, it will be interesting to see how much performance is degraded in that mode. Audi claims the A1 e-tron achieves 123.8 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the draft EU standard for ER-EVs. We should have more details tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Gallery: 2011 Audi A1

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Audi A1 e-tron is extended-range EV with Wankel rotary generator

Geneva Preview: Audi A1 e-tron is extended-range EV with Wankel rotary generator originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi A1-based e-tron concept headed to Geneva

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:07:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Electric

2011 Audi A1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi will finally show off its new A1 minicar this week in Geneva. As usual, it'll be available in Europe with an array of gas and diesel engines, but a French website reports that the A1 will also form the basis for a third e-tron concept. If Audi sticks with the pattern it started last month in Detroit, this one will be dubbed the e-tron Geneva Concept. The idea isn't without merit; reports that Audi plans to build a roadgoing electric version of the A1 have circulated for some time.

While Audi plans to build a limited run of the R8-based e-tron that it unveiled in Frankfurt, an electric car based on the new A1 is most likely to be the brand's first volume plug-in vehicle. Small, limited-range, urban commuters like the A1 will likely dominate the electric car arena for the foreseeable future until battery costs come down. A tip of the hat to Adam!

Gallery: 2011 Audi A1

[Source: Le Buzz Auto]

Report: Audi A1-based e-tron concept headed to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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