Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Audi A3 E-Tron is a look at battery-operated things to come]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/05/audi-a3-e-tron-geneva-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/05/audi-a3-e-tron-geneva-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/05/audi-a3-e-tron-geneva-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Audi A3 e-tron

Audi officially unveiled the A3 Sportback E-Tron at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. While not a production model, the plug-in hybrid gives us a good glimpse at what the German automaker has in store for future products. The five-door gets around thanks to parallel hybrid drivetrain comprised of a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a small electric motor integrated into the vehicle's six-speed dual-clutch transmission. While the four-cylinder churns up 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, the motor contributes 100 horsepower and 242 lb-ft of twist. All told, the design allows the E-Tron to serve up its full power from just 1,750 rpm.

An 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery sits under the floor beneath the rear seat, complete with a liquid cooling system designed to keep the pack in its optimum temperature range. The A3 Sportback E-Tron can be charged in as little as 2.5 hours with a 3.6-kW charger, yielding an EV range of up to 31 miles. The machine can also travel using the electric motor, ICE or a combination of the two for a total range of 584 miles. Check out the full press release below.

Continue reading Audi A3 E-Tron is a look at battery-operated things to come

Audi A3 E-Tron is a look at battery-operated things to come originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a3a3 e-tronaudiaudi a3 e-trone-trongenevageneva 2013geneva motor showhybridplug-inplug-in hybridTue, 05 Mar 2013 16:22:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20488588/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/05/audi-a3-e-tron-geneva-2013/20488588/article-detail.xml 20488588 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/audi-a3-e-tron-geneva_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/audi-a3-e-tron-geneva.jpg <![CDATA[Audi A3 E-Tron plug-in hybrid set to whiz into Geneva]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/audi-a3-e-tron-plug-in-hybrid-set-to-whiz-into-geneva/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/audi-a3-e-tron-plug-in-hybrid-set-to-whiz-into-geneva/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/audi-a3-e-tron-plug-in-hybrid-set-to-whiz-into-geneva/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2013 Audi A3 E-tron - front three-quarter view, red

The Audi A3 E-tron, which we drove in prototype form last year, is headed to the 2013 Geneva Motor Show next month. The plug-in hybrid will feature a total of 204 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque from the combination of a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine and a 75-kW electric motor. That motor itself is positioned between the internal combustion engine and the machine's six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The setup is good enough to scoot the A3 E-tron to 62 miles per hour in 7.6 seconds and crank out a top speed of 138 mph. Perhaps more impressively, the hatch can whir its way to 80 mph on all-electric power with an EV range of 31 miles.

Audi claims the A3 E-tron gives the world a "realistic glimpse into the future of mobility," so it's a bit unclear if the model will see production. We're encouraged by the specificity of Audi's press release (which is full of stats) and the fact that they don't label this vehicle a concept. You can check out the full press release below and judge for yourself.

Continue reading Audi A3 E-Tron plug-in hybrid set to whiz into Geneva

Audi A3 E-Tron plug-in hybrid set to whiz into Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 audi a32013 geneva motor showa3 e-tronaudiaudi a3 e-trone-tronetrongeneva motor showThu, 21 Feb 2013 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20471934/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/21/audi-a3-e-tron-plug-in-hybrid-set-to-whiz-into-geneva/20471934/article-detail.xml 20471934 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/audi-a3-e-tron-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/audi-a3-e-tron-628.jpg <![CDATA[Audi commits two R18 E-Tron Quattros to final Sebring race for LMP1 cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/23/audi-commits-two-r18-e-tron-quattros-to-final-sebring-race-for-l/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/23/audi-commits-two-r18-e-tron-quattros-to-final-sebring-race-for-l/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/23/audi-commits-two-r18-e-tron-quattros-to-final-sebring-race-for-l/#commentsFiled under: ,

Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro racecar - front three-quarter view

We were baffled a few weeks back when the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series announced new classes that will make up their combined racing program in 2014. Gone from the list is the Le Mans Prototype class, otherwise known as LMP1. The LMP1 class has long been the top dog of endurance racing, both in Europe and the US, so we couldn't figure out why this newly minted racing series was jettisoning it like yesterday's donuts.

It appears as if Audi is confused by the move as well. The German brand has announced it will participate in this year's ALMS opening round, the famed 12 Hours of Sebring, as it does every year, and bringing two Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro hybrid race cars with which to compete. Unlike every other year, Audi is treating this year's race as its potential swan song in this famous Florida race.

There's a good reason that Audi is so fond of the 12 Hours of Sebring, as it debuted the gas-powered R8R there in 1999 that kicked off its participation in the upper echelon of endurance racing. The R8R preceded the R8, which debuted at Sebring in 2000 and won that race, starting an amazing career for that car that included five more wins at Sebring. The R8 was followed by the R10, then the R15 and R18, and finally we wind up at today's R18 E-Tron Quattro - all winners, all dominant, all exciting to watch.

Along with the two R18 E-Tron Quattros doing the actual racing, one of which will be a new updated version, Audi is bringing an R8 from the 2000-2005 era, an R10 TDI from the 2006-2008 era, an R15 TDI from 2009 and the R18 TDI that won there last year, all for the enjoyment of spectators who've watched Audi dominate this race, winning it outright in 10 of the last 12 years.

Though Audi has long since abandoned campaigning the whole ALMS season, it was still usually good for at least the season opener in Sebring, which provided a nicely timed testing opportunity ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, if not a couple of other races on the calendar. Unfortunately, with the demise of LMP1 in American endurance racing, March 16 in Sebring, Florida may be the last time for a while that we see Audi dominate an endurance race on American soil. Let's hope ALMS and Grand-Am find a solution.

Continue reading Audi commits two R18 E-Tron Quattros to final Sebring race for LMP1 cars

Audi commits two R18 E-Tron Quattros to final Sebring race for LMP1 cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12 hours of sebringalmsamerican le mans seriesaudie-trongrand amgrand am rolexr10r15r18r18 e-tron quattror18 prototyper8sebringWed, 23 Jan 2013 15:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20435536/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/23/audi-commits-two-r18-e-tron-quattros-to-final-sebring-race-for-l/20435536/article-detail.xml 20435536 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/audimotorsport-130121-0419-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/audimotorsport-130121-0419-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Audi R8 E-Tron program on hold, facing cancellation? [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/25/audi-r8-e-tron-program-on-hold-facing-cancellation/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/25/audi-r8-e-tron-program-on-hold-facing-cancellation/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/25/audi-r8-e-tron-program-on-hold-facing-cancellation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Audi R8 E-Tron in red on auto show floor

Throughout its brief history - from concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, to production-bound prototype - the Audi R8 E-Tron has promised supercar levels of entertainment in a sexy German wrapper. A prospective range of 150 miles with acceleration on the order of 0-60 in under five seconds suggested a more luxurious rival for the Tesla Roadster, and a challenger for the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive at the E-Tron's expected launch in early 2013.

Now it seems like Audi may have slammed on the regenerative brakes, as it were.

Car and Driver reports that the R8 E-Tron plan is on hold, pending a project review ordered by new research and development head, Wolfgang Dürheimer. Concerns about the project include a lack of sufficiently advanced and reasonably inexpensive batteries with which to power the car, as well as a buyer pool sufficiently rich and reasonably motivated to drop big sums on the R8 EV.

The Car and Driver report indicates that the expected launch in the first part of next year is now off the table, and that the entire project faces existential jeopardy.

UPDATE: We were able to speak with a member of Audi's team regarding the fate of the R8 E-Tron, who basically corroborated the earlier Car and Driver report, with a few clarifications. Audi claims that the "initial" run of R8 E-Trons was always meant to be very limited (ten cars), and that those cars were essentially meant to serve as evaluation models for the project as a whole. The discrepancy seems to be in what eventually happens to this first run; first plans indicated that they would end up in public hands, while now Audi states that they are "primarily intended for internal purposes."

On a positive note: While the future of the R8 E-Tron looks pretty cloudy (at least in the pure-EV form), we're told that the A3 E-Tron is still on track for arrival in 2014.

Audi R8 E-Tron program on hold, facing cancellation? [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 audi r8 e-tronaudie-tronelectric caretronevr8Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20361073/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/25/audi-r8-e-tron-program-on-hold-facing-cancellation/20361073/article-detail.xml 20361073 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/01-audi-r8-e-tron-frankfurt-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/01-audi-r8-e-tron-frankfurt-628.jpg <![CDATA[Audi A3 E-Tron]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/25/audi-a3-e-tron-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/25/audi-a3-e-tron-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/25/audi-a3-e-tron-first-drive-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Unique Feature Makes This A Very Special EV

Audi A3 e-tron

The most innovative part of the Audi A3 E-Tron prototype isn't found under the hood or in its battery compartment. Instead, one must sit in the driver's seat and move slightly to the side, then peer at the two smallish steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

On traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, a quick tug on the left paddle shifts the transmission down one gear while the right is used for shifting the gearbox up. However, nearly all battery-electric vehicles (BEV) have but a single-speed transmission. Paddle shifters are completely unnecessary. The engineers at Audi, likely not wanting to leave gaping holes on the back of the trick sporty steering wheel, gave the two plastic flaps a new role - to control the intensiveness of regenerative braking.

It was a game-changing move.

Continue reading Audi A3 E-Tron

Audi A3 E-Tron originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a3a3 e-tronaudiaudi a3 e-tronaudi e-tronaudi electricaudi electric vehiclee-trone-tron conceptelectric audifeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveTue, 25 Sep 2012 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20330789/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/25/audi-a3-e-tron-first-drive-review/20330789/article-detail.xml 20330789 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/audi-a3-e-tron-concept-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/audi-a3-e-tron-concept-fd.jpg <![CDATA[Audi bringing digital rearview mirror from racing to production]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/09/audi-bringing-digital-rearview-mirror-from-racing-to-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/09/audi-bringing-digital-rearview-mirror-from-racing-to-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/09/audi-bringing-digital-rearview-mirror-from-racing-to-production/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Audi R8 etron digital rearview mirror screen

Audi's digital rearview mirror is officially going from the Le Mans clobbering, race-only Audi R18 to the road-going R8 e-tron (click the image above to enlarge). Lacking a rear window put the R8 e-tron in the same rear-view challenged category as its racing brethren, and so has been provided the same solution.

The 7.7-inch AMOLED screen receives the feed from a tiny camera just a few millimeters across. The screen is dimmable, will automatically reduce the glare from the headlights of cars behind, and can be switched off if the driver just isn't with it. For now, it appears the screen will just display the camera image, but Audi says it's working on adding more information to the display in the future. You can find out more about it in the press release below.

Continue reading Audi bringing digital rearview mirror from racing to production

Audi bringing digital rearview mirror from racing to production originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amoledaudiaudi r18 e-tron quattroaudi r18 tdiaudi r8 e-tronaudi sportdigital rear-view mirrore-tronetronr18r8 e-tronrear view mirrorrear-view mirrorrearview mirrorThu, 09 Aug 2012 15:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20297246/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/09/audi-bringing-digital-rearview-mirror-from-racing-to-production/20297246/article-detail.xml 20297246 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/audielectrvmirror_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/audielectrvmirror.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Audi's R8 E-Tron quickly and quietly round the 'Ring in 8:09]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/09/watch-audis-r8-e-tron-quickly-and-quietly-round-the-ring-in-8/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/09/watch-audis-r8-e-tron-quickly-and-quietly-round-the-ring-in-8/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/09/watch-audis-r8-e-tron-quickly-and-quietly-round-the-ring-in-8/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Audi R8 E-Tron Nurburgring lap

Silent but deadly fast.

The Audi R8 E-Tron may set the record for a production EV on the Nurbürgring in June, but the video of Marcus Winkelhock won't win any awards for its sound track. During the eight minutes, nine seconds of driving, the car offers hardly any sound.

Gone is the thunder of Audi's V8 or V10 revving through every corner. Instead, it's tire squeals and wind noise. The 375-horsepower electric engines hardly make a sound. But that time is certainly not slow, falling just five seconds short of the R8 with a V8.

Audi promises that this car, which arrives later this year, will be identical to the one that raced on the famed German course. Though, as we pointed out before, it will have its speed limited to 125 mph. It should also have a range of 135 miles.

Scroll down to see the entire lap.

Continue reading Watch Audi's R8 E-Tron quickly and quietly round the 'Ring in 8:09

Watch Audi's R8 E-Tron quickly and quietly round the 'Ring in 8:09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Audie-tronevgermanygreengreen carnurburgringr8r8 e-tronThu, 09 Aug 2012 12:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20295553/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/09/watch-audis-r8-e-tron-quickly-and-quietly-round-the-ring-in-8/20295553/article-detail.xml 20295553 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/audi-r8-e-tron-nurburgring_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/audi-r8-e-tron-nurburgring.jpg <![CDATA[Audi R8 E-Tron laps 'Ring in record-setting 8:09, celebrates silently]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/audi-r8-e-tron-laps-ring-in-record-setting-8-09-celebrates-sil/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/audi-r8-e-tron-laps-ring-in-record-setting-8-09-celebrates-sil/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/audi-r8-e-tron-laps-ring-in-record-setting-8-09-celebrates-sil/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Audi R8 E-tron at Nurburgring in front of record lap time billboard

Two months ago, the Audi R8 E-Tron was caught at the Nürburgring, getting its gumption up for what everyone has come to consider The Obligatory Timed Lap of Destiny. The lap has been completed with Markus Winkelhock at the wheel, and the result is a world record for a series production electric car: eight minutes and 9.099 seconds. If you believe in Wikipedia's list of 'Ring lap times, that puts the R8 E-Tron with its 375 horsepower and stupefying torque 25 seconds behind the R8 V10, five seconds adrift of the eight-cylinder R8, and in the same company as the Audi RS4 and previous generation BMW M6.

If we ignore the fact that you can't buy an R8 E-Tron yet, the hot lap car "corresponds in every detail" to the one you will be able to buy at the end of this year. Well, not exactly: customer cars will be speed-limited to 200 kph (125 mph), but for the 'Ring run, the limiter was raised to 250 kph. More practical numbers for civilian jaunts are the 0-to-62 mph time of 4.6 seconds and a 134-mile range when fully charged.

More important to all of us will be the video footage of its triumph, which we hope to see very soon. In the meantime, there's the obligatory press release of destiny below.

Continue reading Audi R8 E-Tron laps 'Ring in record-setting 8:09, celebrates silently

Audi R8 E-Tron laps 'Ring in record-setting 8:09, celebrates silently originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 audi r8 etronaudiaudi r8 e-trone-tronetronmarcus winkelhocknurburgringr8r8 e-tronFri, 29 Jun 2012 09:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20268858/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/29/audi-r8-e-tron-laps-ring-in-record-setting-8-09-celebrates-sil/20268858/article-detail.xml 20268858 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/audir8e-tronring_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/audir8e-tronring.jpg <![CDATA[Audi R8 E-Tron test mule does quick but quiet hot laps on Nürburgring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/audi-r8-e-tron-test-mule-does-quick-but-quiet-hot-laps-on-nurbur/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/audi-r8-e-tron-test-mule-does-quick-but-quiet-hot-laps-on-nurbur/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/audi-r8-e-tron-test-mule-does-quick-but-quiet-hot-laps-on-nurbur/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Audi R8 E-Tron caught lapping at the Nürburgring

Imagine you're a spy shooter at the Nürburgring. You've got your ancient Ford Scorpio parked nearby, but you've hoofed it up to the top of a hill in the hopes of getting the perfect angle on the track. Three heavy cameras are strung about your body like you're a contestant in The World's Strongest Man competition. It's early and you are tired. And cold. The morning temperature was in the single digits Celsius, and while you're not exactly sure what that translates to in the Fahrenheit scale, this certainly ain't Miami.

Your job is boring. Boy racers driving all manner of would-be performance cars squeal by, inexpertly holding a line that betrays their inexperience. "Go back to your video games, kids," you think as you nurse your cramped and sore legs. You shift your position and the wait resumes. Sport bikes zip by and the wail hurts your ears. You get up and stretch before resuming your regimen. A momentary break in the traffic causes you to do a mental rehearsal, double-checking your gear.

Then you hear it: The tires, disembodied from the roar of an engine, but creating their own telltale sound. You reach for the camera with the longest lens and barely get it up to your eye as the electric sports car whooshes towards you, followed by the loud rumble of something more internally combusted. The camera is now firing on all cylinders as you expertly track the car's pace for the few seconds it's in your field of vision. A Porsche enters the viewfinder and you exhale, lowering the camera and turning your back to the track.

The Audi R8 E-Tron will take just one lap of the Nürburgring that day, but you were there to capture it. It may not surface again before it goes on sale next year, but you don't care about that. You need to hustle back to the car to download the images, so the world can see what an R8 without exhaust pipes looks like, so the fanboys can obsess about the extra cooling vents in the hood for the batteries and the blacked-out rear window.

You will e-mail the photos across the Continent, across the ocean, back home. You'll get a few bucks deposited in your German bank for your trouble, but that won't happen for a while yet. By then you will have taken more photos and sent more e-mails.

And drank countless lagers. It is still early, but you think of the cliche about it being noon somewhere and head off home. Nobody will be in your favorite expat bar at this time, but you think there must be at least one bottle left in your refrigerator.

Audi R8 E-Tron test mule does quick but quiet hot laps on Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 audi r82014 audi r8 etronaudie-tronetronnürburgringr8r8 e-tronr8 etronspy shotsWed, 25 Apr 2012 16:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20223879/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/25/audi-r8-e-tron-test-mule-does-quick-but-quiet-hot-laps-on-nurbur/20223879/article-detail.xml 20223879 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/audi-etron-lapping-nurburgring-spy-shots-001-opt-1335371641_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/audi-etron-lapping-nurburgring-spy-shots-001-opt-1335371641.jpg <![CDATA[Audi tries hand at luxury PHEVs with A6 L e-tron concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/audi-tries-hand-at-luxury-phevs-with-a6-l-e-tron-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/audi-tries-hand-at-luxury-phevs-with-a6-l-e-tron-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/audi-tries-hand-at-luxury-phevs-with-a6-l-e-tron-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Audi A6 L e-tron Concept - tight three-quarter view

Audi has finally spread its plug-in hybrid technology to the A6 L. The German automaker unveiled the A6 L e-Tron technology study on Monday at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, complete with an all-electric driving range of nearly 50 miles at 37 mph. Liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries power the 95-horsepower electric motor, though a 211-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder can step in at any time for more acceleration or additional range. The A6 L e-tron can operate in fully-electric, hybrid or gasoline mode as needed. While the A6 L e-tron concept is technically an engineering study at the moment, Audi does admit the sedan could indicate what a Chinese-built A6 hybrid could look like in the future.

The cabin offers buyers the same level of space and comfort as the internal-combustion A6 L, though a new instrument panel and vehicle information display conveys data on battery charge status, range and available drive system power. Audi's engineers have have also specifically calibrated the sedan's MMI touch system to recognize 29,000 Chinese characters, which we can only imagine was no mean feat. Scroll below for the full press release.

Continue reading Audi tries hand at luxury PHEVs with A6 L e-tron concept

Audi tries hand at luxury PHEVs with A6 L e-tron concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a6a6 l e-tronaudiaudi a6audi a6 l e-tronbeijingbeijing 2012beijing motor showe-tronhybridplug-inplug-in hybridMon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20221981/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/23/audi-tries-hand-at-luxury-phevs-with-a6-l-e-tron-concept/20221981/article-detail.xml 20221981 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-audi-a6-e-tron-concept-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-audi-a6-e-tron-concept-628.jpg <![CDATA[Audi developing powertrain sound of the future for R8 e-tron]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/audi-developing-powertrain-sound-of-the-future-for-r8-e-tron/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/audi-developing-powertrain-sound-of-the-future-for-r8-e-tron/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/audi-developing-powertrain-sound-of-the-future-for-r8-e-tron/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

audi e-sound

Audi knows sound, and it wants its upcoming plug-in cars to have as distinctive a grumble as possible, just like its fossil-fuel-burning brethren. That's why Audi engineers are working on "new sound signatures" for future e-tron models. You can tell how seriously Audi is taking this by the way it references the sounds a car makes to music and "emotional sound structures" in the press release below.

The stated reason for all this e-sound work is so pedestrians will be able to hear the near-silent EVs, but you could just use any old beep to meet that requirement. Audi wants something a bit more refined, to stand out from the space-y blips that the Nissan Leaf puts out or the Volkswagen E-Golf's baby Wookiee growl.

Scroll down to see a video of the Audi e-sound in progress. In its current form, the sound changes based on what the e-tron is doing. It comes out of a speaker blasting up to 40 watts that is attached to the bottom of the car.

Of course, the question from some blind-advocacy groups is whether having each EV make its own sound is reasonable, or if there should be one "EV sound" that all battery-powered cars are required to emit to tell those with limited sight "a car is nearby." In the U.S., the laws governing EV sounds are not yet set, but some sort of low-speed warning requirement seems to be coming.

Continue reading Audi developing powertrain sound of the future for R8 e-tron

Audi developing powertrain sound of the future for R8 e-tron originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi e-soundaudi e-tronblinde-sounde-tronelectric vehicleev soundpedestrian warningpedestrian warning systemTue, 10 Apr 2012 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20211642/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/10/audi-developing-powertrain-sound-of-the-future-for-r8-e-tron/20211642/article-detail.xml 20211642 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/audi-esound-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/audi-esound-628.jpg <![CDATA[Next Audi A4, Q7 to have e-tron Quattro option]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/next-audi-a4-q7-to-have-e-tron-quattro-option/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/next-audi-a4-q7-to-have-e-tron-quattro-option/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/next-audi-a4-q7-to-have-e-tron-quattro-option/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



Speaking at Audi's annual press conference earlier today, Rubert Stadler, the automaker's chairman, commented on plans to expand the e-tron line beyond the R8 model due next year.

The push will reportedly include plug-in hybrid versions of both the next-generation A4 and Q7, with the 2014 Audi A3 being the first model out of the gate with a plug-in option.

Another report indicates that the same race technology being pioneered by the recently unveiled R18 e-tron quattro hybrid LeMans prototype will be fitted to the B9 A4, with a pair of electric motors driving the rear wheels (versus the front, on the racer) because of the A4's FWD architecture.

Stadler went on to say that by 2020, Audi will have an e-tron version of each vehicle it offers in every segment, which in all likelihood will be either a pure electric model or some form of hybrid.

Next Audi A4, Q7 to have e-tron Quattro option originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a4audiaudi a4audi e-tronaudi etronaudi q7b7 a4e-tronetronThu, 01 Mar 2012 19:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20183913/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/01/next-audi-a4-q7-to-have-e-tron-quattro-option/20183913/article-detail.xml 20183913 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/03-audi-a3-e-tron-official-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/03-audi-a3-e-tron-official-628.jpg <![CDATA[Audi reveals seven future technologies in development]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/audi-reveals-seven-future-technologies-in-development/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/audi-reveals-seven-future-technologies-in-development/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/audi-reveals-seven-future-technologies-in-development/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Audi has dropped the details on seven new technologies it is working on, some of which are still in early development, while others will be on the road within the next few years. They span the spectrum from furthering Audi's commitment to lightening its vehicles through the extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber composite to new infotainment concepts and its continued push for electrification through its e-tron program.

We've assembled all of these technologies into an easily digestible gallery, outlining each program, what it aims to accomplish and when (or if) we'll see it in production. Check it out.

Audi reveals seven future technologies in development originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi connectaudi e-tronconnectivitye-troninfotainmenttronWed, 29 Feb 2012 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20182995/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/29/audi-reveals-seven-future-technologies-in-development/20182995/article-detail.xml 20182995 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/au120072large-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/au120072large-628.jpg <![CDATA[Audi announces A3 e-tron Electric Vehicle Pilot Program at TED [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/audi-announces-a3-e-tron-electric-vehicle-pilot-program-at-ted/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/audi-announces-a3-e-tron-electric-vehicle-pilot-program-at-ted/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/audi-announces-a3-e-tron-electric-vehicle-pilot-program-at-ted/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Audi A3 e-tron

Audi has taken to the stage at this year's TED2012 Conference in Long Beach, California to announce its first e-tron pilot program for the U.S.

Audi will be deploying a fleet of all-electric A3 hatchbacks in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Denver later this year to test the hardware underpinning its future electric vehicle efforts. The automaker hasn't announced how many A3 e-trons will be spread across the two states and D.C., but plans to enlist EV beta testers - similar to what BMW has done with the Mini E and 1 Series-based ActiveE - to get real world data on how drivers use their EVs day-to-day.

The A3 e-tron, originally revealed last April, comes packing a 26.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for a range of 90 miles, with a 100-kW (around 130 horsepower) motor driving the front wheels and putting out 199 pound-feet of torque. Performance isn't particularly impressive, with the A3 hitting 60 mph in around 11 seconds and topping out at 90 mph. And with a 400-volt rapid-charger, Audi claims the battery pack can be juiced up in around four hours.

Full details, along with a video, are available in the press blast below the fold.

Continue reading Audi announces A3 e-tron Electric Vehicle Pilot Program at TED [w/video]

Audi announces A3 e-tron Electric Vehicle Pilot Program at TED [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a3audiaudi a3audi a3 e-tronaudi a3 etrone-tronetronpilot programMon, 27 Feb 2012 15:40:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20180621/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/27/audi-announces-a3-e-tron-electric-vehicle-pilot-program-at-ted/20180621/article-detail.xml 20180621 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/04-audi-a3-e-tron-official-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/04-audi-a3-e-tron-official-628.jpg <![CDATA[Audi e-tron Spyder struts its stuff in Malibu]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/21/audi-e-tron-spyder-struts-its-stuff-in-malibu/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/21/audi-e-tron-spyder-struts-its-stuff-in-malibu/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/21/audi-e-tron-spyder-struts-its-stuff-in-malibu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

e-tron spyder video

There is a lot to love about the 2014 Audi e-tron Spyder. It's a compact roadster with a torque-happy, twin-turbo diesel V6 mated to two electric motors capable of more instant twist. When we recently took the e-tron Spyder for a spin, we were limited to just 40 miles per hour, but the Four-Ringed automaker tells us that a trip to 62 takes only 4.4 seconds.

And because this Spyder is a green monster, it can travel up to 30 miles on electric power alone. Using a mixture of the diesel and its lithium ion battery, it will consume on average a scant 2.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.

That sounds like a lot of "too good to be true," but Audi promises to be the leader in luxury electric cars by 2020, and a production version of this vehicle is expected for 2014. Hit the jump to watch new footage of the e-tron Spyder in motion. It might not be ready to go on sale, but it at least looks mighty fine on the roads of Malibu, California, near where we drove it.

Continue reading Audi e-tron Spyder struts its stuff in Malibu

Audi e-tron Spyder struts its stuff in Malibu originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audidiesele-trone-tron spyderelectric caretronspydertditwin-turboFri, 21 Oct 2011 19:17:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20086753/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/21/audi-e-tron-spyder-struts-its-stuff-in-malibu/20086753/article-detail.xml 20086753 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/e-tron-spyder-audi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/e-tron-spyder-audi.jpg <![CDATA[2014 Audi e-tron Spyder [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/2014-audi-e-tron-spyder-quick-spin-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/2014-audi-e-tron-spyder-quick-spin-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/2014-audi-e-tron-spyder-quick-spin-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Driving Audi's Futurethink Diesel-Electric Roadster



At last September's Paris Motor Show, we were thrilled to see this very concept car, the Audi e-tron Spyder. The crisp lines of its carbon composite exterior, its tapering side windows, its airflow vents cut in the hood, its almost impossibly clean and sleek interior treatment... all of it spoke strongly without trying too hard.

After the September 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show debut of the R8-based all-electric e-tron, we then got the surprise of seeing an even smaller one - also called "e-tron" (perhaps to confuse and/or not give too much away regarding the design's important future) at last January's Detroit Auto Show. This second electric car, a hardtop, carried two electric motors pushing the rear wheels (versus the four motors of the R8 e-tron's all-wheel drive, an ongoing programming challenge referred to within Audi as e-Quattro).

The e-tron Spyder, however, is not just a roofless version of that stunning Detroit e-tron coupe, as the model we're driving here comes with an all-new plug-in diesel hybrid-electric drivetrain, and it's 5.1 inches longer with more wheelbase, along with being 1.2 inches wider. On the other hand, the current Audi TT is 4.7 inches longer than the e-tron Spyder, so we're still operating on a very small scale here.

Our time in the driver's seat of the e-tron Spyder was originally set for right after June's 24-Hours of Le Mans, where the car successfully completed a parade lap for the almighty marketing department's sake. Sadly, right as they were loading the car onto a transporter to get it on a plane and out here to SoCal, an incident occurred that left one of the rocker panels of the Spyder pretty beat up. Now that the summer holiday and big Frankfurt show push is done, we've been given another go.

Continue reading 2014 Audi e-tron Spyder [w/video]

2014 Audi e-tron Spyder [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 audi e-tron spyderaudiaudi r4e-quattroe-trone-tron spyderequattroetronetron spyderfeaturedquick spinquickspinMon, 17 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20082703/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/17/2014-audi-e-tron-spyder-quick-spin-review/20082703/article-detail.xml 20082703 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/20-2014-audi-e-tron-spyder-qs-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/20-2014-audi-e-tron-spyder-qs-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Audi shows off near-production R8 e-tron prototype]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/14/audi-shows-off-near-production-r8-e-tron-prototype/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/14/audi-shows-off-near-production-r8-e-tron-prototype/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/14/audi-shows-off-near-production-r8-e-tron-prototype/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Audi R8 e-tron Prototype

When Audi unveiled the original e-tron Concept at the last Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, a production version seemed to be nothing more than a glimmer in the very distant future. Two years later, it appears that the automaker has made plenty of progress in bringing an electric-powered R8 into the world.

Yesterday in Frankfurt, Audi revealed a new R8 e-tron "technology demonstrator" that represents something fairly similar to the production model we'll see in the near future. Some unique visual features separate the R8 e-tron from the petrol-powered version, including the carbon fiber vents on the hood and chrome slats in the front grilles and rear bumper. Like the concept, the production version of the car is expected to feature four electric motors sending power to each wheel, with performance targets including 0-60 mph in less than five seconds and a 150 mile range.

You can see the new Audi R8 e-tron prototype in detail in the high-res gallery above.

Audi shows off near-production R8 e-tron prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi e-tronaudi r8audi r8 e-trone-tronfrankfur motor showfrankfurtfrankfurt 2011r8Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20041827/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/14/audi-shows-off-near-production-r8-e-tron-prototype/20041827/article-detail.xml 20041827 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/audi-r8-e-tron-frankfurt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/audi-r8-e-tron-frankfurt.jpg <![CDATA[Audi City E-tron Concept caught during film shoot]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/08/audi-city-e-tron-concept-caught-during-film-shoot/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/08/audi-city-e-tron-concept-caught-during-film-shoot/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/08/audi-city-e-tron-concept-caught-during-film-shoot/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Audi E-Tron city car

Our spies recently turned their lenses on this little guy in Berlin, deeming it an Audi concept for the coming Frankfurt Motor Show. Supposedly rolled out from under Audi's e-tron umbrella, its silent running suggests electric propulsion, and its tandem seating suggests an evolution of the Volkwagen L1 concept that bowed at Frankfurt in 2009.

That VW effort was a small-displacement diesel hybrid, and although the design was quite funky, it was more conventional with a fuller body that enclosed the rear wheels. This project from The Four Rings, on the other hand, is more like a sleeked-out version of Gordon Murray's T.25 city car. We have no idea what new thread this will start in the Audi quilt, but we'll bring you all the news from Germany next month.

Audi City E-tron Concept caught during film shoot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi city caraudi e-tron city caraudii e-troncity care-trone-tron city carfrankfurt motor showMon, 08 Aug 2011 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20011669/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/08/audi-city-e-tron-concept-caught-during-film-shoot/20011669/article-detail.xml 20011669 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/audicityetronspy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/audicityetronspy.jpg <![CDATA[Audi A2 e-tron coming to Frankfurt?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/audi-a2-e-tron-coming-to-frankfurt/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/audi-a2-e-tron-coming-to-frankfurt/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/audi-a2-e-tron-coming-to-frankfurt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Audi A2

Over the past few years, Audi has teased us with a number of reasons to think that the automaker's next-generation A2 may be offered with an electric-only powertrain, or maybe with some type of plug-in hybrid option.

Back in March, the rumormill blazed with reports that the upcoming "state-of-the-art" A2 will tip the scales at a scant 1,800 pounds. Here's hoping such a low weight target doesn't imply that Audi's use of unobtanium materials will interrupt the debut of the A2.

New rumors have popped up that Audi will unveil its European-only electric A2 e-tron concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this September. We'll believe it when we see it.

According to internet buzz, deciding on powertrains to pack into the compact A2 and setting an aggressive weight target has pushed back the vehicle's launch until... well, sometime before the end of this decade.

Audi A2 e-tron coming to Frankfurt? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a2a2 e-tronaudiaudi a2audi a2 electricaudi a2 etrone-tronelectric vehicleTue, 07 Jun 2011 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19959930/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/07/audi-a2-e-tron-coming-to-frankfurt/19959930/article-detail.xml 19959930 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/audi-a2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/audi-a2.jpg <![CDATA[First details on Audi's ActiveE-fighting A3 e-tron]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/audi-a3-etron/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/audi-a3-etron/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/audi-a3-etron/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Audi A3 etron
Audi A3 e-tron - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi is ready to take its e-tron vehicle strategy on the road, and one of its first all-electric offerings will come in the form of the A3.

Based on Audi's entry-level hatchback, the A3 e-tron packs an electric motor under the hood which sends power from the rear- and mid-mounted battery packs to the front wheels. Output is rated at 100 kW (just over 130 horsepower) and 199 pound-feet of torque, with the 26.5 kWh lithium-ion batteries providing a range of around 90 miles. The electric A3's performance figures to be far from enthralling, requiring 11 seconds to hit 60 mph and topping out at just 90 mph, but with a 400-volt rapid charger, getting juiced up can take as little as four hours - or as long as nine with a standard 110-volt outlet.

Other modifications include a new gauge cluster, a low consumption HVAC system and a heated windshield, but when the A3 e-tron is set to hit the market is still up in the air. The R8-based flaghip will supposedly go on sale sometime in 2013, but if Audi wants to get in on the EV action sooner - much like BMW is doing with its ActiveE 1 Series - the A3 could be a worthy stop-gap until in the interim.


Gallery: Audi A3 etron


[Source: Autoblog.it]

First details on Audi's ActiveE-fighting A3 e-tron originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a3audiaudi a3 etronaudi electricaudi eve-tronetronSun, 10 Apr 2011 15:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19908367/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/10/audi-a3-etron/19908367/article-detail.xml 19908367 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/01-audi-a3-etron-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/01-audi-a3-etron-630op.jpg -1 2