Audi A3 e-Tron concept coming to the Geneva Motor Show

Audi will reveal what they think will be the future of cars, calling it the " electrification of the drivetrain" and believing it will "play an important role in the strategy of the brand". Most brands now offer plug-in hybrid technology in part of their cars but most of them are slow and weak, but Audi also wants to change that.

The A3 e-Tron is equipped with a modified four cylinder 1.4 TFSI engine producing 110kW (150 hp) linked through a clutch to an electric motor that produces 75kW (102hp) which in turn is connected to a newly designed six-speed e-S tronic that transfers the power to the front wheels.

The combination of the electric motor with the petrol engine provides the car with 150kW (204hp) of system power and 350Nm (258lb/ft) of system torque, allowing for an acceleration from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 7,6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 222km/h (138mph).

The five door model will consume on average only 1.5 liters of fuel per 100km (157 US mpg) and will emit just 35 grams per km (56.33 g/mile) of CO2. When only using electric power, the e-Tron will have a top speed of 130km/h (81mph) and a maximum range of 50km (31miles). But if you want you can drive it using just the combustion engine or in the "hybrid mode" which will have a range of 669km (416miles).

Production isn't confirmed but those are some attractive numbers.

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Audi also reveals the sportier version of their hatchback, the S3 Sportback

Seems someone at Audi didn't liked the attention given the the new Mercedes A-Class AMG (A45) and thought "hey, let's release pictures and more information about our fast hatchback", too bad the S3 Sportback is less powerful and slower compared with the Mercedes.

And like the Mercedes the exterior styling package is almost the same to the S-Line version, while there are no other differences to the 3-door S3 besides the two extra doors, roof rails and different taillights.

The new S3 Sportback weighs 1.445 kilograms (3.186lb) which is 70 kilograms (154.32lb) less than the previous model, and just with the car is now faster, besides consuming less fuel and polluting less.

The improved 1.984cc four-cylinder engine in the S3 Sportback now produces 300hp (221kW) @ 5.500rpm and 380Nm (280lb/ft) available from 1.800 to 5.500rpm. You can choose between the six-speed manual transmission (0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds with an average fuel consumption of 7l/100 km or 33,60 US mpg) and the six-speed S tronic (0 to 100km/h in just 5 seconds and an average fuel consumption of 6.9l/100 km or 34,09 US mpg). The top speed is electronically limited at 250km/h or 155mph.

And all those 300 ponies go to the four wheels through the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system and a redesigned multi-plate clutch for a better performance in all types of weather.

But in the end it is still slower and weaker than the A45 AMG, still i am sure Audi is working on a RS3 version. Don't miss them at the Geneva Motor Show!

PS: Funny things. Audi seems to use the same background for all the pictures of the A3, and Mercedes introduced a white car with an interior red trim and stitching, while Audi has a red car with an interior white trim and stitching.

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