Official Audi A3 e-tron thread

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pkulak said:
So, 2.6 miles per kWh in EV mode. That explains the horrible EV range despite the rather large battery. I still can't even fathom how Audi could build such a small car, with a permanent magnet motor, that is significantly less efficient than a Model X.
I wonder if it's because the electric motor is on the ICE side of the transmission. Hmmm. Maybe not. In theory, transmissions can help boost EV efficiency... but transmissions are lossy... I'm so torn! :|
 
aarond12 said:
I wonder if it's because the electric motor is on the ICE side of the transmission. Hmmm. Maybe not. In theory, transmissions can help boost EV efficiency... but transmissions are lossy... I'm so torn! :|

Yeah, this is what my guts says as well. Transmissions really only boost efficiency at freeway speeds, so it does make sense that city driving takes a hit.
 
Via GCC:
Audi ups A3 Sportback e-tron PHEV technology offerings for US MY2017; virtual cockpit
Audi ups A3 Sportback e-tron PHEV technology offerings for US MY2017; virtual cockpit

. . . New for 2017, the e-tron comes equipped with even more standard features including panoramic sunroof, rearview camera, LED daytime running lights with available e-tron signature LED headlights (Premium Plus and Prestige only) and standard driver assistance systems such as Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense front.

Expanded technology offerings include the available Audi virtual cockpit, Audi smartphone interface with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration for compatible devices, Audi connect PRIME and PLUS services (6-month trial subscription) and MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, further raising the bar as to drivers can expect from electric vehicles.

Specially designed for e-tron, the Audi virtual cockpit includes unique displays such as a power meter screen which shows the range and consumption figures for both the electricity and gasoline, placed in the driver’s line of vision. . . .

Also exclusive to the A3 Sportback e-tron is the available Sport package which adds a 3-spoke, flat-bottom, multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles, 18" 15-spoke Turbine-design wheels with all-season tires, front sport seats, and an S line roof spoiler, further differentiating the e-tron from the rest of the A3 model line. . . .

The e-tron will be priced from $38,900 at the Premium trim level to $47,550 at the Prestige trim. . . .
 
GRA said:
Via GCC:
Audi ups A3 Sportback e-tron PHEV technology offerings for US MY2017; virtual cockpit
Audi ups A3 Sportback e-tron PHEV technology offerings for US MY2017; virtual cockpit

. . . New for 2017, the e-tron comes equipped with even more standard features including panoramic sunroof, rearview camera, LED daytime running lights with available e-tron signature LED headlights (Premium Plus and Prestige only) and standard driver assistance systems such as Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense front.

Expanded technology offerings include the available Audi virtual cockpit, Audi smartphone interface with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration for compatible devices, Audi connect PRIME and PLUS services (6-month trial subscription) and MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, further raising the bar as to drivers can expect from electric vehicles.

Specially designed for e-tron, the Audi virtual cockpit includes unique displays such as a power meter screen which shows the range and consumption figures for both the electricity and gasoline, placed in the driver’s line of vision. . . .

Also exclusive to the A3 Sportback e-tron is the available Sport package which adds a 3-spoke, flat-bottom, multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles, 18" 15-spoke Turbine-design wheels with all-season tires, front sport seats, and an S line roof spoiler, further differentiating the e-tron from the rest of the A3 model line. . . .

The e-tron will be priced from $38,900 at the Premium trim level to $47,550 at the Prestige trim. . . .

Now if they added a bit more EV range they might have something, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, very nice car, great interior materials used and now they add a bit more bells & whistles as standard equipment.
 
redLEAF said:
GRA said:
<snip>
The e-tron will be priced from $38,900 at the Premium trim level to $47,550 at the Prestige trim. . . .
Now if they added a bit more EV range they might have something, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, very nice car, great interior materials used and now they add a bit more bells & whistles as standard equipment.
While I agree that I'd like to see at least 20 miles of AER (if it didn't cost any more cargo space), I'd rather see them de-content the car to lower the base MSRP so more people could afford it. What I'd really prefer is a Golf GTE Sportwagen with AWD. Not only would you not be paying a few thousand extra for the Olympic rings, but you'd have a lot more cargo space. Or as C&D put it in their A3 e-tron review,
All those amenities vaulted our loaded A3 into a price point somewhere between mass-market plug-ins like the Volt and the C-Max and larger luxury plug-ins like the Mercedes-Benz C350e and the BMW 330e. For a practical buyer, a less expensive PHEV with more all-electric range would be a wiser choice. The e-tron is designed for a very specific customer: one who typically drives only short distances (the better to minimize using the gasoline engine), cares at least as much about appearances as about reduced emissions, and is willing to pay a premium for luxury cachet.
OTOH, they did say that they actually got around 20 miles AER during the time they had it.
 
We have a few of these at my work, and I just learned a co-worker bought one, for some reason (maybe I'll elaborate later) on that.

I knew the car was expensive (MSRP at almost $40K) but I didn't realize it was so terrible specwise for the price, until I looked today: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=39589&id=39860&id=39190&id=39882.

On the EPA test, only 16 miles AER? 36 mpg combined on premium gas? Only 83 MPGe? The 3 other EVs and PHEVs I included above are 112 to 113 MPGe. That's even worse than the Model X P100D and the Pacifica Hybrid PHEV minivan: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=39589&id=39843&id=39840&id=39483.

Gen 2 Volt is 42 mpg combined on regular and Prius Prime is 54 mpg combined on regular.

I thought... hmm.. well, etron has a more hp, but it looks like 204 combined system hp. Yet, the 208 hp Camry Hybrid manages 52 or 46 mpg combined on regular, depending on the trim level: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=39589&id=39860&id=38936&id=38937.

Weird. It's no wonder the Prius Prime is outselling it 10:1, or more: https://insideevs.com/monthly-plug-in-sales-scorecard/.

And even though AER is only 16 miles vs. 25 for the Prius Prime, the Federal tax credit for both is $4,502 (https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml), since (IIRC) it's due to their battery sizes.

His commute's quite far, so even fully charged, he will run the battery out very quickly. At least he gets the HOV sticker benefit.
 
cwerdna said:
We have a few of these at my work, and I just learned a co-worker bought one, for some reason (maybe I'll elaborate later) on that.

I knew the car was expensive (MSRP at almost $40K) but I didn't realize it was so terrible specwise for the price, until I looked today: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=39589&id=39860&id=39190&id=39882.

On the EPA test, only 16 miles AER? 36 mpg combined on premium gas? Only 83 MPGe? The 3 other EVs and PHEVs I included above are 112 to 113 MPGe. That's even worse than the Model X P100D and the Pacifica Hybrid PHEV minivan: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=39589&id=39843&id=39840&id=39483.

Gen 2 Volt is 42 mpg combined on regular and Prius Prime is 54 mpg combined on regular.

I thought... hmm.. well, etron has a more hp, but it looks like 204 combined system hp. Yet, the 208 hp Camry Hybrid manages 52 or 46 mpg combined on regular, depending on the trim level: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=39589&id=39860&id=38936&id=38937.

Weird. It's no wonder the Prius Prime is outselling it 10:1, or more: https://insideevs.com/monthly-plug-in-sales-scorecard/.

And even though AER is only 16 miles vs. 25 for the Prius Prime, the Federal tax credit for both is $4,502 (https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml), since (IIRC) it's due to their battery sizes.

His commute's quite far, so even fully charged, he will run the battery out very quickly. At least he gets the HOV sticker benefit.

Yeah, we had one for a bit but got rid of it. I think we only average 60-70 MPG lifetime, and that was with plugging it in every day, a lot of times twice. We have a Niro PHEV now and 30 miles electric range vs 14 (that's what I get on the two cars) is a hell of a difference. We still have 1/2 of our dealer tank left and it's been nearly a month and included a 250-mile road trip.

I will say, however, that it's a great car if you're not in it for the efficiency. It still gets far better city MPG than the A3 sedan, it's a hatch back (which is objectively better), it's an Audi, and after the incentives it's barely even more expensive than the sedan. VW just didn't really care about making this thing efficient. They didn't even bother to tune the engine to the Atkins cycle; it's just a straight drop in from a European model.
 
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