New A3 PHEV unveiled

Audi is continuing its electrified product offensive with the introduction of the A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle that boasts up to 78km of range on purely electric power. Due to begin rolling out in Europe before the end of the year, this new addition to the compact luxury class, joins the likes of the Audi A6, A6 Avant, Q5 and Q7 hybrid models already available on the market.

Coming in at 4.34 metres long, the new hybrid A3 Sportback offers plenty of room for occupants and luggage, with the only real indicators that this is a hybrid vehicle the subtle badging and the 

digital daytime running lights of the optional Matrix LED headlights (LED headlights are standard), which generate an e-shaped light signature – the symbol of the plug-in hybrid drive.

The A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e uses a four-cylinder 1.4 TFSI engine with 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, and an electric drive powered by a permanently excited synchronous motor producing 80kW and 330Nm of torque, integrated into the housing of a six-speed S tronic transmission. 

Together, the 1.4 TFSI and the electric motor deliver a system output of 150kW and when working together with maximum boost, hits an impressive 350Nm of torque. This equates to a 0 to 100km/h time of just 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 227km/h, while sipping just 1.4 to 1.5 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, and expelling only 30 to 34 grams of CO₂ per kilometre. 

Drive is via the front wheels and the six-speed S tronic is equipped with an electric oil pump that ensures gear changes and oil supply even when the TFSI is deactivated temporarily. 

The electric motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery located below the vehicle underbody, effectively under the rear seats. Its 96 prismatic cells store 13.0 kWh of energy, and a separate cooling circuit controls the temperature of the battery. It can also be coupled with the air conditioning system, if necessary, allowing customers to drive on electric power even in the height of summer.

With its 78km of fully-electric range, the A3 Sportback 40 TFSI delivers up to 20km more electric range than its predecessor, while a fully electric top speed of 140km/h means it lacks nothing in terms of performance regardless of the selected drive.

When the A3 PHEV is in hybrid mode, the two drives divide the work intelligently. Two special modes can be selected via the MMI operating system – ‘Battery hold’ and ‘Battery charge’ – with the ‘hold’ mode keeping the available battery charge at the current level. In ‘charge’ mode, as much electricity as possible is supplied to the battery. 

The drive management of the Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e uses a large volume of data that the navigation, sensors, and assist systems supply, and in the interest of efficiency, it selects freewheeling with deactivated TFSI in most situations when decelerating, allowing the car to coast. 

The A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e also employs the Audi drive select system which offers comfort, auto, dynamic, and individual drive modes. In the dynamic profile and when the S tronic is set to S, the vehicle releases the full boost torque for up to 10 seconds. Then, as soon as the driver takers their foot off the accelerator, the electric motor switches to recuperation. 

While braking, the electric motor performs the deceleration alone up to around 0.3 g, covering the vast majority of all brake applications in everyday customer driving. The hydraulic wheel brakes only come into play if the driver presses the pedal more forcefully. The transition is almost unnoticeable, and recuperation remains active. While braking, the electric motor can recover up to 40kW of energy and the electric brake booster guarantees powerful and spontaneous braking.

A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e rides on specially designed 16-inch alloy wheels while 17-inch or 18-inch wheels are available upon request.

The A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e comes with a 230-volt power charging cable for the garage and charges with a maximum power of 2.9 kW. It takes slightly more than four hours to fully recharge a completely empty battery and with the myAudi app, customers can control the charging times and pre-entry climate control remotely. When outside temperatures are low, electric heating elements warm up the interior, while the electrically powered air conditioning cools the interior down when outside temperatures are high. 

The interior sports a large black panel surface in the instrument panel and seat upholstery made of recycled PET bottles, with contrasting stitching accents. Depending on the position of the rear seat backs, the luggage compartment has a volume of 280 to 1100 litres, and an electric tailgate that can be opened and closed easily with a foot motion is also available.

Hybrid-specific functions and displays have been added to the operating concept of the A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e, with the powermeter in the digital instrument cluster – or in the Audi virtual cockpit – displaying the system’s output, the status of the drive, the recuperation, the battery’s state of charge, and the range. The central 10.1-inch MMI display shows the energy flows. 

The A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e is quipped with the third-generation modular infotainment platform with 10 times greater computing power than its predecessor. It performs all tasks relating to connectivity with LTE Advanced speed, and it also has an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot. The MMI navigation plus offers flexible and intelligent route guidance with satellite images from Google Earth, as well as predictions on the development of the traffic situation and 3D models of many major European cities.

The Audi connect online services include a range of functions, while the car is connected to the user’s phone via the myAudi app, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto. The Audi phone box connects the vehicle’s antenna to the device and charges it inductively and the Audi connect key allows the user to lock and unlock the car and to start the engine via an Android smartphone.

The A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e features an array of standard equipment as well as extensive safety and driver assistance systems to place it squarely in the luxury ranks. Customers will also be able to select from a list of options covering everything from head-up display and panoramic sunroof, to Matrix LED headlights and sports seats.

At time of writing, the A3 Sportback 40 TFSI was still being evaluated for Australian introduction.