Audi A3 e-tron: Another e-tron joins the flock

Audi A3 e-tron - this one's just a BEV

It really shouldn’t be a shock that Audi seems intent on rolling out an electric version of every model in its range – an Audi e-tron for one and all.

Well, perhaps not every model so far, but we have had a range of Audi e-trons from the A1 e-tron to the R8 e-tron. Now we get something inbetween – the Audi A3 e-tron.

It’s a bit of a disapoointment to see that the A3 e-tron is actually just an EV. Or rather, just a BEV. Unlike the innovative A1 e-tron which featured a constant speed Wankel engine as a range extender, the A3 e-tron has to make do with just an electric motor and a pile of laptop batteries.

And that electric motor – and its bank of lithium- ion batteries – don’t seem designed to make the pulse race. Or even the blood flow. Clot, maybe.

The 100kW electric motor produces the equivalent of 134bhp (isn’t that the same number as the entire Prius gubbins?) which takes over 11 seconds to hit 60mph on its way to a top speed of 90mph.

The 26.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack can deliver an 87 mile range (under perfect conditions, which means don’t get more than 30 miles from home) after a nine hour charge (or 4 hours if you just happen to have a 400 volt rapid charger to hand).

The plus is that the A3 looks just like any other A3 at first glance (just ig) rather than a mobile green statement.

But not the most convincing e-tron concept to date.

By Cars UK