The future is electric for Audi


The LA Auto Show is in full flow and Audi has already made its mark; the Bavarian brand has announced that 25% of its fleet will be electrified by 2025. The electric side of Audi, known as e-tron, has been widely accepted in Europe, with the US plugging in this month to launch the A3 Sportback e-tron.

In the UK, the A3 Sportback e-tron is already available, and has been named ‘Best Electric Car of the Year’ by What Car? for its ability to offer mobility without compromise. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle features a 75kW electric motor coupled with a 1.4 TFSI, resulting in the performance and reliability of a combustion engine and the economy of an electric motor.

The Q7 e-tron is almost here too, offering the same benefits in SUV form. Highly efficient, the plug-in hybrid features an unchanged appearance, with a spacious, comfortable cabin, plus a near-silent start-up and acceleration.

With Audi e-tron, expect to be impressed by the seamless interchange of engines, the quiet cabin and responsive acceleration. Flexible driving allows the car to be powered by just the combustion engine, purely by electric, or in hybrid mode, combining both – and charging takes just 2 hours 15 minutes for the A3 Sportback e-tron at a charge point, or 4 hours with a domestic socket.

The e-tron quattro concept, dubbed the Q6 e-tron, will be arriving in 2018 – and it will be all-electric. The concept for Audi’s first ever battery-electric vehicle was unveiled in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but is making an appearance in LA too. This concept takes Audi’s electric vision to new heights, as part of a comprehensive approach to sustainable mobility.

The five-seater concept SUV will be the first Audi designed purely to fit an electric powertrain. It’s lean and sleek, using side cameras along with technologically advanced lighting in place of side mirrors. With a range of at least 300 miles, the all-wheel drive creation will assuredly be a success in the world of electric motoring. For a low centre of gravity and balance, the 95 kWh lithium-ion battery pack will be integrated into the floor, and three electric motors will power the front axle and the two rear wheels.

The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, the first in the e-tron range, is available to order now; you can also test drive the A3 Sportback e-tron at a Jardine Motors Audi Centre near you. The all-new Q7 e-tron will be available to order later in 2015 - register for updates now, and be part of the start of the Audi 2025 vision of 25% electric vehicles.