New Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e

Up to 78 km in purely electric driving mode (according to NEDC standards) and 150 kW (204 hp) of system power: Audi presents the new A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e. performance and high efficiency and has all the best features of the A3 product line.

New A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e

Audi continues its drive towards electric vehicles with a new model: the A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e. Hybrid versions of the A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 ranges are already on the market. Now a compact model joins this line. The Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e inherits all the best features of its predecessor, the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, and many of them have been optimized and improved. Soon there will be a stronger version of this model, emphasizing sporty accents.

TFSI drive plus electric motor

The 1.4 TFSI engine plays the role of the internal combustion engine in this plug-in compact hybrid model. This four-cylinder petrol engine develops 110 kW (150 hp) and more than 250 Nm of torque from 1550 to 3500 rpm. The electric drive, on the other hand, is driven by a permanently excited synchronous motor with increased winding density compared to its predecessor. It delivers 80 kW of power and 330 Nm of torque. As with the previous model, the electric motor is integrated into the body of the six-speed S tronic automatic transmission. However, it is lighter and more compact.

The 1.4 TFSI and the electric motor together provide a system output of 150 kW (204 hp). When they work together at maximum power, the torque of the system reaches 350 Nm. The compact plug-in hybrid accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and has a top speed of 227 km/h. It consumes an average of 1.4 to 1.5 liters of petrol per 100 km, which corresponds to 30 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The six-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission sends all of the system's torque to the front wheels. The gearbox is equipped with an electric oil pump that ensures gear shifting and oil supply even when the TFSI unit is temporarily turned off.

The lithium-ion battery is located in the footwell of the A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e, next to the rear seat. Its 96 prismatic cells can store 13.0 kWh of energy, nearly 48 percent more than the previous battery. No changes have been made to the design of this high-voltage battery. The large capacity is due to the improved chemical solutions inside the cells. A separate cooling circuit controls the battery temperature. If necessary, cooling can be supplemented by an air conditioning system. This allows you to drive the car exclusively on electricity, even at high temperatures.

Efficiency above all: drive control

The drive control of the compact plug-in hybrid has been designed to maximize system performance. The car always starts in purely electric mode (down to -28 °C). Drivers can give priority to electric drive by pressing the EV button. In this mode, the car can travel up to 78 km (according to NEDC standards, according to WLTP standards - 67 km). This is about 20 km more than the predecessor could drive. This range allows for most daily city and suburban commuting in pure electric mode with zero emissions locally. The maximum speed in electric mode is 140 km/h. At low speeds, a legally mandated electronic sound is produced, known as an acoustic vehicle warning system.

When the A3 PHEV is driving in hybrid mode, the two drive systems work intelligently together. In the MMI operating system, you can select one of two modes: "Battery hold" or "Battery charge". In the "hold" mode, the battery charge is maintained at a constant, current level. In the "charging" mode, the battery receives the maximum possible amount of electricity.

The traffic control of the Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e uses a wealth of data provided by the navigation system, vehicle sensors and driver assistance systems. To achieve the best possible efficiency in most situations, when the rider takes their foot off the accelerator pedal, the control will deactivate the TFSI unit and enter the coasting mode.

Dynamic S profile and equipment: a hybrid sports experience

To influence driving behavior as well as other systems such as power steering and S tronic transmission, drivers can also use the standard Audi drive select system and choose between comfort, automatic, dynamic or individual modes.

In the "dynamic" profile, when the S tronic shifts into S gear, the hybrid drive shows its sporting potential. When the driver dynamically fully depresses the accelerator pedal, maximum torque is available for approximately ten seconds. As soon as he takes his foot off the accelerator pedal, the electric motor switches to recuperation. The subsequent deceleration creates a feeling of so-called single-pedal control.

When you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, the electric motor automatically decelerates to approximately 0.3 g, thus covering the vast majority of all braking operations in everyday vehicle use. Hydraulic brakes only work when the driver presses harder on the pedal. The transition is almost imperceptible and regeneration remains active. During braking, the electric motor can recover up to 40 kW of energy.

The suspension of the Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e combines the benefits of driving comfort with a high level of driving dynamics. An excellent basis for such a solution is the improved four-link rear axle suspension. The electric brake booster provides high braking power and efficiency. As standard, the car is mounted on specially designed wheels with 16-inch aluminum rims. 17" and 18" wheels are also available upon request.

Fully charged from a household outlet in just four hours.

This Audi compact plug-in hybrid comes with a 230 V charging cable as standard, for example in the garage. The maximum output of the A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e is 2.9 kW. It takes just over four hours to fully charge a fully discharged battery. With the free myAudi app, customers can remotely monitor charging times and pre-condition the car. When the outside temperature is low, electric heaters heat up the interior. On the other hand, the electrically driven air conditioning system cools them when the outside temperature is high. At public charging stations, the car is charged using the so-called cable mode 3. With the e-tron charging service, charging the car on the road is effortless. It covers most European countries, and one card gives access to approximately 171,000 charging points, including 550 in Russia.

Typical Audi A3: driving pleasure and great utility

The length of the Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e is 4.34 meters, which ensures great driving pleasure and great utility. These features are also typical of this product line. The appearance of the car is characterized by a sporty and expressive design. Matrix LED matrix lights are available upon request. Their digital daytime running lights consist of a pixel array of 15 LED segments. They emit a special light signal, the so-called E-light, which is the hallmark of Audi plug-in hybrids.

The progressive design continues inside the car. Its most striking features are a compact gear lever, interior door handles and a large black dashboard surface. The seat covers are made from fabric from recycled PET bottles.

Depending on the position of the backrests of the rear seats, the volume of the luggage compartment can be from 280 to 1100 liters. If desired, the tailgate can be opened and closed electrically, not only by pressing a button, but also by moving your foot.

The operating concept of the Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e is enhanced by functions and displays unique to hybrid drives. A power meter on the dashboard or in the optional Audi virtual cockpit displays system power, drive status, recuperation status, battery charge and range. The central 10.1-inch screen of the MMI system additionally shows the energy flow.

Smart and versatile: connection and equipment

Like all models in the A3 range, this compact plug-in hybrid is equipped with the MIB 3 modular infotainment platform. It has ten times the processing power of the previous model. It handles all connection tasks with LTE Advanced data rates and has a built-in Internet hotspot - Wi-Fi hotspot. MMI navigation plus offers flexible and intelligent navigation guidance using satellite images derived from Google Earth, traffic forecasts and 3D models of most European cities.

The range of Audi connect online services includes the Car-to-X service, which uses the distributed intelligence of the Audi fleet. The range includes alerts for current traffic hazards and searches for free on-street parking spaces in selected cities. Using the MyAudi app, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the user's smartphone can be connected to the vehicle. The Audi phone booth connects the device to the car's antenna and charges it inductively. The Audi connect key virtual key allows the user to open and close the car door and start it using an Android smartphone.

The standard equipment package is very rich. In addition to the elements already mentioned above, it also includes LED headlights, a leather multifunction steering wheel and dual-zone automatic air conditioning. Head-up display, sports seats with integrated head restraints and a panoramic glass sunroof are available on request. Audi pre sense front driver assistance systems, lane departure warning and turn assist are also standard on this model. Among the optional systems, the adaptive driving assistant plays a key role, assisting the driver in many situations such as driving, accelerating and braking.

The Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e will hit the Polish market at the end of 2020.

Photo: Audi