Both Honda and Toyota have confirmed that hybrid versions of their smallest offerings are on the way, with the latest news following that theme. Audi is readying a hybrid version of its A3 small car, set to hit fleets sometime around 2012.
According to Autocar, Audi is readying a hybrid version of its A3 alongside Volkswagen’s program to develop a hybrid version of the Golf hatch. The Audi version will even adopt VW’s naming scheme, dawning the name A3 TwinDrive.
Unlike current hybrids, the A3 TwinDrive will use a 106 horsepower 1.6L diesel. The diesel powereplant – along with a 30kW electric motor – will power the front wheels, while two in-wheel 30kW motors will power the rear-wheels, giving the A3 TwinDrive a temporary all-wheel drive setup.
The A3 TwinDrive’s lithium-ion batteries will carry enough juice to carry the A3 for 31 miles on electric power alone at speeds up to 75 mph. When the diesel engine is added, the A3 TwinDrive’s top speed increases to 106 mph, while still returning an estimated 113mpg.
Audi has yet to confirm when the A3 TwinDrive will hit the retail market, but the electrified A3 is expected to hit fleets in 2012.
05/07, 9:48 AM
posted by:
nickkop
wow this is cool… wish they could have used the 170 or 140 hp 2.0 TDI would be amazing
05/07, 11:19 AM
posted by:
jandrews90
113mpg!! that’d be sweet, especially in a diesel
when i first saw the article i thought they were selling out and gunna use regular petrol…
05/07, 11:20 AM
posted by:
Borat
Technically it is different then any other solution. It is not the diesel that is revolutionary it is the use of in-wheel motors. From physics point of view it is very interesting: if there is no juice in the battery it will take some doing to move those motors.
05/07, 11:59 AM
posted by:
A4
Borat your grammar is seriously impossible to decipher
05/07, 12:29 PM
posted by:
Borat
Impersonating ktulu
05/07, 2:53 PM
posted by:
atoms
the electric motor attached to the diesel engine can act as a generator in the event of low battery power to supply the rear wheels enough energy to over come the negative electrical force that is regenerative breaking, or something along those lines I suspect, but your right borat it would make little sense just to drag those in wheel motors along with a low battery, especially as they would be slowing the car down producing energy as you are already using it to try and move forward
05/07, 4:00 PM
posted by:
Borat
Atoms, you got it – involuntary braking power.
05/07, 8:43 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Sounds like both of you need to become acquainted with the second law of thermodynamics