Audi A1 e-Tron
Although the Audi e-tron has been making the rounds of the major
auto shows for the past few years now, at the 2010 Geneva Motor
Show the automaker introduced something different for the innovative
concept. The said event is the venue for a much-anticipated design
study for the e-tron range, which is intended as an Audi take
on the Quattro system theme.
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The Audi A1 e-tron minicar will be marketed
as the Mega City Vehicle of the Audi brand. Contrary to
widespread expectations, the new model is not actually a
purely electric car as much as it is a plug-in hybrid fitted
with an internal combustion engine that offers extended
range.
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Far from being the typical engine that the industry has come
to expect, the engine is a precision Wankel rotary engine that
works in conjunction with an electrical generator in order to
charge the included lithium-ion batteries. It is these batteries
that are responsible for providing the engine with 61 horsepower
of push and up to 110 pounds-feet of continuous output. Running
at full bore, the engine puts out a very impressive 102 horsepower
and 177 pound-feet of torque. The A1 e-tron is a front-wheel drive
design with a single-speed transmission.
It is apparent that Audi has taken steps to ensure that the A1
e-tron minicar utilizes all its available power as efficiently
and with as little loss as possible, thanks to the use of a wide
range of different technologies. The company has also adopted
a unique new thermal management system that helps extend component
life by maintaining the ideal temperature for the battery, the
motor, and the power electronics.
Amazingly enough, the A1 e-tron minicar can go up to 31 miles
on a single charge. Past this point, the model's Wankel rotary
engine will kick into operation and take over from the battery.
Thanks to the extended range design of the engine, users will
then be able to go an additional 124 miles.
On another equally amazing note, the A1 e-tron weighs in at a
very respectable 2,623 pounds, despite the numerous complex drive
technologies on board. At this weight, the A1 e-tron can zip from
0-62 mph in a very impressive 10.2 seconds. The A1 e-tron is also
capable of a top speed 81 mph, which although a bit on the low
side, does allow you to go a longer distance on a single battery
charge.
As it stands, the A1 e-tron goes head to head against the similarly
featured offerings from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Both companies
market their own lines of low cost and environmentally friendly
cars, with the Megacity and the Smart ForTwo being the respective
flagships of each company. In spite of the inevitable comparisons
however, Audi clearly has its sights set on a different market
by focusing on its model's torque and sheer power.
At the time of this writing, the first e-tron model is expected
to roll of the production line sometime in 2012. This first offering
will be based on the R8 design, and an R4-based model is slated
for release before the eventual unveiling of the A1 e-tron.
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