AUDI has launched a new hybrid that has an environmentally-friendly range of 88 miles and comes with superfast charging.
But on the downside all that comes with a sizeable price tag attached.
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The new Audi A3 Sportback plug-in hybrid comes with an electric range not far off 100 miles thanks to its battery capacity being given a boost.
It’s gone from 13kWh which came with the previous A3 PHEV to 19.7kWh (usable).
That means the new A3 Sportback 40 TFSe has one of the longest ranges of any plug-in hybrids currently available.
The battery can also be charged quickly, with speeds of up to 50kW.
It also powers a new gearbox-integrated 114bhp electric motor, which can propel the car on its own at speeds of up to 87mph.
Overall, the electrified drivetrain, which is based around a 1.5-litre four-pot and shared with the Volkswagen Golf eHybrid, and can deliver 201bhp, ensuring the car can do 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 140mph.
However, Audi hasn’t yet confirmed plans to offer the A3 45 TFSI E in the UK, which has the more powerful 268bhp system from the Golf GTE.
Due to the extra weight of the battery under the rear seats, Audi says it has specially tuned the PHEV’s chassis, with the result being a higher spring rate and firmer damping which is said to ensure “high ride quality and dynamics in equal measure”.
The new Audi will be available to order from November.
The snag though is the cheapest version costs £39,150 but will also be available in Sport, S Line at £41,430 and the top of the range Black Edition with trims and exclusively in hatchback guise will set you back £42,880.
Elsewhere, we put the Audi A6 EV SUV through its paces, concluding it’s “a soothing and pleasurable drive, loaded with tech”.
But Audi might have some stiff competition though after a rival is set to release three up-market EV motors.
Meanwhile, Audi could be set to revive a long-lost sports car that never made it to the factory.
Elements of it, could be due for a comeback as Audi looks to expand into electric supercars.
It would match similar projects already undertaken by its soon-to-be rivals on the grid, including Aston Martin, Mercedes and Red Bull.
It comes after a fellow manufacturer confirmed that it’s new-Tesla rivalling EV would come to Europe – with a range of up to 700 miles.
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