2013 AUDI A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI 6AT (204 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The plug-in hybrid version of the 5-door Audi A3 Sportback was a nice addition to the range. Instead of building a completely new vehicle, the Audi engineers took the MQB based A3 and stuck an electric motor plus some batteries inside and transformed it into the A3 Sportback e-tron.

The system has a 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine in the front that offered 150 hp. The 100 hp electric motor was installed between the engine and the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It was the same wining principle from the Prius, but better since it was a plug-in hybrid. The charging port was nicely hidden behind the four-circle badge on the grille.

The parallel driving system allowed the vehicle to run only on fuel, in hybrid mode or in pure EV mode. In the latter mode, it could have be driven up to 50 km (31.1 miles). In hybrid mode, the 1.4-liter TSI worked together with the electric motor, adjusting the revs to the motor. Most of the departures were done in electric mode and only after the engine kicked in.

The driver had the option to choose the driving mode. It could be left on “Auto” so the computer could manage the assembly in hybrid mode, gasoline-only to preserve and charge the battery, or EV only. In other words, the driver could have preserved and charged the batteries so no one will know that the e-tron is pulling up the driveway late at night.