Audi A1 E-tronAudi, the A1, was introduced as scheduled at Geneva. An unexpected version, however, was the somewhat mind-boggling A1 E-tron concept. The fast-developing E-tron electric-car technology — “still only a few months old,” as Audi proudly notes — has yielded a robust-looking third family member (after an R8 E-tron and a more TT-sized E-tron). This smaller third version, however, is more of a serial hybrid (with range-extending technology) than a pure electric car. Audi A1 E-tron Power comes from a torque-rich 45-kilowatt electric motor, or the equivalent of around 60 horsepower, driving the front wheels. For short bursts, however, the electric motor can produce up to 75 horsepower (and 177 pound-feet of torque). Audi says the A1 E-tron can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 10 seconds. Top speed is about 80 miles per hour. It will travel up to 31 miles on electric power alone, which isn’t really good for much. But for an extended range of up to another 124 miles, the battery pack can be charged by an onboard 20-horsepower, single-rotor Audi A1 E-tron 253-cc Wankel rotary engine (fed by a 3.17 gallon fuel tank). Otherwise, the A1 E-tron can be recharged in less than three hours on a 380-volt circuit (good luck finding one of those).
