The new Audi A3 Sportback plug-in hybrid has been revealed with a huge electric-only range of 88 miles.
With battery capacity boosted from 13kWh in the previous A3 PHEV to 19.7kWh (usable), the new A3 Sportback 40 TFSe has one of the longest ranges of any plug-in hybrids on the market.
The battery can also now be fast-charged at speeds of up to 50kW; and powers a new gearbox-integrated 114bhp electric motor, which can power the car on its own at speeds of up to 87mph.
In total, the electrified drivetrain, based around a 1.5-litre petrol four-pot and shared with the Volkswagen Golf eHybrid, delivers 201bhp to the front axle for a 0-62mph time of 7.4sec and a top speed of 140mph.
Audi has yet to confirm plans to offer the A3 45 TFSI E in the UK, which comes with the more potent 268bhp system from the Golf GTE.
Audi said it had specially tuned the PHEV's chassis to account for the extra weight of the battery under the back seats, with the resulting higher spring rates and firmer damping said to ensure "high ride quality and dynamics in equal measure".
Available to order from November, it will be priced from £39,150 and available in Sport, S Line (£41,430) and top-rung Black Edition (£42,880) trims and exclusively in hatchback guise.
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£39,000???????
A 40k A3 tax dodger that'll depreciate like a big fat French saloon. Can't wait till people and Goverments see sense and PHEVs end up in category 'Emperors new clothes'.
Looks aren't affected by the drive train. Range anxiety, may as well buy a petrol version as it'll probably be more enviromental than a PHEV.
The private buyer should worry more about PHEV depriciation anxiety.
Commute virtually for free (or actually free if you have solar, as many do), fill up for the weekend. Never have to worry about range or sit at a service station for 20 minutes. Who'd want that? Oh, apparently many, many people, as hybrids are the fastest growing market sector.
Where's that blanket to keep your knees warm...
I used to think you were just thick but it looks like you're deluded too, why on earth do you think I'm a Grandad that needs a blanket to keep warm, then there's the fact you think it's an insult to imply people are old.
If you think adding 8k to the price of a car to save you a few hundred quid a year is sensible.. prove it hydrogen fool cell thicko.
Uptick.
Too many of those on here. I remember Autocar clearing them out about 10 years ago, but they need to do it again.
But no, let me guess. You're smarter than everybody else. You're right, everybody else is wrong.
Resale time, wrong again thicko. Do some research used phev's can actually be cheaper after around 3 to 4 years later because people cannot use their tax dodgeing anymore.
But no, you still think you can insult despite being proved wrong time and time again.
Mitsubishi Outlander 2019-2021 typical prices.
Petrol - $25-27k
PHEV - $32-35k
You really are an ignorant dickhead.
And that's the rub, from £39,000 ,most add about twenty percent with additional extras,so your looking at mid forties , not exactly cheap, is it?, just for entry level.