VIENNA, AUSTRIA –

Singapore is often touted as a perfect place for electric cars. Aside from the incoming launch BMW i3– a product that can stand on its own without infrastructure – in July, every other electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) has faced challenges in the Lion City: The Corbin Sparrow, Tesla Roadster, Nissan Leaf, Renault Fluence ZE and Twizy, while Porsche’s convincing Panamera S E-Hybrid was delayed by homologation problems.

But times are changing fast and it looks like the people in charge are changing their polarity to EVs, what with the LTA’s ‘road-map’ and the Jurong Lake ‘smart city’ project being announced.

Given that Audi, and fellow rival Mercedes-Benz, haven’t thrown in their hats in the electric circuit like the extreme way BMW has with its i3 and i8, it’s no surprise that Audi’s first significantly electrified model is this one: The plug-in hybrid Audi A3 Sportback e-tron.

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As Volkswagen’s electric Golf E and plug-in Golf GTE have shown, the MQB platform which the A3 shares is perfect for electrification, being lighter than before and structurally-optimised for batteries and hybrid drive systems.

The A3 e-tron mates an uprated, 150bhp VW Group 1.4-litre turbo engine with a 75bhp electric motor-generator. Gearbox duties are handled by a six-speed dual-clutch unit, which actually has three clutches – one extra to handle the engagement of the electric motor. Residing on the rear axle, beneath the boot and seats is an 8.8kWh lithium ion battery pack.

The pack can be fully charged in just under four hours from a wall wart and has enough juice to propel the car in EV mode for 50km at speeds of up to 130km/h. Like other EVs, it’s limited in top speed since aerodynamics spell for diminishing returns here. In petrol-electric mode, it’ll do a maximum 222km/h and 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds. In EV mode though, it cracks 0-60km/h in a sprightly 4.9 seconds.

On a downside, the car weighs 1,615kg, or 95kg more than a S3 Sportback quattro. Though the e-tron is front-wheel drive only, the majority of the weight comes from the 125kg battery and 34kg electric motor. With the former, weight reduction was achieved by using aluminium and plastic polymer in the shell of the pack.

A comparison with its sporty brother is fitting, since Audi is marketing the A3 e-tron as a sort of ‘warm green hatch’ with not only eco-friendliness, but also some performance potential.

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We took a short 20km drive almost fully in EV mode. It’s intensely quiet, with the refined nature of the A3 itself highlighted by the whirr of the motor. The left instrument dial shows the state of the drive system (charge, boost, coast) and you can select additional displays like a power flow diagram and tachometer for the engine in the active colour display between the dials.

With the instant go of the motor, the e-tron picks up speed with plenty of punch, although it never lurches forward, it’s all smooth, rapid progress. The same happens when you’re off the throttle, with the car coasting forward for ages until you hit the brakes to reap back the kinetic energy, all accompanied by a ghostly, futuristic whoosh.

Again like the S3, the car rides firmly but not uncomfortably – it’s thankfully devoid of rear-heavy feel that some hybrids have – and it corners very much like its hot hatch brother, rather than a garden variety A3. What’s notable about the car is how polished it feels. We engaged the combustion engine on purpose and it was a seamless, almost imperceptible switch. Its braking performance is also commendably natural.

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Of course, the difference is the A3 e-tron will cover the average commute totally on electric power alone.  Driving with the air-conditioning on 22 degrees (automatic) with generally smooth progress and the occasional blatant spurt of power, we left our start point with 43km of range on the EV clock, and arrived at our destination 20km away with 22km left. As a PHEV though, you can always count on the engine to help you out, but this does show that the A3 e-tron does exactly what it says it will in zero emissions mode.

Audi also has in the works a support ecosystem, which involves mobile apps that can monitor and control the charging, as well as true zero-emissions charging from renewable resources in Europe, though not all those features will be relevant to Singapore.

Come July, BMW’s i3 is set to make EVs more popular, if not in sales terms, then at the very least in image and perception. The A3 e-tron,which is being considered for Singapore in 2015, could be the perfect stop-gap for those who have the cash, but aren’t wanting to go the fully electric route just yet. Hopefully by then all the legislation surrounding EVs and PHEVs will be settled, and the A3 e-tron can do well and prosper, rather than be a victim of the so far bloody game of trons.

For a full rundown on the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron as well as the entire story on EVs, PHEVs and Singapore, be sure to pick up a copy of CarBuyer #224 out on newsstands in mid-July!

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron 

Engine
1,395cc, 16V, inline 4, turbocharged
Power                                           150bhp from 5000 to 6000rpm
Torque                                         250Nm from 1600 to 3500rpm
Gearbox                                       6-speed dual-clutch
Electric Motor                                75bhp, 243Nm
Battery                                         8.8kWh, lithium ion
EV Range                                      50km
Combined Power                            204bhp, 350Nm
Top Speed                                     250km/h
0-60km/h                                      4.9 seconds (EV mode)
0-100km/h                                     7.6 seconds (4.9 seconds EV mode)
Fuel efficiency                                 1.5L/100km (ECE R101)
CO2                                               35g/km
Price                                              TBA (2015)

Also consider:
BMW i3, Audi S3 Sportback