At the international launch of the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, Audi’s research and development head Ulrich Hackenberg revealed plans about the future of Audi’s ideato ‘hybridise’ much of the range by 2020.

E-tron Plug-in Hybrids

Starting with the A3 Sportback e-tron, Hackenberg announced that Audi would prioritise building plug-in hybrids as ‘they meet all of our customers’ expectations’. This A3 Sportback e-tron being the benchmark from which other Audis will take inspiration.

The A3 e-tron has its electric motor seated between the 1.4-litre TFSI engine and the specially designed six-speed dual clutch gearbox. Most of Audi’s smaller cars would be able to adopt this similar strategy whilst all-wheel drive models would move the electric motor to the rear axle where it would do work powering the rear wheels with the petrol unit working the front wheels.

In larger Audis where the engine is mounted longitudinally, they would still be able to use the system of mounting the electric motor between the engine and gearbox. They would then have the option of sending power from the electric motor forwards or backwards for Quattro models.

Hackenberg noted that he wanted to have at least one plug-in hybrid in each of the key model by 2020.