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2016 Audi A3 e-tron Goes on Sale in the US for $37,900

Audi has just announced that the A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid hatchback will go on sale in America, starting at $37,900. It will be available in October and thanks to a 31-mile electric driving range is eligible to government incentives and tax credits.
2016 Audi A3 e-tron 11 photos
Photo: Audi
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The A3 e-tron is the first of many e-tron models coming to the US, Audi says. It's also the only hatchback on sale if you ignore the SUVs and the allroad.

Because it has both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, it offers the best of both worlds. Also, the combined output is similar to that of a 2-liter turbo, but we'll talk more about that later.

The thing is that it's kind of expensive for a PHEV. A top-spec Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Advanced is $34,900, for example. But by Audi standards, this thing is still cheaper than a full-spec Q3 or a TT Coupe.

Under the bonnet, you will find the same 1.4-liter TFSI turbo petrol engine as VW will install on the Jetta. It works in tandem with an electric motor generating 75 kW and 330 Nm (243 lb-ft) of power.

The disc-shaped electric motor is integrated into the newly designed six-speed e-S tronic gearbox, that transfers the power to the front wheels. Using an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located under the rear seats, the hatchback can travel up to 31 miles just on electricity.

Standard features include xenon headlights, LED interior lighting, 16-inch wheels, a reversing camera and a well-sorted interior.

We don't have any EPA numbers for this car, but in the European driving cycle, the A3 e-tron achieves 1.5 l/100km (156.8 US mpg). That sounds a bit unrealistic, considering that a Prius PHEV gets about 50 mpg. But still, we now have the first electric-powered Audi in America, and that's a good reason to celebrate.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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