The carmaker claims efficiency figures of 1.5 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 35g/km for the petrol/electric hybrid drivetrain according to the ECE standard for plug-in hybrid cars.

The drivetrain uses a modified 150PS 1.4-litre TFSI unit and a 75kw electric motor. This is integrated into a newly designed six-speed “e-S tronic” transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

Combined, the two power units generate 204PS of system power and 350Nm of system torque, giving a 0-100kph sprint of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 222kph.

The car can run on petrol power alone or exclusively on electric power for up to 50km at speeds of up to 129kph. In hybrid mode the driver can run both units simultaneously. When the driver stops accelerating in this mode, both motors temporarily deactivate, eliminating motor braking torque and allowing the car to glide to conserve fuel and recuperate energy. 

According to reports, a production version of the A3 e-tron is expected late in 2014.