Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid - hybrid cars
October 1, 2008 Posted by: Lee Sibbald
All the design progressiveness for which Audi has become famous is condensed into a mere four metres of road space thanks to the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid. However, as one of Audi’s first ventures into hybrid cars, can it live up to expectations?
Quick links:
- History of the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid
- Environmental credentials of the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid
- Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid statistics
- Future of the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid
History of the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid
Primarily owned by the Volkswagen group since 1964, Audi has built its reputation on innovation through technology. Its latest concept – the Audi A1 super-mini luxury car, is sure to be no exception.
The A1 was first previewed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 and was named the Audi Metroproject Quattro concept car. It included four seats and an all-new hybrid powertrain. Its power came from a modified 1.4 litre turbo FSI petrol engine combined with a lithium-ion battery powered electric motor, which is mounted behind the rear seats and reduces both fuel consumption and emissions by around 15 per cent.
Power can actually be derived from either the petrol engine or the electric motor – or from a combination of the two. If the driver chooses electric mode, up to 62 miles can be covered completely cleanly and silently, which is ideal for urban driving. This is partly assisted by the energy that is released during braking through a process known as regenerative braking.
Audi showcased the model once again at the Leipzig Automobile International Show in 2008, where it was renamed the Audi A1 Project Quattro.
Environmental credentials of the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid
The Audi A1 Quattro should compete directly with other super minis such as MINI itself and its ability to produce low fuel consumption rates and low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions should make it highly attractive in its sector.
Dependent on the driving conditions it will be possible for the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid to produce zero emissions – when it travels in all-electric mode for as much as 62 miles at low speeds. This means that drivers can enjoy the best of both worlds as they can take advantage of zero emission driving in the city but still have a reliable powerful engine to fall back on for longer distances and faster speeds.
As with any hybrid car, CO2 emissions are still relevant but they are drastically reduced compared to regular petrol and diesel engines. As such, the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid remains an environmentally friendly alternative for motorists.
Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid statistics
Here are some crucial statistics about the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid:
- 0-62 MPH: 7.8secs.
- CO2 emissions: 112g/km.
- Engine: 1.4-litre Turbo FSI petrol engine with electric motor.
- MPG Combined: 57.6mpg.
- Top speed: 124mph.
Future of the Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid
The Audi A1 Quattro Hybrid is expected to be released in the UK in March 2010. We’ll have more information as it becomes available here at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.
What hybrid cars are available?
The number of hybrid cars available in the UK is on the increase although they are still not as readily available as it is hoped they will be in the long term. Here is a list of some of the hybrid cars currently available in the UK – click on the links to find out more:
There are also several hybrid cars available in other markets:
Here is a list of some of the hybrid cars that are coming soon:
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