After Audi presented deep updates for the A3 and S3, the debuting A3 allstreet now arrives, standing out from the other versions with its off-road design personality and increased ground clearance.
The new A3 allstreet plug-in hybrid expands Audi’s crossover offering, combining the new 1.5-liter TFSI evo2 turbo gasoline engine with 1150 hp and 250 Nm of torque with an electric motor producing 116 hp and 330 Nm of torque.
The combustion engine and the synchronous electric motor provide a combined power of 204 hp and a maximum torque of 350 Nm, allowing Audi to announce excellent on-road performance for the crossover. The A3 allstreet 40 TFSIe reaches a top speed of 225 km/h and operates in fully electric mode up to 140 km/h.
Powering the electric motor is a high-voltage battery that integrates 96 prismatic cells, each with a charging capacity of 73 ampere-hours, and a total capacity of 25.7 kWh (19.7 kWh usable), allowing for a claimed electric-only range of about 140 kilometers in the WLTP cycle.
In terms of charging, the A3 uses DC charging up to 50 kW, allowing a depleted battery to recover from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes.
It is also possible to perform three-phase charging up to 11 kW at AC charging points, such as a wallbox or a public charging station: the process will take 2.5 hours. The necessary Mode 3 cable is included as standard equipment.
The driving management of this new plug-in hybrid from Audi has been designed to allow the driver to prioritize electric driving by pressing the EV button on the control panel or through the multimedia interface (MMI), enabling them to drive like in a fully electric model.
The main driving mode, “Auto Hybrid,” makes balanced use of the combustion engine and the electric motor. This mode utilizes purely electric driving at low speeds, prioritizes the TFSI engine at higher speeds, and combines both engines whenever necessary.
Additionally, the hybrid management system also allows for maintaining a consistent battery charge level, ensuring that a sufficient amount of electric energy is reserved for future use, such as driving in a low-emission zone.
Just like the conventional engine version of the crossover, the A3 allstreet TFSIe is 15 millimeters taller than the A3 Sportback and has an additional 30 millimeters of ground clearance.
The striking lines around the wheel arches highlight the standard 17-inch wheels. Furthermore, Audi engineers have refined the spring/damper configuration for the plug-in hybrid version of the A3 allstreet, as more weight now rests on the rear axle (55% at the front and 45% at the back), resulting from the placement of the lithium-ion battery underneath the floor, beneath the rear seat.
In combination with the electromechanical steering, which offers excellent directional precision at high speeds and lightness when parking, the A3 allstreet TFSIe is also optionally available with progressive steering that has a variable ratio depending on the steering angle.
Audi has already revealed that the A3 allstreet 40 TFSIe plug-in hybrid is available for order starting in mid-November, with a price starting at €47,834.