L.A. Auto Show 2015: 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

Nov. 18, 2015 3:50 PM PT

What it is

Audi is jumping deeper into the hybrid segment. Seen as a precursor to a 2018 all-electric plug in, this vehicle is part of the German car company’s 10-year commitment to alternative-fuel technology.

Why it matters

The Tesla Model 3 is coming. The Chevy Bolt is coming. There’s a lot of energy in plug-in, zero-emission, electric vehicles. While this is a plug-in hybrid, Audi is signaling its intention to be a player in the battery electric world.

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What's new

Audi is putting some performance behind this hybrid. The Sportback e-tron will feature a combination dual-engine combination of a 1.4-liter turbocharged gas engine and liquid-cooled electric motor that together make 204 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque.

The competition

There aren’t that many $38,000 plug-in hybrids on the market, nor many that offer Audi-level luxury. This one will go up against the BMW and Mercedes versions.

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The details

Powertrain: Plug-in hybrid gas-electric

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Fuel economy: Estimated 33 city/37 highway/35 combined

Horsepower: 204

Torque: 258

Autos

Charles Fleming

Charles Fleming writes about automobiles and motorcycles for the Los Angeles Times’ Business section. He also writes the urban hiking column LA Walks. A former staff writer for Newsweek, Variety and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, he is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller “High Concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess,” the New York Times bestseller “My Lobotomy,” and “Secret Stairs, A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles” and its sequel, “Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles.”