AUDI A3 e-tron (electric car) details and pricing

The Audi A3 e-tron Sportback plug-in hybrid will be released in Europe this winter starting at €37,900 (about $51,500 US). Other sources state that at the US launch prices may be much less than the $51,500 exchange rate, much closer to low $40K US. European countries tend to have higher taxes on vehicles therefore the conversion of € to $ is for comparison purposes only.
Power comes from a 1.4 liter gas engine with an electric motor producing 204 hp and 258 lb/ft of torque. The A3 e-tron will do 0-60 MPH (97 km/h) in 7.6 seconds, with a top speed of 138 MPH (222 km/h). It's power is transmitted to the front wheels via an Audi DSG paddle shifted unit called the e-S tronic (a six-speed dual-clutch transmission). The A3 e-tron can travel around 30 miles (48 km) at a top speed of 80 mph (129 km/h) on electric power alone using its 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery.
"To deal with the stresses of stop/start technology, the 1.4-liter engine uses coated pistons and bearings to ensure it is protected even when called into action from cold, while the electric motor is liquid cooled to protect against overheating."
The A3 e-tron should be US bound by sometime in the middle of next year after its European launch
 


Full article on Gas2.org link: http://gas2.org/2014/06/27/audi-a3-e-tron-priced-at-51500-in-europe/
Full Car&Driver article: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/audi-a3-e-tron-concept-photos-and-info-news-1
All images from Audi.com: http://www.audiusa.com/innovation/efficiency/e-tron