Plug-in Audi A3 pricing announced

Audi has announced official pricing for the A3 Sportback e-tron, the company's plug-in hybrid small hatch.

And the good news is that at $62,490 it remains below the new Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold of $63,184. Since the Audi is a sub-7.0L/100km car, that effectively allows nearly $13,000 of free play for options without incurring the tax.

But it's about $2500 higher than Audi's own estimation of its landed price when we first drove the A3 e-tron a year ago. At the time, Audi indicated the price of the A3 e-tron would be in the same ballpark as the S3, which was $59,990 back then.

Since then the Aussie dollar has lost ground against the Euro. While the price of the A3 e-tron is $2500 higher than expected in 2014, its price converted to the Euro is only €500 higher – about AUD $750 more – and presumably set at this level to allow for a further weakening of the Aussie dollar.

Included in the purchase price of the A3 Sportback e-tron is a home installation package with work carried out by a licensed electrician. A 230-Volt, 16-Amp plug will be installed for faster charging of the A3 Sportback e-tron at home. The normal amperage for a domestic plug is 10 Amps. Domestic appliances can run safely from the 16-Amp plug also. According to Audi, the 16-Amp plug will reduce recharging time to 2.5 hours.

Also thrown in as part of the deal, Audi Australia and Origin Energy certify the first 10,000km of driving the A3 e-tron is offset by renewable energy.

Pricing for the A3 e-tron may not be a critical issue now that the Holden Volt has been discontinued, and GM has not announced a right-hand drive version of the new model.

The A3 Sportback e-tron comes to market offering a longer range than the Volt: 920km combined, with a 50km range in pure battery mode. Boasting a 0-100km/h time of 7.6 seconds, the petrol/electric A3 features a 1.4-litre TFSI engine rated at 110kW and a 75kW electric motor working independently or together through a six-speed dual-clutch (S tronic) transmission. Top speed is 222km/h, or 130km/h in EV mode alone. Total system output is 150 kW, Audi claims, and maximum torque from both drive units combined is 350 Nm. The A3 Sportback e-tron runs an 8.8kWh battery and its fuel consumption figure is 1.6L/100km.

Luggage capacity is 280 litres with the rear seat upright, and with seven airbags fitted the A3 Sportback e-tron is a five-star ANCAP-rated vehicle like other A3 models in the range.

Standard features for the A3 Sportback e-tron comprise: Audi drive select, Audi Parking system plus – front and rear parking sensors with rear view camera and park assist, LED headlights/LED daytime running lights, Convenience key, Sport front seats with leather upholstery, Multi-function leather sport steering wheel with shift paddles, Audi Music Interface, Bluetooth with audio streaming and Digital radio (DAB+) and MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch (7.0-inch retractable WVGA screen, DVD player, 2 x SDHC memory card readers, voice control,  20 GB HDD storage).

"The A3 Sportback e-tron is the first plug-in hybrid vehicle from Audi, and importantly, it gives our customers an innovative and extraordinarily efficient mobility solution, without compromising on any of the versatility that has made the new A3 Sportback such a success," said Andrew Doyle, Managing Director of Audi Australia.

"Urban dwellers can commute each day in pure electric mode, and you only need to charge the battery overnight. If you want to drive a longer distance, then the combination of the electric motor and petrol engine together gives you the kind of range that people are accustomed to.

It's an easy concept for customers to understand, which is why we've already seen such strong interest," Doyle was quoted saying in a press release.