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"  Remember Audi&amp;#039;s outrageous e-tron Concept? The R8-inspired supercar project claimed a locomotive-like 3,319 lb-ft of torque, a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds, and 134 miles of range\u2014and like many pie-in-the-sky concepts, the low-slung EV proved too futuristic for production. Fast forward to the upcoming 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer will be displaying their latest interpretation of e-tron technology, only this time it&amp;#039;s far more feasibly packaged. Beneath the otherwise pedestrian exterior of the A3 5-door hatchback is a plug-in hybrid drivetrain producing 204 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, which should scoot it to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds. The internal combustion portion of the proceedings is provided by a 1.4-liter, 150 hp TFSI powerplant, while remaining oomph is augmented by a 75 kW electric motor. In all-electric mode, this particular A3 is capable of achieving a hair over 80 mph, while covering a maximum range of 31 miles under EV propulsion... but here&amp;#039;s the kicker: US fuel consumption is estimated at a positively moped-like 156.81 mpg. Will the A3 e-tron become a reality? While John Pearley Huffman&amp;#039;s 2009 test drive of the supercar concept left more questions than answers (and made a projected late 2012 launch seem rather unlikely) Glenn Derene&amp;#039;s more recent scoot around Manhattan in an all-electric A3 e-Tron suggests this pipsqueak hatchback actually feels like an Audi, and has a decent chance of making production. So while Audi won&amp;#039;t be taking the EV supercar route to future propulsion (a la Mercedes-Benz&amp;#039;s SLS AMG Electric Drive), perhaps a production A3 e-tron will pave the way for future Audi exotics. Related: Audi e-tron Supercar Concept Test Drive, Audi A3 e-tron Test Drive "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a8663/geneva-preview-audi-e-tron-gets-sensible-with-153-mpg-a3/>