Via CleanTechnica:
I didn’t really hide my distaste for the Audi A3 e-Tron compared to a fully electric car when I reviewed the A3 e-Tron last year, but I admitted that I was mostly spoiled from my test drive of the Renault Zoe and the typically superior torqueness of fully electric cars.
The A3 e-Tron, if you’re set on a vehicle with gasoline support and are for some reason turned off by the Chevy Volt and BMW i3 REx, is actually a pretty dern good vehicle. (Well, that claim is coming from someone who has historically liked the design of Audis.)
The Audi A3 e-Tron has a pretty comfortable, luxurious interior, looks great on the outside, and does have some electric range. Apparently, many buyers are sold on these features (and maybe others) as well. Audi has announced that 2% (1 out of every 50) Audi cars sold in the US is an A3 e-Tron.
I know, 2% isn’t cause to shoot fireworks from the roof, but it’s above the overall US EV market share (which is under 1%), and it could well be a bit of a surprise to Audi. Will it inspire Audi dealers to put more confidence into the A3 e-Tron’s qualities? Will it drive more and more A3 e-Tron sales? Will these passengers move on to a Volt, i3, or Model 3 in a few years, after a taste of electric drive? Will the success lead to Audi pushing out more electric models? We’ll see … well, we’ll try to examine the tea leaves as they fall.
Photo by RobGreen via Foter.com / CC BY-SA
