Once a chore for well-established automakers to incorporate electrified powerplants in a realistic production vehicle, the task has become much easier in recent model years as high volume and even premium car builders have embraced the technology. In reality, optimizing electric vehicle technology is likely to be the only method for some automakers to meet fleet fuel economy regulations without drastically removing our favourite high fuel-consuming cars. Under the pressure of higher fuel prices than on North American roads, European auto companies have long been providing customers with smaller gasoline engines and longer-range diesel powerplants. However, the push for all-electric as well as electric-assist automobiles is receiving the same enthusiasm for promoting more fuel savings.

Since 2009, Audi has delighted the taste buds of green-conscious auto show goers with the promise of their e-tron technology to premium vehicle customers. Putting electric-sourced movement at the forefront of a future involving luxury-branded motoring, the latest Audi e-tron Spyder introduced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show is the best of everything a fan of the four-ring division would want.

Started as an all-electric showcase, Audi’s e-tron has begun to embrace the plug-in hybrid propulsion model. Chiefly moved by two electric motors mounted to the front axle through urban travel, 88 total horsepower drives the e-tron Spyder as far as 50 kilometers or 31 miles on a single charge. Under more performance-based driving experiences, the German auto company adds a twin-turbocharged, 3-liter TDI engine to back up the electric power. Setting the Audi concept vehicle in motion through 300 horsepower, this is the same TDI engine revealed on the European Audi A8 with a 50 horsepower boost. The Audi e-tron Spyder also providing “boosting“ under acceleration as the two electric motors shoots the car movement in concert with the turbocharged diesel engine. Combining 388 horsepower and a collective 739 pounds-feet of torque, the experimental sports car proposed by e-tron is estimated to send performance-seeking riders from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds. Using a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Audi e-tron Spyder maximizes performance and vehicle efficiency.

An urban-centric sport convertible, this latest Audi e-tron Spyder shows off a striking performance ambition. Within 13.32 foot in length by 5.94 feet in width, the Audi e-tron Spyder accomplishes a race car appearance inspired by the R8 LMS vehicle. Looking over the road with LED headlamps, the highly-aluminum Audi Space Frame is based around a mid-engined design configuration. Carbon fiber touches such as a spoiler and rear diffuser creates a sporty accent to the Audi e-tron Spyder’s outer surface. Hind side area engine cover allows the upper stack of the Audi TDI powerplant to poke through the Audi e-tron Spyder. Completing the theme of a thrilling street rod or race car, 20-inch aluminum wheels formulates into a turbine blade design. With the notable exception to the chopped windscreen, the Audi e-tron Spyder displays a consider production car grace.

Including the full-array of exterior lighting and wearing side view mirrors, the interior of the Audi e-tron Spyder is clean but practical. Given a light and breezy appearance with a gentle degree of curves, Audi’s sports car concept features two racing-inspired bucket seats. For a high-tech interior touch, the Audi MMI system is behind the comfort as well as entertainment in the snug spyder. Instead of the center-mounted control display, the Audi e-tron Spyder instrument panel embeds the MMI setup between gauges. The Audi MMI can be controlled either through the traditional center-mounted unit or via a touch-sensitive steering wheel panel.

Buying time before the first e-tron powered Audi joins cars for sale in the 2014 model year, Audi has begun selling the Audi A6 Hybrid sedan. Once released, the Audi e-tron sports car will not be alone in exploring the world of plug-in hybrid premium personal vehicles. A Chevrolet Volt-based Cadillac ELR and a BMW i8 are set for arrival in showrooms over the next several years.

Information and photo source: Audi AG

Higher end automotive are always under the test of social ideals and economic factors. Emerging as a challenge for future auto industry is limiting environmental impact. The reality of incorporating for fuel-efficient products into future vehicle line-ups is causing all luxury carmakers to envision their brand images much different forms.

While Mercedes-Benz allows the Smart car to advertise some type of more urban-directed content, BMW has most recently pressed the start of their electrified vehicle-oriented BMW i sub brand into the 2014 model year. For the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, American car company Cadillac explored more conservative proportions with their Urban Luxury Concept. In these cases, the premium carmakers, often challenged to prove their vehicles to be the best examples in the world, has risen to the occasion building smaller, lighter, fuel-efficient designs while preserving the best of their brand identity. Entering itself in a position to best what the world premium car industry has to offer, Audi will show up the latest edition in their e-tron electric vehicles in the smallest possible shape. Debuting a practical two-passenger concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show upcoming in September, the Audi Urban Concept car launches Audi onto an all-new wave of thought.

Existing in such a small confide the Urban Concept vehicle appears brilliantly relay common Audi exterior qualities. Though actual dimensions are not defined at this time, the Audi Urban Concept is certain to measure as one of the smallest design concept ever conceived by the Germany luxury brand. Likely to be more aesthetic than functional, the large simple front grille opening boldly holds the Audi rings. Primarily light silver exterior in the images issued by Audi, the Urban Concept is accented by a red stripe traveling upwards along each side of the vehicle. Massive 21-inch wheels complete the Audi Urban Concept further enhancing the sense of smallness for the design study.

Audi has been one of the leading auto brands in the implementation of lightweight technology throughout their product line. Relying on the properties of aluminum in creating the structure of current production vehicles, Audi ventures into design exploration with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) creating the small Urban Concept car. The use of CFRP applied to the small vehicle should guarantee a relatively feather-light existence compared to production cars.

Powerplant has only been announced as featuring two electric motors propelled by energy stored in a lithium-ion battery. Benefiting from Audi’s e-tron program, the range and speed of the Audi Urban Concept was yet to be provided ahead of the unveiling at Frankfurt.

Opening up the interior through the movement of a single panel, the Audi Urban Concept introduces an interesting cabin layout. Called a 1+1 seat vehicle, the passenger sits slightly further back than the driver‘s position. Providing the passenger with a performance feel, the design should also be helpful in furnishing a greater field of view to the driver of the Audi Urban Concept.

Audi fans and small car enthusiasts can expect more information on the Urban Concept design to be revealed at the Frankfurt exhibit.

Information and photo source: Audi AG

Audi displays the e-tron concept car at the Silvretta Rally. Obviously there isn’t an electric R8 and won’t be, but Audi used the R8 as a platform for the powertrain, which is being developed and will be implemented into future cars. Check out the video:

At the risk of reinforcing old school stereotypes, when it comes to cars girls do tend to be a little more interested in colour, interior and accessories, than engine, emissions and handling – with that in mind here’s our specially designed Audi guide for girls, with information on model preferences to suit mood, colour scheme and style.

Soft furnishings – Detroit showcase Audi e-tron

Women excel in the subject of soft furnishings; we love curtains, we love scatter cushions and we love rugs, but we also love style and expect this to extend to our cars. 2010 saw the launch of the Detroit showcase Audi e-tron car – which offers the epitome of sleek interior sophistication, all clean leather lines with a flush gear shift that emerges from the tunnel when the vehicle is started.

Vintage Chic – Audi Quattro Spyder

Proof that true style is timeless; the Quattro Spyder still looks current ten years after its release. Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1991, the flat sports coupé Quattro Spyder created quite a stir on the auto scene, but despite massive consumer interest only two prototypes were constructed – which means it’ll be a bit hard to compare car insurance should you ever manage to get your hands on one.

Kid friendly – Q5 and Q7

If there’s two of you in a relationship, women are generally lumbered with the ‘family’ / ‘sensible’ car when you have kids, with the man opting for the ‘almost sports’ car in a bid to retain his sense of freedom and adventure. Fear not ladies, the Audi Q5 and Q7 offer all the space and strength to contain and withstand the battery of small children, without the loss of the leather sports interior, air-con and ten-speaker stereo system.

Cutting edge – R8 TDI Le Mans Concept

It’s a very basic, yet hotly denied, fact that we all judge on first looks – meaning you’ve got to make a good impression immediately or suffer at the hands of consequence forever more. As a woman I want my car to stand out not just because it’s bright pink, but also because it’s god damn handsome – and how much more handsome can you get than the R8 TDI Le Mans Concept which is described as having ‘muscular proportions, accentuated wheel arches and even larger air apertures’…?

Complete coordination – all models

I don’t want a sales man to tell me that a car only comes in one colour – if you’re buying an Audi straight from the factory you can pretty much have whatever colour you want, for a few extra pounds of course. Which means if you really want a pink car – you can, and if you always dreamed of a cool chrome car, dream no more.

Audi is working especially hard recently to bring electric power to their lineup. Initially, we thought the launch of the e-tron electric sports car was a one model deal, but it turns out Audi is calling “e-tron” their “brand name for electric mobility.” The electric sports car they showed will be launched first, in late 2012 in limited numbers, but will be followed by other models powered by an electric powertrain.

The Audi A1 e-tron, for example, will likely be the next step. Audi is calling the A1 e-tron a “Mega City Vehicle,” and with a power output of 102 hp, gets 31 miles out of its electric motor. A small rotary engine serves as a range extender, giving the A1 e-tron an extra 124 miles. Audi says the car will get around 124 mpg with both the gasoline and electric motors.

Audi is also applying the electric concept to developing full hybrid vehicles. The Audi Q5 hybrid will be on the market as early as late 2010, and the A8 hybrid in being displayed as you read this at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The A8 Hybrid Concept is more of an engineering study than a preview, but the idea is solid. The concept car is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo engine, and along with the electric motor, gets an output of 245 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

At the 2010 Detroit Auto Show earlier this week, Audi won two separate awards for two models on display.

The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron was given the prestigious “Best in Show” award, which was described by Autoweek editor Wes Raynal as being “almost a unanimous decision” with the Autoweek editors.

The “Award for Design Excellence” went to the Audi A8, which is the second consecutive year Audi won the award (last year it went to the A5 Sportback.)

Congrats to Audi for the awards, they’ve been innovating non-stop for the last few years, and I can’t think of another car maker that deserves the recognition as much as them.

When Audi unveiled the e-tron electric supercar back in September, they said the car produces 3,319 lb-ft of torque, which is an incredibly massive amount. What Audi didn’t tell us is that this number was measured at the wheels instead of the engine, where all other car’s torque numbers are rated.

The torque rating at the engine: 501.5 lb-ft – still an impressive number, but nowhere near the 3,319 lb-ft we were told.

So how did Audi arrive at the huge torque rating in the first place? Even though Audi themselves don’t rate any other car’s torque rating at the wheels, they said using wheel torque numbers are a “more accurate indication of how electric motors deliver power.” This is true – it is a more accurate reading for electric cars, but the problem is that nearly every car can deliver gobs of torque at the wheels; we have to compare apples to apples and use a universal system for ratings.

The problem we’re seeing here is that we are still using the same rating systems for alternative energy cars as we’ve always used for internal combustion engines. Now that we have hybrids, electric cars, and even hydrogen cells powering our cars down the road, the rating systems of the past simply aren’t going to work anymore. The upcoming Chevy Volt Hybrid, for example, can travel up to 40 miles without burning a drop of gasoline. After that, the gas engine comes on to recharge the electric motors. So if your daily commute is less than 40 miles, you’re not using a drop of fuel. If it’s longer than that, you are. How can you accurately rate the MPGs of a car like that while still being fair? You can’t. We need to come up with a better system for ratings now that people are buying alternative fuel-powered cars.

We’ve seen the Audi e-tron electric supercar in red since the Frankfurt Motor Show, but Audi just repainted it orange and brought it to the 2009 LA Auto Show for North America.

As you know, the e-tron sports four motors – one on each wheel – and creates only 313 horsepower, but an incredible 3,319 lb-ft of torque. This allows the e-tron to travel from 0 to 62 mpg in 4.8 seconds – a decent number – and 37 to 75 mph in 4.1 seconds, much more impressive. The top speed is limited to 124 mph, probably to stop the batteries from discharging too quickly.

The e-tron resembles the R8 in appearance, but Audi assures us the resemblance is in spirit only. They built the e-tron from the ground up, but gave it a similar look to convey its high performance characteristics. I’m really interested to see what this thing will really be able to do once we start seeing them “in limited production” in 2012.

Check out the photo gallery below:

Just-added photos of the orange colored e-tron courtesy of Autoblog and Wired.

Audi R4 Electric Roadster

Audi’s e-Tron Electric Supercar Concept made a big splash at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and as a result, Audi has plans to move forward with their plans to build electric cars. The first car to be built is a sort of “mini-R8″ roadster supercar to compete with the Tesla Roadster called the R4.

The Audi R4 is expected to have a similar one-motor-per-wheel layout as the e-Tron Concept, and since it will be using the e-Tron’s powertrain, will likely produce the same 313 horsepower and incredible 3,319 lb-ft of torque, which will propel the car from 0 to 60 mph in around 4.8 seconds. The production R4 will likely be accompanied by gasoline-powered variants, most likely using the Audi TT-RS‘s 335 hp 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine.

The Audi R4, based o nthe above renderings, is very sharp-looking, taking design cues from the e-Tron Concept but moving away from the R8 shape into a more production-likely body style. The jagged C-shaped LED headlights look especially menacing, and of course we see the signature Audi grille up front.

The R4 roadster will probably sit on a modified version of Porsche’s next generation Boxster and Cayman platform, meaning the R4 will be smaller than the R8 supercar but larger than the Audi TT. Price is far from being announced, but consider the electric version of the R4 to compete with the Tesla Roadster, which starts at around $110,000. Expect to see the production R4 on the road as early as 2012.

source: AutoExpress

Audi e-tron Electric Supercar

The much-talked-about Audi e-tron electric supercar has officially moved from our “Concept Cars” section to our “Future Cars” section. Know what that means? Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen confirmed the car will make production, stating “I expect we will see running examples in the next 24 months,” meaning that’s about when we’ll start seeing spy shots of the car.

The Audi e-tron boasts 313 horsepower and an incredible 3,319 lb-ft of torque, which can scoot the electric supercar from 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds. Not an incredibly quick number for a supercar, but considering the instantaneous torque and individually-powered wheels, I’m betting it will handle like a go-kart on rails and carry some serious speed through corners. Acceleration-induced whiplash is likely.

No word on price, of course, but expect it to be into the six-figure range when it hits the showrooms in late 2012 as a 2013 model (estimate.)