• The new Audi A3 TFSI e has gone on sale this week. The new turbocharged petrol engine and the electric motor with increased power density are at the heart of the drive system. The 1.5 TFSI evo2 replaces the previous 1.4 TFSI and boasts a wide range of high-tech features. The electric drive is provided by a permanently excited synchronous motor, which now delivers 85kW (115PS). As with its predecessor, it is integrated into the housing of the six-speed S tronic, which is now equipped with a more robust gearbox bearing to cope with the higher system output.

    The gross capacity of the high-voltage battery is now 25.7kWh and has, therefore, almost doubled with nearly identical physical dimensions to the predecessor model. The net capacity is 19.7kWh. Its 96 prismatic cells, which are divided into four modules, store almost 50 percent more energy than before. Thanks to optimized cell chemistry and better packaging, the charge quantity of the modules is now 73 instead of 37 ampere hours. The developers have thus increased the electric range to up to 88 miles on the WLTP cycle. A dedicated cooling circuit ensures the battery temperature is maintained in the optimum range.

    Like the rest of the A3 lineup, the plug-in hybrid powertrain is offered in Sport, S line, and Black Edition specifications. Pricing for the new 40 TFSI e models start at £39,150 (OTR).

     
  • Renault unveiled the new Renault 4 E-Tech 100% electric this week at the 2024 Paris Motor Show. 

    Larger than the Renault 5 (with which it shares 68% of its components), the Renault 4 E-Tech 100% electric offers impressive interior space thanks to its extended 2.62m wheelbase. At 4.14m in length, rear seat occupants benefit from 16.4cm of knee room, while headroom of 85.3cm is particularly generous for a B-segment vehicle.

    Two powertrains are available, both of which are equipped with a heat pump to maximise their efficiency as well as bidirectional charging with V2L (vehicle-to-load) and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) functionality that can power external devices from the battery or feed electricity back into the grid as necessary.

    The Renault 4 E-Tech 100% electric is planned to arrive in the UK in the middle of 2025, with specification and prices to be announced earlier in 2025.