Audi Reveals New A8 Hybrid

Audi Reveals New A8 Hybrid

 A little over a year after the presentation of its A8 Hybrid Concept at the 2010 edition of the Geneva Salon, Audi is introducing the final production version of its frugal four-cylinder limousine, which goes on sale in 2012. 
Confirming our suspicions that the concept label was misleading, Audi made very few changes to the production model such as the smaller (18" instead of 21") but same design alloy wheels and the more conventional looking engine cover.  
There are no changes under the hood with the car featuring a parallel hybrid powertrain that combines a modified 2.0-liter turbocharged TFSI gasoline engine delivering 211HP and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque, with a disc-shaped electric motor that develops 40 kW (54HP) and 210 Nm (154.89 lb-ft).
Audi says the short-term system output is rated at 245-horsepower and 480 Nm (345.03 lb-ft) of torque.
The electric motor is mounted in the space usually occupied by the torque converter in front of the modified eight-speed tiptronic transmission, which guides power to the front wheels. Electric energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery, which weighs 36.7 kilograms (80.9 lb) and is located in a crash-proof area in the trunk.
In terms of performance, the A8 Hybrid goes from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph).

New Audi Generation Urban Sportback and Spyder Concept

New Audi Generation Urban Sport-back and Spider Concept

Audi has now unleashed a wave of computer generated images of its two-seat Urban Sport back and Spyder concept models, both of which will receive their world premiere at the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany. The German brand says the tiny pure-electric technical studies are not descended from any previous Audi model, and that their development "is based on the strict principles of lightweight construction, efficiency and reduction".The tiny concepts with the exposed 21-inch wheel wheels stretch 3,200mm long, 1,700mm wide and a mere 1,200mm tall. Propulsion comes courtesy of two e-tron electric motors that draw energy from a lithium-ion battery.To keep the weight down, Audi has used a mix of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer and aluminum to construct the two models.
The Urban Sportback model features a canopy that forms part of the body and slides up and to the rear to reveal a 1+1 seat layout with the passenger positioned back and to left of the driver.
In Spyder form, the concept does away with the sliding canopy but gains a pair of doors that open up diagonally along with a lowered windshield and continuous side window area.