The electric motor is positioned between the gasoline engine and the transmission, allowing for a seven-speed electric vehicle setup at times.
- The latest Audi A5 hybrid has the capability to travel up to 68 miles using only electric power.
- An electric motor is positioned between the 2.0-liter gasoline engine and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Audi It was evident when it stated that it would. invest in plug-in hybrids in the near future as Sales of its fully electric vehicles dropped sharply. last year. And the German luxury automaker is wasting no time in putting its strategy to work.
This is the new Audi A5 plug-in hybrid. Officially called the A5 e-hybrid, it comes hot on the heels of its smaller brother, the A3 PHEV , which was launched last year as one of the longest-range plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) in Europe.
The Audi A5 e-hybrid isn’t breaking any records when it comes to all-electric range, but it could still be a great choice for customers who aren’t sure they can transition to an all-electric lifestyle. In fact, the A5’s high-voltage battery is bigger than the original Nissan Leaf’s–and if this is not a testament to how much battery technology has advanced in the past decade, I don’t know what is.
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As a reminder, a plug-in hybrid vehicle uses a combustion engine and an electric motor that draws power from a high-voltage battery. In short, it’s quite a complicated setup that has the disadvantage of carrying around a heavy battery when driving using fuel. The inverse is also true, as you’re carrying around a combustion engine when driving on electric power.
All this being said, if you can charge the battery at home, a PHEV becomes a great choice for those who don’t want to accept DC fast chargers in their life, for whatever reason.
In the case of the Audi A5 e-hybrid, there’s a 248-horsepower 2.0-liter gasoline engine under the hood that’s mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. There’s a sedan and a wagon version, and both get Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system as standard. Additionally, there’s an electric motor sandwiched between the combustion lump and the transmission.
The e-motor develops up to 140 hp, and depending on the version, the maximum system output is either 295 hp or 362 hp. This means the most potent version of the A5 PHEV matches the sporty, V-6-powered Audi S6. By placing the electric motor between the gas engine and the transmission, it means drivers can use the company’s Quattro AWD system and all seven gears while driving on electricity.
The zero to 62 miles per hour (0-100 kilometers per hour) sprint is dealt with in 5.1 seconds for the most powerful version, while the 295 hp variant needs 5.9 seconds. Both can reach a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph).
Powering that e-motor is a 20.7-kilowatt-hour (25.9 kWh gross) lithium-ion battery pack that enables an all-electric range of up to 72 miles (116 kilometers) in the city, according to the WLTP cycle. In the WLTP combined cycle, Audi touts an all-electric range of up to 68 miles (110 km). By comparison, the original Nissan Leaf–the first true mass-produced EV–had a 21 kWh (24 kWh gross) battery and could travel for about 70-80 miles before needing a top-up.
Charging the high-voltage battery of the A5 PHEV can only be done from an AC source at up to 11 kW. That’s an upgrade from Audi’s previous-generation PHEVs that could only accept up to 7.4 kW. At full speed, the plug-in A5’s battery can go from zero to 100% state of charge in two and a half hours.
The German automaker said it went to great lengths to optimize the way its new hybrid setup works in the real world. Compared to the old A6 plug-in hybrid, the new A5 PHEV will try to drive as much as possible on electric power. The amount of power that can be recuperated while decelerating is also up from the previous iteration (88 kW) and there are multiple brake regen options available.
The vehicle features an auto mode which automatically modifies the regeneration rate based on navigation inputs and traffic sign recognition details. However, drivers have the option to manually adjust this setting through paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel, similar to setups found in certain electric vehicles. Drivers may choose among three different recovery settings as well as opt for a zero level where the car coasts upon lifting off the gas pedal.
The Audi A5 plug-in hybrid offers two modes: pure electric vehicle (EV) operation or hybrid function. Using the car’s multimedia interface, drivers have the option to keep their battery charged at a specific level or use the gasoline engine to recharge the battery during travel. When charging via the gas engine, the electric motor functions solely as a generator when traveling faster than 40 mph (65 km/h). Under full EV mode, the top speed is capped at 87 mph (140 km/h).
According to the WLTP efficiency figures, the new Audi A5 e-hybrid will get somewhere between 117 and 87 miles per gallon (2.0 - 2.7 liters/100 kilometers) with a full battery. Meanwhile, the weighted combined electric power consumption is between 4.1 and 3.9 miles/kWh (14.9 - 15.9 kWh/100 km). With an empty battery, the fuel economy takes a hit–between 37 and 31 mpg (6.3 - 7.4 l/100 km).
The Audi A5 e-Hybrid includes a standard electric air conditioning compressor and a resistive (PTC) heater. These components allow for pre-conditioning of the interior prior to departure, similar to what you'd find in an electric vehicle. Additionally, customers have the option to activate supplementary comfort functions such as seat heating, seat ventilation, heated steering wheel, and glass pane heating through the auxiliary air conditioning system. Furthermore, this model is equipped with a tri-zone automatic climate control system as a standard feature.
The base price for the Audi A5 Sedan e-Hybrid is $67,300 (€62,500), whereas the Avant variant begins at $69,000 (€64,150). For more powerful configurations, you'll pay starting at $76,300 (€70,900) for the sedan and $78,000 (€72,550) for the Avant. Orders can be placed beginning today across European markets, with shipments anticipated to commence next month. At this point, there has been no announcement regarding whether the A5 PHEV will hit U.S. dealerships; however, since the current-gen sedan remains available in America, it might eventually reach these shores as well. Don't get your hopes up too high though when it comes to the arrival of the Avant over here.
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