Audi's A1 Sportback hybrid concept surfaces
Audi confirmed its pure electric automobile plans earlier this month, and now the automaker's back with yet another green vehicle based on its A1 hybrid concept. In hybrid mode the five door "sportback" (sporty!) will go from 0-62 MPH in 7.9 seconds, reach a top speed of 124 MPH and squeeze up to 72.4 miles from a gallon of fuel. When in electric mode, however, the vehicle will take you more than 60 miles on a single charge. The adjustable drivetrain / drive shaft / shock absorber system allows drivers to choose between two modes: sport mode (for optimum acceleration) and efficiency mode. The latter not only makes best use of the lithium-ion battery but also ties into the vehicle's on-board navigation, taking your route (and the car's altitude) into consideration when computing things like power usage and regeneration phases. The A1 also allows select cellphones to act as a mobile control unit for WLAN access to the vehicle's navigation, audio and remote monitoring of the security system. For more juicy details -- and some pics -- hit that read link.
[Via Inhabitat]
