• The first plug-in hybrid from Audi, set for first customer arrivals in March 2015
• Up to 50km full electric range, with up to 940km combines petrol/electric range
• Versatile Audi A3 e-tron to be offered to Australian customers with a comprehensive installation program to ensure peace-of-mind

Hamilton Island is an all-electric island, with only buggies used to transport guests. So we are delighted to use this synergy with our biggest sailing and customer event of the year to debut the A3 e-tron in Australia," said Andrew Doyle, Managing Director of Audi Australia.

"The A3 e-tron is the first plug-in hybrid vehicle from Audi, and importantly, it gives our customers an innovative and extraordinarily efficient mobility solution, without compromising on any of the versatility that has made the new A3 Sportback such a success.

"You can commute each day in pure electric mode, up to 50km, and you only need to charge the battery overnight. If you want to drive a longer distance, then the combination of the electric motor and petrol engine together gives you the kind of range that people are accustomed to. It's an easy concept for customers to understand, which is why we've already seen such strong interest," said Mr Doyle.

The innovative drivetrain that powers the A3 e-tron comprises a 1.4 TFSI engine with 110 kW, a 75 kW electric motor and a newly developed six-speed S tronic with an integrated electric motor. System output is 150 kW, while maximum system torque is 350 Nm. The battery has a capacity of 8.8 kWh and can be fully charged in less than 2.5 hours.

The A3 e-tron delivers strong performance, accelerating to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and has a top speed of 222 km/h. In purely electric mode, top speed is limited to 130 km/h.

Fuel consumption (according to the ECE standard for plug-in hybrid vehicles) is just 1.6 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres – corresponding to CO2 emissions of 37 grams per kilometre. The compact five-door has a range of up to 50km in full electric mode, yet can cover up to 940km on a single charge and a full tank of fuel – meaning no compromises for owners who want to know that they can still take their vehicle for a weekend away.

The A3 e-tron is a true Audi, based on the five-door A3 Sportback. It can seat five people and accommodate 280 litres of luggage (or 1120 with the rear seats folded flat).

Like all other models in the A3 range, the A3 e-tron has been awarded the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

The A3 e-tron will be positioned as a premium vehicle within the A3 Sportback range, with indicative pricing of around $60,000 MLP. High levels of standard specification will include 17-inch alloy wheels, MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, Parking system plus with park assist and rear view camera, convenience key and dual-zone automatic climate controlled air conditioning.

In Australia, the A3 e-tron will be offered to customers with a standard home installation package that includes the fitting of a dedicated 240-volt, high-output 16-amp single-phase power outlet that allows the battery to be fully charged in under 2.5 hours. This work will be carried out by an Audi electrical partner, and in many cases, there will be no additional cost to the customer for this service.

Additionally, Audi Australia has partnered with Origin Energy, to purchase credits via the GreenPower government agency that is developing Australia's renewable energy resources around the country. With each new A3 e-tron, customers will receive a certificate that confirms up to the first 10,000km of electric driving has been offset by accredited renewable energy.

The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is planned for an Australian arrival in March 2015. It will be available to order in November, following a special customer test drive event, from 16 initial Audi e-tron dealers around Australia.

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The Audi Group delivered approximately 1,575,500 cars of the Audi brand to customers in 2013. As one of the most successful models, the Audi A3 has been awarded the title of "World Car of the Year 2014" by an international jury of journalists (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.1 – 3.2; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 165 – 85). In 2013, the company reported revenue of €49.9 billion and an operating profit of €5.03 billion. The company operates globally in more than 100 markets and has production facilities in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Gyor (Hungary), Brussels (Belgium), Bratislava (Slovakia), Martorell (Spain), Kaluga (Russia), Aurangabad (India), Changchun (China) and Jakarta (Indonesia). Since the end of 2013, the brand with the Four Rings has also been producing cars in Foshan (China). In 2015, Audi will start production in São José dos Pinhais (Brazil), followed by San José Chiapa (Mexico) in 2016. Wholly owned subsidiaries of AUDI AG include quattro GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy), the sports motorcycle manufacturer. The company currently employs more than 73,500 people worldwide, of which more than 52,500 in Germany. Total investment of around €22 billion is planned from 2014 to 2018 – primarily in new products and sustainable technologies. Audi is committed to its corporate responsibility and has anchored the principle of sustainability for its products and processes in its strategy. The long-term goal is CO2-neutral mobility.