Starting in 2013, as part of a new eco-friendly 'balanced mobility' initiative, Audi is expected to launch a limited production run of both the all-electric A1 e-tron, and new gas-powered A3 'e-gas'. But, unlike its closest competitors, the leading-edge Audi A3 e-gas will be powered neither by hydrogen nor electricity. Rather, it will run on a synthetic natural gas created from purpose-built, off-shore wind farms.

Initially slated to run at only 1,500 units, the new, convention-breaking Audi A3 e-gas will feature a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with 109bph and two fuel tanks (one each for gas and petrol) that offer performance comparable to the 1.2-liter TSI petrol fitted in the A1. In addition, it will be fitted with a compressed natural gas (CNG) unit expected to lend an adrenaline-priming top speed of roughly 118 mph, and an expected range of over 250 miles (not including the additional mileage made possible by the standard petrol tank).

In terms of carbon footprint: Audi's 'e-gas' approach reduces wheel-to-wheel emissions by up to 85 percent compared to their current lineup of gas-powered vehicles. However, before they even begin to build the new A3 e-gas, Audi is first developing a new facility dedicated solely to e-gas car production... a good sign of more e-gas models to come.

"It's early days for the project," says Michael Dick, Technical Development Director, Audi. "..But in the next few months and years, eventually, we'll have a CO₂ neutral assessment for every new Audi."¹

Benefits of Natural-Gas Powered Cars

-    Far cleaner than petrol
-    Easier to produce and distribute than hydrogen
-    Technology employed doesn't increase weight and reduce performance as electrics batteries can

If you're interested in learning more about the forthcoming Audi A3 e-gas, stay tuned. Fred Lavery Company in Birmingham, MI is dedicated to keeping you informed.

 

Source: ¹ http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/267805/audi_unveils_gaspowered_a3.html