Audi's A1 (Auto Union Deutschland Ingolstadt) e-Tron drive

German comfort product looks to its history for the future of its A1 e-Tron city car.

Six kilometers is not actually that far to make a careful estimate of a car. But when you are talking about Audi's A1 e-Tron, every instant has to count. The very small electric prototype is still some way from a manufacture green light, but subsequent to our brief example of the car in Japan it's tough to consider that it won't go on deal tomorrow. Its external is essentially the same as its conventional-engine A1 donor car apart from efficient red 'eyeliner' within the headlights, slight 'e-Tron' badging and promotional graphics that propose that it's something but conventional.

The A1 e-Tron's exchange powertrain is simply understandable when a recharging cable is plugged in at the back of the badge on the snout of the car. After the wheel, the driver is greeted by a recognizable, classy A1 rush awaiting the start button is pressed when nothing seems to occur. Like other exciting cars, there's no appetizer coast to crank over, cylinders in the direction of fire or the noise and trembling that goes along with interior burning engines. As an alternative, the car just bells in readiness and the dash lights come to life to make known slightly different readings.

There's the common speed readout, but replace the tachometer is a power meter that effectively swings with strangle input. Some may compare it to Holden's short-lived fuel vacuum gauge establish in early model Commodores and Geminis. Under the cap lies an electric motor that incessantly delivers 45kW of authority and a peak of 75kW for tiny break open to the front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission. The e-tron's 240Nm of torque is accessible as soon as you put your foot down, recurring satisfying performance from an idle.

The A1 e-Tron also feels more rapidly than its official 0-100km/h time of 10.2 seconds suggests, with an easy ability to climb a closed section of Japan's famous Toyo Tyres Turn Pike in Hakone. Its electrically restricted top speed of 130km/h also arrives in no time. Weighing a reputable 1190 kilograms (or 50kg more than the next heaviest A1), the e-Tron is a neat handler through corners to keep still keener drivers paying attention, even though its steering feels lighter than other A1s.