A car for Doc

[Mehen]

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Audi_News/article_3539.shtml

The drive unit for the metroproject quattro showcases a fully independent, innovative hybrid technology. At work under the bonnet is a 1.4.litre TFSI engine developing 110 kW (150 bhp), whose power is directed to the front wheels by means of the S-tronic Direct Shift Gearbox. A 30 kW (41 bhp) electric motor positioned on the rear axle is able to deliver up to an additional 200 Nm of torque when the vehicle is accelerating. When boosting, in other words driving the vehicle simultaneously by TFSI and electric motor to achieve a dynamic driving style, the study is transformed from a front-wheel-drive car to a quattro, and power is transferred to the road in the most effective way possible.

[Dr Mordrid]

This is a conventional hybrid where one drive line assists the other with much of the IC's power being dissipated by losses in the mechanical drive line; friction etc.

I'd prefer an all-electric or series hybrid that uses 100% electric drive because you get full torque from 0 RPM and there are few mechanical losses. In short they take off like a shot and accelerate at speed like they have an afterburner.

IC's and conventional hybrids cannot do that.

[ND66]

Seems like a bastard child of an Audi & Mini Cooper ...

.

[Brian Ellis]

Actually, a rather stupid design, because, when braking, most of the energy is dissipated in the front. If the motor/generator is coupled to the back wheels, you won't get optimum regeneration because of the thermal losses in the front brakes (unless they make the front brakes very weak, so that the car is dragged to a stop from the rear: OUCH!)

OTOH, a VERY cheap hybrid.

[cjolley]

That is so lame.
This is the car for Doc: