Electric avalanche

Audi's electric concept spits mountains of torque from the get-go. Photo / Supplied

The world may be emerging from a recession, but it's still the automotive silly season, with the Detroit Motor Show just over and Geneva in the wings.

Hence Audi's dance of the seven reveals, with news of its A1 progressively "leaking" to the world's media prior to its official debut.

A little city car with attitude, and based on VW Polo underpinnings, it's pitched at Mini and Alfa Mito buyers - with funky details such as the choice of roof colours, with plentiful links to Audi's headliner cars like its LED light flourishes.

The A1 is primarily aimed at the European market, but Audi took a different approach for Detroit to suit the US auto industry's newly serious focus. It showed a lighter, smaller development of its e-tron electric sports concept. More compact than the TT, its taut lines hide two electric motors driving the rear wheels and delivering a combined output of 150kW and a staggering 2650Nm.

Rocket propulsion? Not quite. Electric motors deliver avalanches of torque from rest but run out of puff as soon as the revs rise, and zero to 100km/h is accomplished in 5.9 seconds.

Traction is supplied by a torque vectoring system that sends urge to whichever wheel has grip, while the low-mounted mechanicals drop the weight and deliver a go-kart-style driving experience, according to Audi.

e-tron's headlights feature an inbuilt camera which reads weather conditions and oncoming traffic. If there's a car coming, the appropriate section of the high beam light turns off; if it's foggy, the light beam automatically flattens and lowers. Such tech concepts could reach production - and so could this car, for a second e-tron so soon after the first suggests Audi is serious about a future affordable electric sports car.