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Audi looking for Tesla-style, non-traditional way to sell EVs

As part of Audi's notable EV emphasis at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week, there was a bit of a secondary discussion on just how the automaker might get to the point where 25 percent of all of its sales would be electric vehicles. After all, no major automaker has figured out how to crack into the double-digit percentage of plug-in vehicle sales. The problem might be, as The New York Times noted recently, that traditional dealerships just don't know how to sell EVs. While no one at Audi was saying that the automaker is going to open up its own EV stores, like Tesla has, but two Audi of America executives were certainly warm to a different style of how an automaker can encourage EV sales. Filip Brabec, AoA's director of product management, said that Audi is at least considering making changes, including some sort of different dealership experience and perhaps a new kind of test drive. "The traditional automotive approach is not necessarily working," Brabec said. "A lot of it has to do with the complexity of the product and the complexity of the offer and it's difficult, I think, to bring that into a classical dealership and sort of treat is as another car and off we go. I think there needs to be some differences in how we go in the future." AoA president Scott Keogh said that Tesla has shown the rest of the industry how to make selling EVs a complete experience. It's not just about the car, he acknowledged. "I think we have to give Tesla credit where it's deserved," he said. "I think the charging network, at least from a public relations point of view, is quite strong and that's definitely added to the message." So many automakers want to have that, "Tesla fighter," as we've heard over and over recently, but Keogh hinted that Audi could do a better job than Tesla is doing today. "I think they've done a good job of looking at the full package. I think we have some resources and the network and everything else that we can put a fuller package together." The most important part is getting people into the cars, Brabec said. "I think exposing consumers to EVs, letting them experience EVs is another big aspect, and probably different than we have today, because test driving a car today is a very conventional thing. It's probably not going to be as conventional with EVs, particularly if you've never been in one before." We can't wait.

Audi teases E-Tron Sportback concept for Shanghai

Auto Shanghai is just around the corner, and Audi will be there with a new electrified vehicle concept. Audi isn't saying much about the car, called the E-Tron Sportback, but it has released a couple teaser shots as well as a handful of design sketches to give us a glimpse of what to expect later this week. In one image, Audi design boss Marc Lichte lifts up a corner of the sheet to show part of the E-Tron Sportback's front fascia. We see an illuminated Audi logo glowing through the fabric, and detail shots show that feature duplicated on the rear of the vehicle. The car's large wheels are pushed far to the corners, adding a squat, muscular look to its coupe-like silhouette. The slender side mirrors in the sketch mimic the slim look of the headlights. Rear lighting stretches across the back of the vehicle below the liftgate. While the "E-Tron" moniker clues us in to the car's green sensibilities, it doesn't necessarily mean that it will be purely powered by electricity – recall the A3 E-Tron PHEV. The lack of a visible tailpipe in photos or sketches, though, suggests that a proper battery electric vehicle is a likelihood for this concept. That would fit with Audi's plans to release more EVs in the future, following the launch of an E-Tron SUV. Hopefully we'll get more details about the luxury brand's electric future when the E-Tron Sportback concept gets its debut later this week. Related Video: Featured Gallery Audi E-Tron Sportback Concept Teaser News Source: Audi via Electrek Green Audi Green Automakers Concept Cars Electric e-tron

Favorite vehicles of 2017

The Autoblog staff has driven a lot of vehicles in 2017. This video showcases our favorite vehicles from this year, along with some thoughts on why they made the list. Wanna read more head over to https://www.autoblog.com/photos/best-drivers-cars-2017/ Aston Martin Audi Ford Jeep Lexus Porsche Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video porsche macan lexus lc 500 macan wrangler r8 Arts and Entertainment