In order to keep its e-high rolling, Audi has created yet another pretty and efficient vehicle for Paris: the e-tron Spyder. Audi's latest plug-in no-top is powered by a 300-horse 3.0-liter V6 TDI outfitted with two turbochargers and two 88-horsepower / 64 kW electric motors; the results are impressive, to say the least.

The e-tron system in this car will help it hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds on its way to a limited 250 km/h (155 mph), provide an all-electric range of 31 miles, return a combined 128.4 mpg, and only pollute your air with 59 g of CO2 per kilometer. Total range is 621 miles for the 1,450-kg car.

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Well surprise, surprise. Do my eyes deceive me or did Audi just take a swing at the WRC? Hidden at corner at Audi's Paris Show stand, is this scale model of the Quattro Concept in rally guise hinting at the possibility of Audi returning to the dirt/snow/tarmac stage that made the four rings what they are today. Who knows, maybe it's just there to look cool (but my fingers and toes are crossed).

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Interested in seeing vids of the new 'anniversarious' Audi quattro concept? You know you are, and we aim to please. As a brief recap, you should know that this RS5-based concept is powered by a 408-horsepower inline-five displacing 2.5 liters that spins all four wheels through a 6-speed stick.

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Audi has finally revealed its 'quattro concept' in Paris to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original car's 1980 debut. The new quattro, much like the original, gets driven around the rally stages of your dreams by a turbocharged 5-cylinder.

In this case, though, the 2.5-liter unit makes 408-horsepower / 300 kW and uses a 6-speed manual transmission to drive all four 20-inch wheels with 480 Nm / 354 lb-ft. Behind the center-locking dubs are carbon-ceramic discs wearing 6-piston grippers.

With its high-output 5-pot and diet, the new quattro is said to be able to spring to 100 km/h / 62 mph in a scant 3.9 seconds and return a fuel economy of 8.5 liters/100 km (27.67 mpg US).

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Much like flying cars, the notion of amphibious automobiles has been embedded in the public's collective conscious for ages. Now, with the Audi Hydron, artist David Cardoso has re-imagined the 'automoboat' as a proper (if futuristic) car that can also be comfortable on the water.

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Making its debut at the Swiss international auto show is the Audi A8 Hybrid. Even though its officially billed as a study, the gasoline-electric hybrid version of the 2011 A8, which itself just broke cover a few months ago, is scheduled to enter production next year.

The A8 Hybrid is a good example of Audi's downsizing philosophy mating a 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder gasoline engine with 211HP and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) to an electric motor delivering 45HP and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque.

Audi says that the system's combined output is 245HP and 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft) of torque. Since the numbers don't add up, we're assume that the electric motor's output is limited when combined with the TSI.

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In a move that suggests Audi is looking to create a new tag for its zero-emission electric vehicles, the German firm unveiled the third member of the 'e-tron' concept family after the Frankfurt Show high-performance AWD supercar and the Detroit Show compact RWD two-seater concept.

This time, the 'e-tron' treatment was applied on Audi's spanking-new A1 premium supermini that uses a front-mounted electric motor producing 102HP and 240Nm to drive the wheels with a 254cc single-rotor Wankel engine that runs at 5,000 rpm, kicking in to charge the lithium-ion batteries when they are depleted.

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Not to be a one-trick pony, Audi has more than a few more realistic cars up its sleeve for the near future. Most important for consumers' immediate future will be Audi's Q5 hybrid, set to go on sale late 2010 or early 2011.

It's touted as "the first Audi with a combination of gasoline engine and electric motor". Cool, but far from thrilling. Next up, for the executive hippie segment, is the world debut of the marque's A8 hybrid "engineering study" at the Geneva Show on Tuesday. People will be able to order Audi's green luxo-cruiser sometime come late 2011.

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Soon to be on display in Geneva will be the third e-tron concept to come from Audi in less than a year: the A1 e-tron. Its purpose, according to Audi, is to show "that Audi's expertise in electric drive systems extends down into the compact car segment" (as if anyone would question them in that regard).

Marketed as a Mega City Vehicle (MCV), the new A1 e-tron is said to return an electricity-only range of 50 km / 31 miles by means of a 75 kW / 102 HP power train.

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Together with the world premiere of the RS5 Coupe 450HP V8, the A1 premium supermini and the near-production A8 Hybrid limo, the 80th Geneva Salon will also play host to a new Audi concept car, details of which are being safe-guarded until the show opens to the members of the press on March 2.

We'll avoid to play the guessing game about the type of vehicle that Audi is planning to surprise us in Geneva, but feel free to entertain us with your thoughts in the comment section after the jump.

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Welcome to a new series which will be following your favorite cars that made it from concept to reality. Strap in, it's about to get fun-u-cational. As always, any recommendations, suggestions, thoughts and ideas are much welcome.

Audi's TT: The little squashed Beetle that could (and did). This is the car that brought Audi some serious attention in the mid- to late-90's while also influencing design for the brand that always wanted to play in the BMW/Benz league. Mission accomplished.

Debut (Concept): 1995 Frankfurt International Auto Show (TT Coupe) ; 1995 Tokyo Motor Show (TTS Roadster)

Debut (Production): 1998 Paris Motor Show (1999 Model Year Audi TT Coupe) ; 1999 Geneva Motor Show (2000 MY Audi TT Roadster)

Lost in translation: Other than the Coupe's more cleanly styled rooftop design that did not include rear-quarter windows and the TTS's funky front fender vents, not a whole lot.

But we got to keep: Just about everything else including the baseball stitching on the roadster's seats. Sweet.

Fun fact: The TT name has a bit of a bickering going on behind it. While those clinging to the past stand by the fact that it hearkens back to the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) motorcycle race and NSU's Prinz-based 1000TT, 1200TT, and TTS of the 1960's, others claim Audi originally meant for it to stand for Technology & Tradition.

Did you Know? Due to some highly publicized high speeds crashes, Audi was forced to revise the TT's suspension and ESP settings, and to add a rear spoiler to force the car to stick to the road.

Where is it now? Enjoying a second generation with a more mature design that incorporates a retractable rear spoiler, and more trim levels that you can throw a shoe at, including a 5-cylinder, turbocharged 340-horse RS bomb-on-wheels.

By Phil Alex

Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had an obsession with cars and travel. Currently he resides near Japan's international airport in Narita. He makes no apologies for his articles and welcomes all feedback, as long as it is adamantly worded. If for any reason you are inclined to vent some more, check out more of his posts on the Examiner here.

AUDI TT COUPE CONCEPT

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AUDI TTS ROADSTER CONCEPT

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1998-2006 AUDI TT COUPE & ROADSTER PRODUCTION MODELS

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