We review the Audi eTron Spyder from price to economy and all its features

THE £3million supercar silently heads for the horizon on a California highway called The Snake.

It sounds like a scene from a Hollywood movie. But this is reality.

Dream machine ... Phil drives Spyder

I’m behind the wheel for an exclusive drive of Audi’s sensational e-tron Spyder diesel-electric hybrid concept.

Audi claim the Spyder will return an astonishing 128.4mpg.

That’s the same as a Toyota Prius Plug-In and means a range of more than 620 MILES from the 50-litre fuel tank, while emitting under 60g/km of CO2 — which means no road tax.

The car will go from showbiz to showroom in the form of a junior R8 supercar called R4 within three years, with a price tag of around £45,000.

Audi aim to develop the diesel-electric as the ultimate eco drivetrain for potentially their R8 and R4.

We’ve seen Tesla take electric cars to a new level of desirability before the e-tron coupe — which took them up another notch.

Now here’s the Spyder... and it’s the most electrifying yet.

We might be in Tinseltown but who needs A-list babe Charlize Theron when you’ve got the e-tron?

It has a body to die for.

The car’s almost nine inches shorter than the R8 and the attention to detail is incredible — the glitzy chrome alloys are made up of 66 components.

The carbon fibre bodywork is sculptured beautifully with crisp, flowing lines. The monstrous meaty aluminium-finned grille would even make George Foreman proud.

And when it comes to performance, it’s also lean and mean.

One of the most dramatic features is a plug-in socket for the electric motors, which hides behind the four-ringed badge on the bonnet.

With no roof and just a speedster-style screen you get the feeling it will be a hard-riding machine to drive, but as soon as you open the conventional door and slide across the wide sill into the one-piece carbon fibre shell seats you feel very comfortable.

The dashboard is simple yet seductive, made of leather, aluminium and carbon fibre, and the seats even adjust electrically — an unusual comfort and unheard of in a concept car.

Starting the e-tron is movie drama. Press a button on the gear lever and it rises theatrically from the centre console, priming the systems, readying the complex drivetrain for the off.

Flick the gear lever and the light rises to D and we’re ready to go.

But this is a supercar with plenty of bite and no bark.

It moves away silently, not even the hint of a snarl.

Behind me is a 296bhp 3litre twin-turbo V6 diesel which drives the rear wheels, while at the front are a pair of electric motors which individually drive the front wheels and together produce 86bhp.

Pulling away results in lots of whirs from the electric motors as the Spyder uses its battery power at low speed, and when the diesel kicks in it’s with quite a gruff burble that’s reminiscent of a black cab. For sheer drama, driving doesn’t get better than this.

I’m on the twistiest Tarmac in southern California and the car is so precious that local cops have closed the road.

Unfortunately I can’t test the concept to its full capacity on The Snake’s 21 slippery corners. But the Spyder delivers breathtaking, body-whiplashing acceleration thanks to 1,002Nm of torque.

Electrical energy for the motors is supplied by a 9.1kwh battery above the electric motors in the nose.

Recharging of the battery occurs both on the run, as kinetic energy is collected under braking, and by plug-in means.

At speeds of up to 37mph for distances of up to 31 miles, the car can run on electric, front-drive power alone.

Whack your foot down and the V6 diesel — sourced from the Audi A6 — gives four-wheel drive and 382bhp total output.

With that combination, Audi reckon the e-tron Spyder will be able to do 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds — quicker than a Porsche 911 Carrera S — and hit a limited top speed of 155mph Audi have still got to work on several technical issues before this car finally makes production — including the gearbox, weight and how extreme weather conditions affect the batteries.

But with this design and performance, it’s Hollywood and beyond for Audi. This e-tron Spyder is a box office blockbuster waiting to happen.