Audi readying new R8 E-tron - 6SpeedOnline - Porsche Forum and Luxury Car Resource

Jun 8, 2010 | 04:34 PM

catchmyshadow

Thread Starter

Registered User

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 3,079

From: Germany

Rep Power: 227

Audi readying new R8 E-tron

The silent supercar revolution is here! A production prototype of Audi’s e-tron has been spied testing in Germany just weeks before Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division launches its electric SLS.

The two German powerhouses are in a race to dominate the electric supercar world, and snapped testing not far from home in Bavaria, this mule is as notable for what it doesn't have as what it does.

For starters, there are no air intakes anywhere on the e-tron prototype and it has even blanked off the traditional front and side air intakes of the V8 and V10 R8s on which it is based.

First shown at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi claimed the production version would have a total of 4500Nm of torque from the instant the driver stepped on the throttle – or about six times what the most powerful petrol-engined cars have on offer now.

It achieves that, plus 313hp of power, by having an in-board electric motor driving each wheel and a liquid-cooled, mid-mounted Lithium-Ion battery pack.

Jun 8, 2010 | 07:16 PM

Al Pettee

Registered User

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 349

From: Rochester, New York, USA

Rep Power: 37

Quote:

Originally Posted by catchmyshadow

The silent supercar revolution is here! A production prototype of Audi’s e-tron has been spied testing in Germany just weeks before Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division launches its electric SLS.

The two German powerhouses are in a race to dominate the electric supercar world, and snapped testing not far from home in Bavaria, this mule is as notable for what it doesn't have as what it does.

For starters, there are no air intakes anywhere on the e-tron prototype and it has even blanked off the traditional front and side air intakes of the V8 and V10 R8s on which it is based.

First shown at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi claimed the production version would have a total of 4500Nm of torque from the instant the driver stepped on the throttle – or about six times what the most powerful petrol-engined cars have on offer now.

It achieves that, plus 313hp of power, by having an in-board electric motor driving each wheel and a liquid-cooled, mid-mounted Lithium-Ion battery pack.

Hmmm, 4500 Nm of torque. Sounds delicious.