Audi e-tron gets the Green Light

By Thami Masemola
October 5, 2009 9:57 PM
Filed Under: Audi, Concept Car, Electric Vehicle, German, Rumours

Audi has officially told Autoweek that the e-tron concept car will soon become a full production model. Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen said he expected to see some running examples within the next 24 months. Those words have our spies all excited about the possibilities for the next few months.

The R8-looking e-tron concept of IAA 2009 is powered by four electric motors on each axle. They in turn are powered by a 213kg lithium-ion battery pack located behind the two seats. Maximum system power is 230kW (313hp) and peak torque is a mammoth 4,500Nm (3,319.03 lb-ft). Audi says it will go from 0 - 100km/h (0 - 62mph) in 4.8 seconds and record a top speed of 200km/h (124mph). On a fully-charged battery the car will go on for 248km (154 miles).

The e-tron should be launched in the US by 2012 at the latest. It will compete with cars from Fisker and others, as well as the production version of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. Several other clean Audis are headed for North America including the Q5 hybrid set for a 2011 debut.

Source: autoweek

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Tags: Audi e-tron, Audi R8, Audi R8 e-tron

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Comments

Rixon

October 5, 2009 10:30 PM

Oh god yes, more torque than the average fishing boat!

smshnick

October 5, 2009 10:31 PM

Does anyone know what song that is? It makes me wanna drive in slow motion....

nixlair

October 5, 2009 10:53 PM

yes, another electric supercar that only 1/2% of people will buy and bear no real environmental advantage. thanks..........

ivanadrive

October 5, 2009 11:19 PM

4.8 s seems like a lot of time for 4500 Nm, especially since electric motors can deliver full torque from 0 rpm onwards

McNamara68

October 6, 2009 7:32 AM

this is what i was thinking. and what will it cost? the SLS is rumored to be sub-4 second 0-100

CDspeed

October 5, 2009 11:25 PM

Sold!!!!

joshg_5

October 5, 2009 11:32 PM

I don't understand how 3,319.03 lb-ft of torque translates into only 4.8 0-60. With electric, isn't peak power supposed to be achieved immediately, at any range of RMP??? Explain?

Edited by user on October 5, 2009 at 11:32 PM

theoldman

October 5, 2009 11:35 PM

looks alot like the R8

but futuristic

cronan

October 6, 2009 3:26 PM

It is the R8!

out4ride

October 6, 2009 12:04 AM

Ok. I think explanation is easy. You remember old trains when they started they would spin wheels couse max power was available at start. Well it's kinda same idea. DC motors have max torque at 0 rpm but once they take off torque drops down. Harvesting this kinda power was a big problem until VFD (variable frequency drive) was introduced. Through bunch of resistors you are able to accelerate normaly since max current is controled. I guess having so much torque and trying to have traction forces them to limit the car. Could be wrong will see.

Wickedated

October 6, 2009 1:19 AM

my V12 is powered by baby seals

joshg_5

October 7, 2009 6:16 AM

hahaha, I like that idea, can I buy this wonderful source of fuel at Chevron?

genie

October 6, 2009 1:21 AM

As out4ride said, though max torque is available from 0rpm, it drops off linearly (assuming perfect model) as speed increases until at max rpm it produces just enough torque to overcome internal back-torque from drag. Power output remains constant across the rev range.

Don't forget, though 4500Nm seems massive, these wheel mounted motors typically don't have gearboxes, its directly connected. So if you consider the torque a normal car might produce at the wheels in first gear, its not that different. A normal turbo-diesel with 400Nm would be putting down around 4000Nm at the wheels in first gear.

lucifa

October 6, 2009 8:14 AM

It's always saddening to have a knowledge of physics ruin your dreams...

mateuszwlosek

October 6, 2009 2:06 AM

it's like a mix of the R8 and the TT interesting design love it !!

catchmyshadow

October 6, 2009 2:13 AM

i know it is kind of necessary, but this marks the end of naturally good sounding sportscars :(

joelynn

October 6, 2009 12:17 PM

but this has already been thought of and companies are already offerring soundboxes that imitate engine notes.

catchmyshadow

October 6, 2009 5:43 PM

yeah, but that`s like loading a ringtone on ur mobile, it is artifical crap!

2010S5

October 6, 2009 6:23 AM

This is so ugly. At least make it look remotely like a proper R8. And then those electric motors..looks like the good old days of internal combustion engines are coming to an end. What a pity. I really hope electric vehicles won't be the future of automobiles.

carbonfibreguy

October 6, 2009 6:39 AM

wdf nooooooo. I like the regular Audi R8 not this 2020 looking E TRON. That name sounds like something pulled off a transformers movie!

s3dbw

October 6, 2009 9:39 AM

And with a range of 154 miles! (assuming you drive at 30mph on the flat) Use the performance and this figure will drop to closer to 50 miles or even less. In other words absolutely no practical value whatsover in the real world unless used for posing around city streets!

pscs

October 6, 2009 1:08 PM

Oh - about that model car - wouldn't it be cheaper to grab parts from the production model and change the looks for the concept, than to build an entire new scale model?

911fnatic

October 6, 2009 3:33 PM

The idea of imitating a combustion engine in my ecobox doesn't console me, I don't care if its an R8 or not.

ExoticCarOwner

October 7, 2009 12:15 AM

Truly this doesnt assist the environment much at all. You can continue to have combustion engines but mandate an exhaust filtration so that the car emits cleaner air than what it takes in. Plus there are many other factors to this equation like:

1. How is the electricity generated that is being made available in your home.

2. How are they going to tansport the vehicle from the manufacturing plant to the dealership.

3. What powers the machinery that is being utilized for manufacturing.

After all of these pieces are reviewed an electric car becomes infinitesimally small in its benefits.

joshg_5

October 7, 2009 6:17 AM

Plus all the chemicals and crap that go into the production of a HUGE battery!

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