Tuesday 11th March 2014

Audi greenlights electric R8

Next-gen R8 will get an E-Tron version after Audi reverses decision on leccy supercars

---

Audi has reversed last year's decision not to build an electric R8 and has now said it will make an E-Tron version of the next generation supercar. The announcement was made today by the brand's technical head, Ulrich Hackenberg, who said that the new R8 e-tron will be built "on customer request".

New E-Tron based on R8/Huracan 'hybrid' chassis

It means that, like the next R8, the new E-Tron version will share the same modular architecture as theLamborghini Huracan. That will bring plenty of lightweight aluminium and carbon-fibre to help reduce the weight of the batteries. He claimed the car will travel 280 miles on a charge compared to just 134 miles on the version that was canned. That was thought to be one reason why it was pulled, but Hackenberg said the car's battery now has a much higher power density.

We don't know when production will start or price or performance, but back in 2012 Audi said the car would accelerate to 62mph from rest in 4.6 seconds, which ain't bad with a (then) kerbweight of 1,780kg.

Back then Audi claimed a new record for lapping the Nurburgring in a production electric car after the R8 E-Tron managed 8min 9sec. Except that it didn't actually make production and Mercedes now holds that record with 7min 56sec for its 751hp SLSElectric Drive set last year. Expect Audi to return to that battle very shortly.

Aborted E-Tron proved concept at 'ring

The E-Tron has been rattling around the firm since 2009 when it was first shown as aconcept and said to deliver a boggling 3,319lb ft of torque. But the decision to cancel sales was a backward step for the firm given BMW's accelerated development of the i8 range-assisted electric sports car, due in June. Especially as BMW is now saying the first production run of the i8 is sold out, which must rankle in the ultra-competitive world of the VW Group.

We still can't quite get our heads around a supercar with no V8/10/12 soundtrack, but what do you think? Would sledgehammer torque and a 280-mile range be enough to convince?

[Gilhooligan]

If was rich enough to buy one, I'd have the shouty V10 for more of a sense of occasion and drama.

[anonymous-user]

The usual Hybrid/Lecy car technical errors:

1) He means "Energy density" not "Power density" in relation to the range capability

2) 3,319lbft of torque (at the drive wheels) just slightly less than a 320d manages..... (The figure for torque at the wheels is pretty meaningless when quoted in isolation)

[McWigglebum4th]

Where is technomatt to tell us we can pick one one week after realease for £3.60

[Dave Hedgehog]

if we are forced to have electric cars better this than the bloody horrible i3 ...

[Gecko1978]

was there not a TDi version planned that seemed to be quite cool so maybe combining the technologys would have worked better. End of day cars are going electric for green reasons and falling oil reserves (this might not be true). So Audi and the likes making fun electric cars is the way ahead, though like flames from an exhust I would love it more if lightening crackled from the rear....not that I can afford one

[vtecyo]

Gecko1978 said:

was there not a TDi version planned

What ever happened to that?

[zebedee]

I think I read that the guy that took the decision to pull the plug (sorry) on the e-tron was swiftly sacked because he shouldn't have announced that - it didn't fit with Audi's image and what it wanted to be seen to be doing. So as soon as he was gone, and that was some time ago, this was kind of always back on, but I suppose they wanted to make sure the numbers all made sense before confidently stating it would happen. This is most likely from EVO, bearing in mind that is pretty much my only source of car info these days (given that the quality of PH reporting has dropped, sorry guys, but it really has).

[dave7692]

Why is the limited technology surrounding electrically powered cars being pursued rather than the hydrogen powered technology that Honda toyed with a few years ago.

At the end of the day its all very lovely to say "I'm eco-friendly because I drive an electric car" but when the electric is produced from fossil fuelled power stations spewing the same/more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere what is the point?

[kambites]

dave7692 said:

Why is the limited technology surrounding electrically powered cars being pursued rather than the hydrogen powered technology that Honda toyed with a few years ago.

Because hydrogen production is appallingly inefficient, so you need to burn even more fossil fuels in your power stations to produce the electricity to produce the hydrogen.

I don't think anyone is going to buy this trying to be environmentally friendly. People will buy it because they want it - the same reason people buy any other sports/super car.

[Dr G]

vtecyo said:

Gecko1978 said:

was there not a TDi version planned

What ever happened to that?

It sort of turned into the e-tron concept.

It was canned; the drivable concept car was heavily power restricted as there was no gearbox available up to the job.

A little more info on it here:

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Features/ar...

[dave7692]

kambites said:

dave7692 said:

Why is the limited technology surrounding electrically powered cars being pursued rather than the hydrogen powered technology that Honda toyed with a few years ago.

Because hydrogen production is appallingly inefficient, so you need to burn even more fossil fuels in your power stations to produce the electricity to produce the hydrogen.

I don't think anyone is going to buy this trying to be environmentally friendly. People will buy it because they want it - the same reason people buy any other sports/super car.

Fair enough, I didn't realise that the hydrogen was that bad to produce, although I know this wont be seen as environmentally friendly (I assume its more of a stunt to prove it can be done to be used for publicity rather than sale)it still seems like we need to look more carefully at how we source electricity before we increase our reliance on it further.

[goron59]

As an R8 owner, I can't quite get my head around a silent car.

In fact, I even prefer the V8 to the V10 because, to me, the V8 sounds better, even though it's down on performance.

An electric motor to (sorry) torque fill would be fine, but no silent mode for me.

[goron59]

Gilhooligan said:

If was rich enough to buy one, I'd have the shouty V10 for more of a sense of occasion and drama.

[Mark Lacey]

It would seem that Audi can do no wrong at the moment. They could build a battery powered version of the old Reliant Robin, put four rings on the grille and still generate a waiting list.

[kambites]

dave7692 said:

Fair enough, I didn't realise that the hydrogen was that bad to produce.

Unfortunately, the best mechanism we have for producing hydrogen at present involves putting in roughly four times as much energy in electricity as you get out burning the hydrogren in a fuel cell (more than eight times what you get out burning it in an internal combustion engine), plus you have the energy costs of transporting the hydrogen, etc. So end-to-end, hydrogen is at very best around a quarter the efficiency of a "normal" EV, at present.

[Redgate]

Sorry, very childish but as a French speaker I cannot get over the name of that car.

What were they thinking in the Marketing Department?

If I were rich enough to buy one of these, its moniker would ruin the whole ownership experience.

'Etron' means 'turd'

[goron59]

Mark Lacey said:

It would seem that Audi can do no wrong at the moment. They could build a battery powered version of the old Reliant Robin, put four rings on the grille and still generate a waiting list.

I wonder what a 3-wheel drive would be called...can't be "quattro."
Though if it's going to be Italian, "tre" - small T of course

[mwstewart]

Redgate said:

Sorry, very childish but as a French speaker I cannot get over the name of that car.

What were they thinking in the Marketing Department?

If I were rich enough to buy one of these, its moniker would ruin the whole ownership experience.

'Etron' means 'turd'

Brilliant Whatever next? The Lamborghini Stool.

[NXXN]

Go home Audi you're drunk.

[okie592]

awaiting the 14 pages of audi bashing ruining the supercar even though the SLS electric is raved about.