There are two common objections during any discussion of Tesla's success. One, that it has yet to post any real profits and two, that it is merely enjoying a period in the sun before the 'established manufacturers' sort themselves out and enter the electric segment in a serious way. Well, after Audi's annual press conference, we're a big step closer to seeing how true the later statement is.
The likes of Polestar and Porsche have been touting all-electric models for quite some time, but in announcing its new e-tron GT, Audi has become arguably the most mainstream luxury marque to go up against the Tesla Model S. It's not just Tesla that Audi's taking aim at, though, the e-tron GT being but one of 20 electrified models set to feature in its line-up by 2025.
According to Audi, the four-door sports car will be 'highly dynamic', previewing the future direction of the company's performance division. Brand chairman Rupert Stadler adding: "We interpret sportiness very progressively with our fully electric e-tron GT, and this is how we will take our high-performance brand Audi Sport into the future."
Stadler revealed that the car will be based on the same 'J1' platform as Porsche's Mission E, collaboration on the development of which has "reduced development costs by a three-digit million Euro amount".
Mission E
is also expected to hit showrooms in 2020, featuring
800V
fast-charging technology - allowing an 80 per cent charge in just 15 minutes - and dual electric motors producing a combined 600hp. This should be good for a 0-62 time under 3.5 seconds, performance which could well be replicated by the e-tron GT.
Other titbits from Audi's press conference included the revelations that 2017 was a "very challenging year" for the company as it continued to deal with the fallout of dieselgate, while the switch to the new WLTP fuel economy test also proved "extremely challenging". Against this backdrop came the announcement that all core Audi models will soon be offered with "at least mild hybrid" engine options.
Despite its difficulties, and sales only increasing by 0.6 per cent on the previous year, Audi also announced record profits for 2017, up by 57 per cent to £4.15 billion.
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