Thursday 4th February 2010

Audi's 3300lb ft E-Tron Is Go

Original e-tron concept gets the nod ahead of more compact Detroit version

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Larger Frankfurt e-tron will be built...

An Audi e-tron electronic sports car is heading for production - this much we knew back in October. But instead of the lithe, sub-Boxster sized coupe shown last month at Detroit, it will be based on the larger R8-esque concept revealed at the Frankfurt motor show last year.

This will no doubt be good news for torque fiends - that first e-tron concept car had more than 3300lb ft to go with its 309bhp - but it is mildly surprising given the warm reception received by the more recent Detroit concept.

...Detroit car could become a 'baby R8'

There are no official details on spec or price of the planned electric sports car, although Audi's US boss, Johan de Nysschen, revelaed last October that running prototypes are expected within the next two years. But the production plans for the first e-tron are serious - this is a statement of intent rather than a one-off, and Audi wants to turn the e-tron badge into a distinctive label.

"We want the e-tron name to become a coveted label, just as recognisable a part of the Audi image as quattro or tdi," says Audi marketing man Stephan Ori.

But what does this mean for the smaller, some would say prettier, Detroit e-tron? Audi isn't saying, but industry whispers hint at a more conventional internal combustion-powered future for that car - possibly as a smaller cousin for the R8, labelled R4 and with rear-wheel drive. Here's hoping...

[Roberty]

I hope they tidy up the design before it hits production!

The Detroit version looked far better IMO

[whitevanman88]

THere's something very porsche / bentley about that detroit car.

Edited by whitevanman88 on Thursday 4th February 11:27

[P4ROT]

Wats the point in having that much torque? Surely it would slow you down if anything?

[Jellymonster]

The detroit e-tron looks like a car from demolition man.... MURDER DEATH KILL.... I like it

[goron59]

I think that's just the way of electric motors - high, instant torque.


Maybe they'll fit it with a tow bar and will become popular with caravanists ;-)

[JJM]

Not a million miles from the iRobot Audi...

http://car.kak.net/2004/04/07/an-audi-for-the-year...

[motoroller]

JJM said:

Not a million miles from the iRobot Audi...

http://car.kak.net/2004/04/07/an-audi-for-the-year...

That third brake light integrated into the badge is quite nice!

[motoroller]

3300lb-ft?

Electric motors are great!

Is that much torque even necessary? Make it higher-power... the acceleration doesn't really reflect the extreme torque.

[OnTheOverrun]

motoroller said:

3300lb-ft?

Electric motors are great!

Is that much torque even necessary? Make it higher-power... the acceleration doesn't really reflect the extreme torque.

Wait until it gets 'mapped'. . . . . . .

[GTRene]

Roberty said:

I hope they tidy up the design before it hits production!

The Detroit version looked far better IMO

my thoughts too...I hope the also do something with the Detroit car...I like that chunky short car, but if it comes in as a RWD small V8 car its also ok.

[vz-r_dave]

The detroit car looks like an Audi TT with an R8 nose. There is no point for a baby R8. They have the TTRS which isnt much slower and there would be no room for it.

I say the detroit will be the next gen TT.

[sanctum]

We will probably see models based on both concepts in time.

To quote the article:
We want the e-tron name to become a coveted label, just as recognisable a part of the Audi image as quattro or tdi

There isn't just one tdi or quattro (anymore), it's a version of each model. It's probable then that audi plan a range of e-tron derivatives across it's model range. So we may see both concept cars end up on the road.
From this quote, I would expect that audi are planning a far future product range where the buyer can choose the model and the powerplant to go in it, just as buyers choose their car then choose whether to go for petrol or deisel today.

[130R]

That torque figure is not measured in the standard way

[havoc]

130R said:

That torque figure is not measured in the standard way

But the marketing men love statistics, so it'll stay!

[soad]

vz-r_dave said:

I say the detroit will be the next gen TT.

That'd be pretty cool - i do like it.

[205]

That Torque figure is BULLSH*t..

If measured the same way a Prius would have over 2500lb/ft of torque !

[alock]

A normal family car has around 2000lb/ft of torque at the wheels. 3300lb/ft is nothing for what is mean't to be a high performance car.

10 years ago everyone started getting brain-washed into think that arbitrary torque figure quoted for diesels made any difference to performance. This was to make them sell.

Now everyone will get brain-washed into believing an arbitrary torque figure quoted for an electric motor has a direct relationship to its performance.

[Gizmo!]

I think the little one might be a very early view of the TT Mk3. I've been wondering for a while if the TT would be absorbed into the 'normal' Audi letter/number system: everything else in the range is.

"R4" would work quite well - smaller and sportier than the RS5.

[otolith]

3300lbft dragging 1600kg? Pah, I own a vehicle with four times that ratio of peak torque to weight.

Meaningless.

[cheadle hulme]

Don't cyclists develop massive amounts of torque when measured in this way? I know I can set off in top gear (120 inches or so) and reach cruising speed in a short space.