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 the Lamborghini 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.

 

 

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?