SAM HARDY, our road test editor, sends us this blog from the Detroit Motor Show: It’s the name that’s set to be on everyone’s lips in the near future – e-tron. Audi reckons its electric sports car badge will become as famous as the legendary four-wheel drive quattro brand. And to underline this Audi revealed its second zero emission sports car at the Detroit Motor Show this week.
Smaller, lighter and more affordable than its £120,000 R8-derived brother (revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September), the new car also previews an entirely new design direction for Audi which drops big hints at how the next TT and upcoming R4 coupe will look.
Well-received by journalists – Audi’s stand was absolutely swamped for at least an hour after the new e-tron was revealed – it shows just how seriously Audi is taking electric cars.
In my opinion it’s even more stunning than the Frankfurt concept. At just 3.93m it’s 33cm shorter and is even smaller than a TT. In the flesh it looks purposeful and fresh, whereas the Frankfurt concept had too much of the R8 about it.
Based on an aluminium space fame chassis, the e-tron Mk2 gets carbon fibre reinforced plastic body panels and together with those compact dimensions weighs 1,350kgs, some 250kg lighter than the Mk1.
The striking body is the work of British designer Steve Lewis who says that its design themes – sharp edges, increasingly intricate LED headlights and pronounced wheelarches – show how Audi design is likely to evolve in the future.
What about the powerplant? Well, while the Mk1 gets four electric motors, the new model has just two, mounted on the rear axle driving the rear wheels. The lithium ion batteries are positioned behind the seats. Having driven the original car, it’s already clear that Audi is a long way down the road in the development of this technology.
And with 204bhp on tap, the firm’s claims of 0-62mph in only 5.9sec and a top speed of 124mph (limited to preserve the batteries), giving it acceleration to match a 3.2-litre V6 engined TT, are entirely believable.
Like its more powerful brother, there’s a range of 155 miles, while a full charge takes just two hours from a special 400v supply – which should be installed in potential owners’ garages for free. Mind you, with a projected £50,000 asking price, you’d hope so.
An on sale date of 2012 is likely with a limited production run. By the time the newcomer reaches showrooms expect it to sit on a platform from the VW Bluesport – a mid-engined Mazda MX-5 rival that was revealed at Detroit last year. It might not be a planet-saver but as a way of changing the image of electric cars, this latest concept does a fantastic job.
Sam Hardy is deputy motoring editor and digital editor of Auto Express.
Detroit showing for new e-tron sports car
