Audi R8 e-tron to be built

Advanced battery technology breathes new life into Ingolstadt’s zero emission supercar.

Audi has backtracked on an earlier decision to cancel production of the electric-powered R8 e-tron and will now push ahead with small scale production of the zero-emission two-seater as part of a number of sweeping changes made to its research and engineering operations since the arrival of its new head Ulrich Hackenberg.

Citing recent advances in lithium-ion battery technology that has reportedly increased its range from an original 215km to close to 400km, insiders at Audi’s headquarters in Germany suggest the R8 e-tron will now go into limited production during the latter half of 2014.

“Our engineers and technicians are further developing the car and its electric drive system. The range has grown significantly, allowing the potential for a small scale production” was how one high ranking official who asked not to be identified described the R8 e-tron’s current state of development.

The rear-wheel-drive R8 e-tron is set to act as a halo model for a number of smaller and more affordable new electric-powered Audi e-tron models, whose engineering is being overseen by Hackenberg – the man responsible for parent company Volkswagen’s new e-Up ans e-Golf , among other hybrid powered models, including the XL1 and Golf Plug-In Hybrid.

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Among the changes made to the R8 e-tron to enhance its suitability for production is a new lithium battery technology featuring an alternative chemical process and, it is claimed, greater energy density than the original 48.6kWh unit.

Further details remain unclear, though the new car is expected to share the styling of the new second-generation R8 – itself due to be launched with conventional petrol engines in 2014. The R8 e-tron was conceived from the outset around the second-generation R8’s new aluminium and carbon fibre body structure in a move that saw prototypes possess a kerb weight of 1780kg.   

With a combined output of 233kW and a stout 678Nm of torque, the earlier R8 etron was claimed to possess a 0-100km/h time of 4.2 seconds and limited 200km/h. It also set what was then a record lap time for electric vehicles at the notorious Nurburgring circuit in Germany of 8 minutes, 9 seconds at the hands of former F1 driver Markus Winkelhock in 2012.  

However, plans for production in 2013 were cancelled at a late stage of development due to concerns about the all-electric supercar’s limited 215km range. With new battery technology allowing an added 185km of range at close to 400km overall, Audi now considers the R8 e-tron suitable for sale, albeit in very small numbers.

Source:Drive.com.au