New car news

12 January 2010 - 11:00

Revenge of the E-Tron

After showing off the Bladerunner-sounding E-Tron concept at the Frankfurt show last year, Audi has unveiled a second electric sports car concept. Confusingly, it is also called the E-Tron.

This may make this news story somewhat baffling, but we shall do our best. The new E-Tron is shorter, lower and narrower than the original E-Tron - think Audi TT rather than R8 - but features a similar, all-electric drivetrain with lithium-ion batteries mounted behind the driver.

A pair of asynchronous (which we think means 'a bit like the Olsen twins') electric motors develop 150kW and, like the original E-Tron, an implausible torque figure: 2,651Nm, according to Audi.

However, it emerged that the first E-Tron's 4,500Nm ft torque rating was measured at the wheels instead of the output shaft, which meant that, in conventional measurement, it developed something nearer to 338Nm. So expect the new E-Tron's actual torque figure to read somewhat lower.

In any case, Audi says the new E-Tron will hit 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and top out at a limited 200km/h, as the drain on the batteries above this speed increases disproportionately. With a weight of 1,350kg - impressively svelte for an electric car, but don't forget it's still a concept - Audi says the E-Tron has a realistic range of 250km, but we'd guess you'll have to be gentle on the throttle to achieve that. If and when it gets built, that is.

Audi quotes a 40:60 front-rear weight distribution, which, coupled with the short wheelbase and meaty torque, could make the E-Tron a drifty little thing. If and when it gets built, that is.

Far more importantly, we reckon it's a handsome thing. If the future's electric, we're happy if it looks like this. Anyone agree?