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There are not enough cars named after early 1980s sci-fi films. Rectifying this blatant shortfall comes the Audi E-Tron, an all-electric R8-based concept packing a ridiculous 3,319lb ft of torque.
That's about 10 times that of the V8-powered R8, thanks to four electric motors, one in each wheel. The E-Tron's power figure isn't quite so prodigious, standing at 309bhp, around 100bhp down on the V8 petrol R8.
Performance isn't quite as extreme as the huge torque figure might suggest, with 60mph arriving in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.
The relatively modest acceleration owes more to the difficulty of managing the massive torque than the E-Tron's kerbweight: in fact, at around 1,480kg, it weighs slightly less than the petrol R8, thanks to an aluminium spaceframe and carbon-fibre-plastic body panels.
The battery is mounted just in front of the rear axle, providing near-perfect 48-52 front-rear weight distribution. Audi says the E-Tron will manage around 150 miles on a single charge, and will take around six to eight hours to fully recharge the lithium ion battery pack from a household plug socket.
Audi sources say that, with an improvement in electric infrastructure, the E-Tron could reach production by 2012.
Frankfurt show: Audi E-Tron
Audi’s all-electric R8 could reach production by 2012… with a ridiculous 3,319lb ft of torque
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What do you think?
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chickenfeed commented on this article
at 03:03 pm on 15 September 2009
Charged using a household plug socket. So the CO2 won't be coming out of the car but from the chimney of the power plant.
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airbuggy commented on this article
at 03:22 pm on 15 September 2009
i don't like it.those rims are horrible.they have so many spokes and everyone knows anything in excess is bad or you..case of point,look at what that shedload of torque does for the car?
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Mikeado commented on this article
at 04:25 pm on 15 September 2009
It looks really small. And why with over 3000lb ft does it barely outstrip a Tesla? Electric cars always sound like the solution, but then fall short in some big way. And soon they'll be everywhere! I hate the future sometimes...
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Dontw8 commented on this article
at 04:33 pm on 15 September 2009
"CO2 won't be coming out of the car but from the chimney of the power plant."...yes, but power plants work much more efficent than combustion engines! So that's an improvement.
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Musashi commented on this article
at 04:35 pm on 15 September 2009
Probably named after Tron because there is a new Tron movie coming out later this year...
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