Watch out Tesla, here comes the Audi e-tron
Audi shows off its e-tron electric sports car concept at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show.
(Credit: CNET)The most exciting concept shown at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show is an electric sports car, the Audi e-tron. Borrowing body lines from the Audi R8, it can't help but look good. And boasting specs like 3,319 pound-feet of torque, it can't help but make gearheads drool.
Audi achieves that torque number by using four electric motors, one at each wheel. The drooling gearheads should be able to close their mouths again after hearing that the combined horsepower is only 313, making for a zero to 62 mph time of 4.8 seconds. But electric car enthusiasts will be happy to hear that the e-tron's range is 154 miles.
The four electric motors meant that Audi could design a virtual Quattro all-wheel-drive system, integrating the power distribution program with vehicle dynamics sensors. By default, the rear motors deliver 70 percent of the torque, the high number compensating for the 58 percent weight distribution to the rear wheels. But as conditions dictate, the power software can give any wheel greater or less power, which should make for incredible road-holding, beyond even Audi's current Quattro system.
A two-seater, the cabin is relatively simple, featuring a minimum of controls and gauges. The car's navigation and communication electronics are designed to communicate with external roads infrastructure, receiving information about traffic and green lights, for example, and adjusting routes accordingly to maximize driving efficiency.
The Audi e-tron might sound like a serious competitor to the Tesla Roadster, but the Tesla has one huge advantage: it's already in production.
And with that much torque, perhaps it could tow a 747....for about 30 seconds before the batteries die.
I can only hope the final product is better.
On top of that, Audi also makes race cars so they have experience from that arena as well.
The one thing Germans know is to make great sports cars - Audi, BMW, Benz, Porsche.
At the present time, making electric cars is a different car game, especially if it will be a game changer. We all know that Audi is just recent comer in the electrified car race and is just starting to test their electric cars.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS68291+15-Sep-2009+BW20090915
So 700 cars and slowly counting should be easily topped over by Audi's e-tron within months?
I've been trying to get a hold of the Tesla for awhile now... not many people in Australia have even heard of the company and Tesla does not have much interest in having the vehicle pass the regulatory requirements here, even though the government is willing to subsidise the production and distribution of green technology vehicles. Audi have almost 50 authorised dealers here whereas Tesla has none. If Tesla wants to get serious about selling cars it needs to do two things:
1) produce enough of them so that people don't have to wait 8 months to get one
2) produce them for international markets (there are more far more people interested in electric vehicles outside of the US)
3) increase it's marketing and distribution channels
4) have enough technicians trained to provide vehicle repairs and maintenance
http://gm-volt.com/2009/09/15/gm-voltcom-chevy-volt-want-list-tops-50000-members/
Regarding the TESLA comparison, its only natural to pit the e-tron against the Tesla Roadster. But you have to account for the fact that this is a concept car, not a production car. Hub motors are extremely expensive and with their claimed 3k ft-lbs of torque, they only achieve a 0 - 60 mph in 4.8? Thats pathetic compared to the Tesla Roadster Sport doing it in 3.7 with a 240mi + range... the e-tron only goes 150mi and thats from Audi... The EPA achieved 244 in the Roadster and others have gotten closer to 300miles!!
Even if Audi produces this car, Tesla has had a better EV since 2008, and have people lining up to invest in the company. Its no fluke that Daimler paid $50million for Tesla drivetrain technology... they are far ahead of the pack in the EV race.
Another reason why Tesla is poised to take over the auto industry is the fact that they aren't bogged down by franchised dealer networks and focusing their product strategy on 'hybrids' so that they don't phase out of petrol too quickly. Tesla will only produce a pure electric vehicle and for that, they will remain head and shoulders above Audi.
I personally don't have a beef with Tesla -- I hope the best for them. However, the roadster is based on a Lotus Elise platform -- at 6'3", I will never comfortably fit in that car no matter how much I might enjoy it's design.
And why the fuss over EVs anyway? There is still no widespread distribution network for recharging. When I drive 400+ miles one-way to service a client, I will not get there on a single charge from any of these vehicles. I will also have to budget additional time for recharging, or allow for roundtrip airfare and car rental to leave my EV at home.
EVs will come and they will improve. But why are Americans so obsessed with them today? It's premature and we should be doing what the Europeans have done for years -- focus on diesel technology. Actually, based on driving habits -- the Europeans should be the ones clamoring for EVs and hybrids.
Clean diesel and bio-diesel are the most efficient technologies for the US right now. Maybe Audi will bring us more of their Euro-only fleet. THAT would be something to get excited over.
http://www.coroflot.com/public/individual_set.asp?keywords=sergio+toro&c=1&set_id=28635&individual_id=103317
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by jmchien
September 16, 2009 2:36 PM PDT
- I think the 3,300+ torque is instantaneous power since motor theoretically have infinity torque at low rpm. I think a better number Audi should have mentioned is it's sustained torque, which results in the 4.8s in 0-62.
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(24 Comments)If they changed the color and the grill, I think it would be quite an attractive car.