Report: Audi E-Tron Will Be Priced Above R8, With Just 1,000 Units Available

[Administrator]

Proving that the electric car revolution isn't likely to happen over night, Audi has said that it will build just 1,000 versions of its E-Tron sports car, with pricing set above the R8. News comes from the U.K.'s AutoCar after an interview with Audi design boss Achim Badstubner.

Considering Audi's R8 with the 5.2-liter V10 runs a cool $146,000, that is no small chunk of change for a vehicle that certainly won't perform like Audi's current supercar.

Badstubner said that with 5,000 international dealerships, sales of 1,000 units was feasible, but added that the cars would be built to order – an obvious sign that Audi isn't confident in demand. In the interview Badstubner went on to comment about the limiting factor that the cost of batteries have and also said that electric cars are typically city cars, which designed for short distances and not for high-performance driving.

Audi does, however, believe there will be some takers for the car; early adopters who have the means and don't mind the added cost to be both different and environmentally conscious.

The E-Tron is powered by four electric motors (one for each wheel) that make a total of 313-hp. It is expected to go on sale in 2012.

More: Report: Audi E-Tron Will Be Priced Above R8, With Just 1,000 Units Available on AutoGuide.com

[Davey_Dee]

Will be hard to justify buying one of these tbh, something to think about tho.

[audimatic]

yeah, not feeling electric or hybrid anythings...

props for trying anyways, not sure who this appeals to...

[AnOutsider]

if it had the performance of the Tesla Roadster I'd definitely consider one.

In related news:
Audi e-tron gets driven, we get jealous

The towering battery stack behind the rear firewall takes up even more space than the R8's V-10 engine, transaxle, and fuel tank combined. Wrapped in liquid-cooled safety foil, the lithium-ion cells provide an energy capacity of 53 kWh, an exact match to the Tesla.

still boggles me how it has similar specs but worse performance.

[SDR8]

I saw the E-Tron today and was not overly impressed with the looks. I know, each to their own and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but all I could think is why? The biggest thing that glared at me was those hideous rims. I hope they make major changes before the launch. But I also was not impressed with the R8 Spyder. I think they blew it by not having a changeable blade on the side (for contrast). The solid body color makes the back half of the car look to big, from the side view. I also did not like the engine being hidden, a clear panel over part of it would of been better.

[cavaret]

The rims are horrible... imagine detailing those. That would be an extra 10 hours for Harrison!!!

[harrison]

At least 1 hr.per !!

[randombloke]

Between now and 2012, our acoustic department will create a synthesised 'engine' sound too

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...roduction.html

hmm, that should be interesting...

The biggest thing that glared at me was those hideous rims. I hope they make major changes before the launch.

they might be like that to provide cooling given the motors are in the wheels unlike the tesla roadster.

[Davey_Dee]

It's a good thing it's 2 years away, gives us time to think! Personally I think it will be hard to justify buying one but for some reason I really want one

[smoothy]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...roduction.html

hmm, that should be interesting...



they might be like that to provide cooling given the motors are in the wheels unlike the tesla roadster.

Just wait till someone hacks the sound generator so when you are on the gas, instead of an engine sound, the Bananaphone song plays.

the rims? If they aren't needed to be that design for air cooling, I really hope there's a choice of patterns.

Methinks the members of r8talk who live in SoCal will see these as they will probably be popular with the 'everyone look at me! I can be fast AND green!' crowd in Hollywood