Audi e-Tron Concept makes an appearance in Frankfurt

Despite all the reports about Audi not having anything electric to share with the world at their home show in Frankfurt was debunked when Audi chairman Rupert Stadler and Audi board member Michael Dick unveiled the 2010 Audi e-Tron concept last Tuesday.

The e-Tron concept takes the R8 super car to the next level, gone are the notions a gas burning TFSI V8 or even a high revving V10 because the e-Tron is powered by a purely electric drive system made up of four electric drive motors, two at the front and two more at the rear axle that uses lithium-ion that allow the e-Tron to travel nearly 150 miles on a single charge. The total output of this electric drive system is 313 HP and 3,319.03 lb-ft of torque, meaning that the car can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 4.8 seconds and is expected to be in showrooms as early as 2012.

Just like the power train, the exterior design of the e-Tron differs from the standard R8, for example the signature side blades and huge air inlets will be reduced or completely eliminated as they are unnecessary for an electric vehicle, the front grille will disappear as well. However it’s the deep air intakes in the front bumper underneath the while LED headlamps that will set this particular R8 apart from the standard model. One of the best things about Audi is that almost every single on e of their concept cars goes into production, and the German automaker has said that they will build a small batch of these electrified R8s in 2012.