Audi electric four-wheel-drive “A9 e-tron” confirmed

The UK’s Autocar reports that Audi will put a four-wheel-drive electric sedan rivaling the Tesla Model S into production. Perhaps to be called the A9 e-tron, the car will share much of its technology with the upcoming e-tron quattro SUV, including the advanced torque vectoring capabilities.

The vehicle will have a range of up to 500 km (311 miles), and reportedly will offer Level 4 autonomous driving technology—one step up from that used in next year’s new A8.

Audi R&D boss Stefan Knirsch said he is confident the new electric saloon will deliver a unique driving experience through the use of electric motors and a power electronics package that Audi is developing.

Knirsch said: “Some rivals have gone for a synchronous motor with a high power density but at relatively low revs. There are also asynchronous motors that typically achieve similar power outputs but at much higher revs. From 2018, our electric cars will be equipped with asynchronous motors. We are convinced they offer higher efficiency levels than synchronous motors.”

Audi A2Q BEV With 300-Mile Range To Launch In 2018?

According to Auto Bild, Audi is reportedly working on a tiny city carcalled the A2Q with range of some 300 miles!!!

We’re not so sure we believe that Auto Bild report, but here it is (via Google Translate):

“In the booming SUV segment, there will be with A2Q and Q6 soon purely electric-powered Audi with thick battery packs. We expect 2017/2018 with the idea. Then the lords of the rings want to give correct flow. If the expected advances in battery technology are true to the compact A2Q from 2018 sparkle with 500 km E-reach, a year earlier-starting Q6 to create even 700 km between the socket stops. Great prospects.”

The A2Q isn’t what we’d call a SUV, but rather more like a small BMW i3 (tall city car).

Auto Bild continues:

“The A2Q – the name Q2 and Q4 also has can be protected Alfa – it goes completely against the BMW i3. Unlike the Bavarian neighbors but Audi does not develop completely new electric platform, but uses the familiar MQB modular architecture of Golf/A3.”

The translation gets a bit rough, but here’s the rest of it:

“In the Ingolstadt then every but deliberately a unique silhouette in the style of earlier A2 – after all is not the electric Audi may be confused about how the e-Golf with its conventional brethren. One of the identifying features of all future electric novelties include a smaller single-frame grille with chrome and the great aerodynamics package in which you want to replace the mirrors with cameras as soon as this technology is qualified for admission to the major markets.”

Again, we don’t believe that Audi will have ready this A2Q with 300 miles of range in 2018, but perhaps we’ll be proven wrong.

Source: Auto Bild

Audi A8 E-Tron Will Use TDI Engine

 

A report in Auto Express says that the upcoming Audi A8 e-tron will use it’s all new 3.0 liter TDI engine to power the plug-in hybrid.This may give Audi an efficiency edge on its PHEV competitors, cars like the Mercedes S Class HYBRID and the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series plug-in, both of which will employ a gasoline engine instead. The Audi TDI package should beat the 100 grams of CO2 per kilometer target so important to European buyers, and deliver a ton of torque as well.  Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi’s head of technical development, said that:

The 3.0-litre e-Tron will be used in different cars. The plug-in hybrid is an exciting combination.

The V6 TDI system will likely find its way into the rest of Audi’s larger automobiles like the Q7 and A6 as the company continues its push to offer a PHEV version of every model it sells. Well, almost. The Audi R8 e-tron won’t be offered as a hybrid, but will instead offer an all electric option on special order only. Audi will use a 1.4 liter gasoline engine hybrid in its smaller cars like the A3 e-tron, scheduled for sale in 2015.

The TDI hybrid will be good for 368 hp and 515 lb-ft of torque, and will have an electric-only range of 30 miles or more, joining its smaller sibling, the Audi A6 e-tron, which will go on sale in China first. Fuel economy figures weren’t discussed, but with more than 500 ft-lbs of torque on tap, I’d be happy with anything over 25 MPG.

Source: Gas2