Audi R4
Encyclopedia
The Audi e-tron family is a series of electric
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...

 and hybrid
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...

 concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....

s shown by Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....

 from 2009 onwards.

It has been speculated that the second e-tron concept car, shown in 2010 in Detroit, provides a preview of a future mid-engined Audi sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....

 production model to be launched in 2012, possibly to be named Audi R4 or Audi R5, which may be available in both electric and internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...

-powered variants.

The name “e-tron” has been seen in the French-speaking press as laughingly close to the French word “étron” (turd).

e-tron performance

As this car is still in concept, much of its performance specifications is still uncertain. The car will have four electric motors, one per wheel. Together, these motors will produce ~3,320 pound-feet of torque. Top speed for the e-tron is limited to 124 miles per hour, and will be able to travel 150 miles on full charge.

In concept form, the e-tron also is equipped with conceptual technology: technology that communicates with other cars, road signs, etc.

e-tron Frankfurt

The first e-tron concept car was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. A two-seater, similar in appearance to the Audi R8, but slightly smaller, it is powered by four motors, providing four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...

. Together, these produce 230 kW and 4500 N·m (3,319 ft·lbf) of torque, resulting in an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds.

A 470 kg (1,036 lb) lithium-ion battery is located in front of the rear axle and provides a range of approximately 248 km (154 mi), with a full charge taking 6-8 hours from a normal household socket. The ceramic brake discs can also provide regenerative braking energy. A limited production model based on this car, called the R8 e-tron is reported to be under development.

e-tron Detroit

The second e-tron concept (confusingly, also named "e-tron") was shown at the 2010 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...

 in Detroit. Smaller than the Frankfurt car, this model had only two motors, powering the rear wheels. Power output is quoted at 150 kW and 2650 N·m (1,955 ft·lbf), with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds. A similar production model, based on a future mid-engined automotive platform codenamed 9X1, shared with Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....

 and Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...

, is reportedly under development.

A1 e-tron

The Audi A1 e-tron concept car, an electric
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...

 variant of the Audi A1 production model, was first shown at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The A1 e-tron is a series plug-in hybrid, powered by an electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...

 with a continuous output of 45 kW, and a peak output of 75 kW. A 254 cc Wankel engine
Wankel engine
The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine using an eccentric rotary design to convert pressure into a rotating motion instead of using reciprocating pistons. Its four-stroke cycle takes place in a space between the inside of an oval-like epitrochoid-shaped housing and a rotor that...

 is also used to power a 15 kW range-extending generator
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...

.

e-tron Spyder

Shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show
2010 Paris Motor Show
The 2010 Paris Motor Show took place from 2 October to 17 October 2010, in Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles.For 2010, the theme of the special exhibition was "The Incredible Collection 2: automobile manufacturers collections and museums."- Production cars :...

, this roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...

 is a plug-in hybrid powered by a 221 kW twin-turbo TDI 3.0 L V6 diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...

 driving the rear wheels, plus two electric motors together producing 64 kW powering the front wheels. Acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) is achieved in 4.4 seconds.

Audi presented the e-tron Spyder in January 2011 at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...

, near identical to the Paris show car, but this time painted bright red. The car was advertised with the same performance specifications, including an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (249.4 km/h).

External links

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