Two is better than one, as the saying goes, and Audi is taking that to heart with its five-year goal of selling two cars in the U.S. for every one it sells now. The brand apparently feels that the philosophy applies to concepts, too, as it trotted out a second dream machine at the Paris show, the e-tron Spyder shown here. It joins the Quattro concept on the Audi stand in the City of Light.
A Brief History of Nearly Every E-Tron
This Spyder is the fourth entry in Audi’s e-tron fest. It started with the all-electric, all-wheel-drive e-tron concept that was shown about a year ago in Frankfurt. Next up was the e-tron concept—yep, same name—that dropped in Detroit. That one also was all-electric, but it was slightly smaller and delivered power to the rear wheels only. We were given the chance to drive e-tron number one and were told that limited production of that vehicle had been approved. The A1 e-tron from the Geneva show earlier this year was the third concept to wear the name. The A1 changed up the powertrain again, using an electric motor to drive the front axle and augmenting it with a range-extending gasoline generator.
And that brings us to the present e-tron, where the top has been removed and yet another propulsion system—plug-in hybrid—thrown into the mix. This slinky roadster drives its rear wheels with a mid-mounted, extra-powerful version of Audi’s 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6; output is 300 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque thanks to the addition of a second turbocharger. Audi’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission handles gearswaps. Things get more complicated, though, with a pair of electric motors powering the front axle. Electrical energy is stored in a 9.1-kWh lithium-ion battery up front, and the motors team up to make 88 hp and 260 lb-ft of immediate torque. The use of two motors instead of one allows for electric torque vectoring. Green numbers: The e-tron Spyder can travel an estimated 31 miles in electric-only mode, with a maximum speed of 37 mph. Fun numbers: Audi claims a 0-to-62-mph time of 4.4 seconds and a limited top speed of 155 mph.
The dual-motive strategy makes this a hybrid of sorts, although one that operates different ends of the car with its distinct power units. The battery can be charged via a port hidden below the Audi logo on the hood; adjacent to the port is a display that shows the charge state as well as a map graphic illustrating how far you can roam from your current location.
Looks Good, Goes Fast, No Top to Mess With
This e-tron’s styling will be appreciated by anyone who, like us, loves the company’s first two electric concepts. (Expect to see the look applied to a production sports car often referred to as the “baby R8” or R4.) Indeed, it looks a lot like the rear-wheel-drive e-tron Detroit concept—it’s dimensionally only slightly longer and wider than that car—as well as the Quattro concept that is being shown alongside it in Paris. Above the beltline, wraparound, frameless glass tapers toward the rear. Since this is an Audi we’re talking about, it’s almost no longer worth mentioning, but the lighting elements on this concept are all LED, all the time. The aluminum body panels are attached to a space frame constructed from a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber. Curb weight is claimed to be just under 3200 pounds.
The interior, like those of all recent Audi concepts, is a minimalist affair. As a result of the non-conformist drivetrain, there’s no need for a big center tunnel, so the center console is slim and houses only an MMI controller and a new-age shift lever.
This show car is proof that Audi has a lot of ideas brewing when it comes to alternative propulsion. We can expect conventional Audi hybrids soon—an A8 is likely to come first and a Q7 shouldn’t be too far behind—but it’s anyone’s guess as to when, or if, a diesel-electric with this type of layout will be on the product schedule. Audi of America head Johan de Nysschen told us that he thinks traditional diesel engines make more sense than hybrids for most Americans, but that the company would sell hybrids because of consumer demand. Marrying the two concepts in a passenger vehicle is a good idea, but doing so in a sexy sports car like this is an even better one.
by caranddriver.com
A Brief History of Nearly Every E-Tron
This Spyder is the fourth entry in Audi’s e-tron fest. It started with the all-electric, all-wheel-drive e-tron concept that was shown about a year ago in Frankfurt. Next up was the e-tron concept—yep, same name—that dropped in Detroit. That one also was all-electric, but it was slightly smaller and delivered power to the rear wheels only. We were given the chance to drive e-tron number one and were told that limited production of that vehicle had been approved. The A1 e-tron from the Geneva show earlier this year was the third concept to wear the name. The A1 changed up the powertrain again, using an electric motor to drive the front axle and augmenting it with a range-extending gasoline generator.
And that brings us to the present e-tron, where the top has been removed and yet another propulsion system—plug-in hybrid—thrown into the mix. This slinky roadster drives its rear wheels with a mid-mounted, extra-powerful version of Audi’s 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6; output is 300 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque thanks to the addition of a second turbocharger. Audi’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission handles gearswaps. Things get more complicated, though, with a pair of electric motors powering the front axle. Electrical energy is stored in a 9.1-kWh lithium-ion battery up front, and the motors team up to make 88 hp and 260 lb-ft of immediate torque. The use of two motors instead of one allows for electric torque vectoring. Green numbers: The e-tron Spyder can travel an estimated 31 miles in electric-only mode, with a maximum speed of 37 mph. Fun numbers: Audi claims a 0-to-62-mph time of 4.4 seconds and a limited top speed of 155 mph.
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Looks Good, Goes Fast, No Top to Mess With
This e-tron’s styling will be appreciated by anyone who, like us, loves the company’s first two electric concepts. (Expect to see the look applied to a production sports car often referred to as the “baby R8” or R4.) Indeed, it looks a lot like the rear-wheel-drive e-tron Detroit concept—it’s dimensionally only slightly longer and wider than that car—as well as the Quattro concept that is being shown alongside it in Paris. Above the beltline, wraparound, frameless glass tapers toward the rear. Since this is an Audi we’re talking about, it’s almost no longer worth mentioning, but the lighting elements on this concept are all LED, all the time. The aluminum body panels are attached to a space frame constructed from a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber. Curb weight is claimed to be just under 3200 pounds.
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This show car is proof that Audi has a lot of ideas brewing when it comes to alternative propulsion. We can expect conventional Audi hybrids soon—an A8 is likely to come first and a Q7 shouldn’t be too far behind—but it’s anyone’s guess as to when, or if, a diesel-electric with this type of layout will be on the product schedule. Audi of America head Johan de Nysschen told us that he thinks traditional diesel engines make more sense than hybrids for most Americans, but that the company would sell hybrids because of consumer demand. Marrying the two concepts in a passenger vehicle is a good idea, but doing so in a sexy sports car like this is an even better one.
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