Frankfurt Rumormill: Electric R8 concept joining Audi R8 Spyder
Audi R8 V10 - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Reports out of France and Germany indicate that in addition to the all-new A8 and A5 Sportback, Audi plans to reveal two versions of the R8 at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
Both Auto Motor und Sport and L'Automobile report that Audi will finally reveal the R8 Spyder at the IAA expo, with the French pub saying the drop-top supercar will be available with either the standard 420 hp, 4.2-liter V8 or the newly released 525 hp, 5.2-liter V10, allowing Audi to compete directly with the 911 4S, Turbo and convertible models.
However, the big news is the rumored reveal of an electric version of the R8. Details are scarce, so it's unclear if the R8 concept will be a pure EV, a diesel/gasoline-electric hybrid, a limited production model or, more likely, just an indication that Audi is looking at future powertrains. Regardless, we'll be on the floor in Frankfurt to bring you both the reveals if/when they happen.
Gallery: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro
[Sources: AMuS, L'Automobile]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JDM Life 3:19PM (5/27/2009)
They should have made them look more different from each other.
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John 3:30PM (5/27/2009)
Ummm... You do realize that, that isn't a picture of these two new models right?
Oh... You don't. Wow.
JDM Life 3:39PM (5/27/2009)
ummmmm
I know that. I'm saying they should have made the V10 model and V8 model look more different.
I know this is not the electric model....duh
BoxerFanatic 4:12PM (5/27/2009)
Isn't this getting a little out of hand?
How is an electrical drive system, with current technology, supposed to compete with liquid fuel?
And if it isn't the best the system can be, or better than what is otherwise offered, like the gas powertrains, then it doesn't belong in a sports car.
Caveats, compromises, and pandering to PC don't belong in sports cars that are purpose built for only one primary reason. To PERFORM as best as they can.
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chuck 10:56PM (5/27/2009)
Go screw yourself, hater
BoxerFanatic 9:51AM (5/28/2009)
Wow, brilliant comeback.
Doesn't reek of desperation at all. ;-)
When electric drive gains an on-board powerplant that doesn't deplete as fast as a battery, and the whole system both performs as well or better while going just as far or farther on it's on-board energy supply... When it takes as little or less time to re-energize as to re-fuel, and the car so equipped weighs as much or less than gasoline powered variant of the same car, give me a call. When it meets ALL of the criteria. Because currently, no electric drive car can match or beat all of those criteria at the same time.
Until then, it is an inferior system, with drawbacks that hinder the use of the vehicle as a sports car. Inferiority may be acceptable in some cases, but in a sports car, it is an un-necessary, and unwelcomed drawback. If you want political correctness and inferiority, with added complexity, buy an econo-hybrid.
Go drive your Prius, and leave the sports cars to those who know what they are, and what they should be.
Motor_Yakuza 3:50PM (5/27/2009)
Electric R8? I'il believe it when I see it.
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zamafir 4:28PM (5/27/2009)
makes sense, given all the 100 year talk and recent audi hybrid/ev concept junk.
LimeDaiquiri 4:07PM (5/27/2009)
Please.
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zard 4:29PM (5/27/2009)
I would prefer gasoline version over electric one. It would be good to see if they bring E85 only version of R8...(higher compression ratio)
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matt 5:21PM (5/27/2009)
i wouldve preferred to see the TDI version over an electric one.
DA 4:43PM (5/27/2009)
An electric sports car is a no starter for me. You have to have acceleration, looks, handling and the beautiful sound of a lusty motor.
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zard 4:54PM (5/27/2009)
If gasoline car was a human, electric car would be a robot. Gasoline sports car has the soul whereas electric doesn't..
The FedEx Man 6:13PM (5/27/2009)
I don't know; the combination of instant torque and an eerily silent engine seems very tempting to me. Something new and different...
watcher 10:13PM (5/27/2009)
incase you haven't noticed.. electric cars (like the tesla) have instand power/torque on demand when you mash the accelerator, whereas your gas guzzler needs to rev up and go through the gears to compete. Granted it's not perfect, but performance wise.. with the right tuning, the electric will whup ass.. if all you want is the sound... by a soundtrack of the stuff.. I enjoy the sound as the next guy but if sound is the only reason then get a life.. there's more to it than that.
BoxerFanatic 10:02AM (5/28/2009)
@watcher....
Until the battery runs out, and you have to charge the car for hours to get it re-energized.
A Lotus Elise is the same chassis that is faster, lighter, less expensive, less complex, and re-fueling at a gas station takes only a couple of minutes.
Chassis for chassis, electric still has too many drawbacks, even if instant torque is something that some consider a positive.
A sports car is no place for drawbacks. A sports car is supposed to do the best it can at the purpose for which it is designed, performance handling, usually with enough flexible-application (wide RPM band) power to properly exploit those capabilities.
And most people want their sports cars to have a bit more passion than Mr. Roboto. Thanks, but no thanks.