Frankfurt 2009: Audi e-tron is red outside, nice inside
by Jonathon Ramsey on Sep 15th 2009 at 10:00AM 
Audi e-tron concept -- Click above for high-res image gallery
The Audi e-tron concept has a few good things going for it on the outside, like lustrous red paint, some wicked cool taillights, and... well... maybe something else that's escaped us. Sadly, those things are overcome by the chrome baleen job for the front and rear grilles, the too-tricky-by-half headlights, the remnant lines of a blade, and... those... wheels... which look like they were designed by Schick. Inside it's much nicer, with a heart-thumpingly curvy design and a thing-of-beauty center console. Although the steering wheel gives us a hint of pause, the angled gauges make us happy. If Audi can actually get that leviathan powertrain sorted out for production (again, 3,319 lb-ft of torque?!), all would be forgiven. In the meantime, try and enjoy it in the gallery below.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JD 10:11AM (9/15/2009)
Beautiful interior, if only it didn't have the chrome job at the front which makes it look like Jaws from Bond, it'd be an all round spectacle of a vehicle aesthetically.
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gstylezprodigy 10:18AM (9/15/2009)
I rather have a problem with the rims and grille (which you can change easy). Then if they were to make another strange looking Prius inspired audi super car.
BoneHeadOtto 10:12AM (9/15/2009)
Shedding a tear for what once was a beautiful R8...
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vespid82 10:17AM (9/15/2009)
Agreed. It looks unfinished.
Davin Black 10:25AM (9/15/2009)
@vespid82: So true. It's like they sat down and said, "Meh...the Panamera will be there, so we can clean it up later."
Zamafir 10:37AM (9/15/2009)
Very unusual for Audi.
mk3 3:58PM (9/15/2009)
It's a concept. It looks that way to be different from the regular R8 and not just a R8 with electric motor. It looks that way to say to resemble the future of this technology.
BoneHeadOtto 5:37PM (9/15/2009)
The future looks far less pimp, far less exotic car, and far more practical IMO.
James Sonne 10:18AM (9/15/2009)
I think if I do a burnout in that thing while heading east I'll slow down the Earth's rotation.
Someone try it for about 3 minutes, I'm sick of leap years.
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happyfun86 10:21AM (9/15/2009)
I used to think the steering wheel on my Civic sunk in too far, and that the Mazda Ryuga had the weirdest-looking taillights. Then I saw this thing.
And how many donks did they have to skin to get all that chrome? Seriously Audi, tone it down a tad.
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audi_arena 10:22AM (9/15/2009)
those tail-lights are dope
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Clippy 10:24AM (9/15/2009)
Nice inside? Wth? I don't see any inside... or are those 2 dials, a steering wheel, set of pedals and tiny seats considered "an interior"? Someone bring these Autoblog writers back to 2009 from the steam age they are in currently :)
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Davin Black 10:24AM (9/15/2009)
Dear Audi,
1. Replace this body with that of the RSQ
2. Since you want to be all brave and edgy, go with the RSQ's hemispherical wheels instead of the '73 Caddilac rims
3. Keep the powertrain.
4. ???
5. Profit.
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vespid82 10:25AM (9/15/2009)
+1
The RSQ already had the "electric supercar" look down!
Zamafir 10:40AM (9/15/2009)
5's about all they have a handle on with this concept.
EXP Jawa 10:30AM (9/15/2009)
Somehow this car reminds me of a red plastic toy Corvette that I had as a kid.
Like I said in the other related thread, that 3319 lb-ft isn't as mind-boogling as you seem to think when you compare it to what conventional performance cars actually put down to the wheels. Peak torque levels in the 3-4000 lb-ft range at the axle is actually pretty common. The big difference here is just the ability to deliver that level from zero RPM.
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mr.ed 10:38AM (9/15/2009)
Had me until the restrictive rear light, typical of a concept. My kid designs this stuff, would never allow a gaffe like that without a really good reason, such as cooling vents or such. Looks like arrow slits in a castle. Now, that's retro!
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Benoit Cerrina 10:42AM (9/15/2009)
there is a name issue, one should look what etron means in french
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DCLXVI 10:52AM (9/15/2009)
That's what I was about to say..."étron" that's a really bad name indeed !
Nuieve 11:01AM (9/15/2009)
Audi and red don't mix.
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