An All-Electric Audi Supercar Could Still Happen
After at last making a production R8 E-Tron in 2015 - having flirted with the idea for years - Audi didn’t keep the car around for long. The second-generation R8-based all-electric supercar was killed off around a year and a half after its debut, with under 100 built.
The move was down to Audi focusing its efforts on producing an all-electric SUV, but the E-Tron - reported to have a €1 million price tag at the time - may yet get a successor. Speaking to Autocar at the recent Berlin E-Prix, Audi R&D boss Peter Mertens said: “You can very well imagine that at some point in time we will have an electric supercar.”
“The question is ‘would I like to make it happen soon?’ and the answer is yes, of course,” he added. In the supercar segment, Mertens reckons: “We have been a very serious player.”
So far so vague, but it shows there’s a clear urge to build such a thing within the company. Autocar also speculates that it’d be a standalone car rather than an electrified version of the R8, due to Mertens’ ethos that E-Tron cars will need to be unique models in the future. A collaboration with Porsche is highly likely, given the cost implications of developing the powertrain.
So, do you like the sound of an all-electric Audi supercar with the guts of the eventual production Mission E?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
I actually think this would be cool, as long as the also keep the V10. The R8 just looks like a car that should be electric.
At Audi HQ: ‘’japanese are trying to make an electric nsx uhh…’’
Audis V10 is one of my favorite sounds. I hope an electric Audi supercar will sound cool too
but electric cars don’t really make any sound so how would it ever sound cool?
No thanks…
I’m here to see people whine.
Saw the R8 etron a few days ago in the flesh and i do have to say it was one of the best looking R8’s that I have seen so far.
if its a hybrid r8, now we’re tlaking
and i spelt talking wrong…
Oh bloody hell a hybrid would. Have been fine but full electric? Hell no
No thanks. V10 has my heart