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
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
Oh bloody hell a hybrid would. Have been fine but full electric? Hell no
No thanks. V10 has my heart