Ingolstadt based car maker,Audi, had originally planned to launch the R8 e-tron in the year 2012. But Audi delayed the model indefinitely because they were “concerned about the limited range of pure electric cars with existing battery technology.”
Now according to recent developments, the car is back on track thanks to new upgrades to the lithium-ion battery technology and changes in the company’s research and development department.
According to Drive, an updated R8 e-tron is slated to go into limited production in late 2014. Not much is known about the model, but it will reportedly feature a new battery pack that will enable the car to travel approximately 400 km (248 miles) on a single charge. The original R8 e-tron had an estimated range of just 215 km (134 miles).
Citing company insiders, Drive reports- “Our engineers and technicians are further developing the car and its electric drive system.” “The range has grown significantly, allowing the potential for a small scale production.”
Changes to the battery setup include an alternative chemical process, which has helped acheive an energy density greater than the original 48.6-kWh rating. A rear-wheel-drive setup and lightweight construction are expected to be retained, as well as the dual-electric motor design which delivers a combined power of 374 HP (280 KW). This setup enabled the car to accelerate from stanstill to 100 kmph in a scant 4.2 seconds, before hitting an electronically limited top speed of 200 kmph.
Stay tuned to Motoroids for more dope on the Audi R8 e-tron.
via : Drive