Imagenation Cars

The German car maker Audi is planning a fifth E-tron model, an Audi E-tron Spyder. The car is expected to be an evolution of the E-tron system and previews the electric version of the upcoming convertible version of the R4 sports car.

This is vastly different when compared to the original e-Tron concept. The Audi R8 e-Tron was shown off a year ago with four electric motors combining for 230 kW (313 hp) and up to 4,500Nm of torque. With that massive figure, the car cruised to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds en route to a 200 km/h top speed. Its range of 248 kilometers came from the 213kg lithium-ion battery pack, which required up to eight hours recharge time on a 220V outlet.

The e-Tron Spyder might use the same technology found on the e-Tron Detroit Show car, which was powered by two electric motors delivering a total output of 204hp (150kW) and 2,650Nm (1954.54lb-ft). With these numbers, the car can accelerate 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in just 5.9 seconds while the sprint from 60 to 120km/h (37.28 – 74.56mph) is achieved in a mere 5.1 seconds.

Featuring a wraparound windscreen and no roof whatsoever, making it a permanent convertible, the R4 Spyder gets an identical front end to the fixed-roof e-tron, while at the back the bodywork surrounding the rear lights is finished in black.

The Audi e-tron Spyder is most likely based on the company's space-frame aluminium chassis, with two electric motors sending 204 HP to the wheels, and a production version should debut around 2012.

Source: AutoBild