AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: AUDI E-TRON CONCEPT

On The Cover Review: Audi e-Tron Concept

This car may look a little like the production Audi R8, but it was quite radical under the sculpted sheet metal.  If a supercar can be guilt-free, this may be it.  For the lead foots in the audience, the e-Tron cranks out an otherworldly 3,319 lb-ft of torque and 313-hp.  Audi claims 0-60 in 4.8 seconds.  The high torque numbers make more sense when you realize that the e-Tron is powered by four lithium-ion battery-powered electric motors; one for each wheel.  The concept car cost Audi some $2-million to construct, and is made from lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber panels.  The e-Tron we saw in Detroit was actually a newer version of the one that was originally unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.  So what about this car might we actually see in production?  Style-wise, we could be looking at the next generation R8.  Mechanically, we should be seeing this quad battery-powered motor idea on the upcoming Audi R4 production model.   That makes the e-Tron a significant concept in both style and function.