Audi e-tron Concept: the design

The official release and sketches that document the design process of the Audi e-tron Concept, the 2-seater sportscar that showcases the company's technologies for the development of future electric models.

The trapeze of the single- frame grille dominates the front end and is flanked by two large air intakes.

A new design element unique to the e-tron are the air intakes in the single-frame grille and in front of the rear wheel wells.

They are closed flush under normal circumstances and opened by means of flaps when additional cooling air is required. The concept car has a low drag coefficient, which gets even better when the flaps are closed.

The vehicle body is compact. The sweeping line of the front end and the flat curved roof immediately identify the two-seater as an Audi. The contours of the flanks are familiar.

The e-tron is 1.90 meters (74.80 in) wide, just 4.26 meters (167.72 in) long and 1.23 meters (48.43 in) tall – the proportionsof a supercar.

The body structure is based on Audi Space Frame (ASF)technology and was realized as a hybrid construction. All add-on parts – doors, covers, sidewalls and roof – are made of a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP).

Characteristic for the concept of the Audi e-tron is the near totalelimination of switches and small components such as the ignition.

The racing-inspired lightweight bucket seats combine excellent lateral support with comfort.

(Car Body Design's news)

Audi e-tron Concept: video

Audi E-tron Concept

According to Audi, the four electric motors (one for each wheel) combine to deliver a total of 3,319 pound-feet of half-shaft-shredding torque. On the flip side, the motors only generate the equivalent of 313 horsepower, so Audi says the E-tron takes 4.8 seconds to hit 60 mph from a stop. That's fast, but such performance is more than a second slower than the Audi R8 V10, which produces a measly 391 lb-ft of torque.

Audi says the whole car only tips the scales at 3,527 pounds. A sizable chunk of that is the 1,036-pound battery pack that resides behind the driver.

Comprised of lithium-ion cells and cooled by water, the E-tron's battery pack gives it a maximum range of around 150 miles, and no doubt substantially less if you decide to dip into the ocean of torque on tap. The E-tron is also limited to a top speed of 124 mph in order to conserve battery power.

(InsedeLine's news)