Photo: original image by autoevolution
The Audi R8 e-tron project started way back in 2013, when the Germans first thought about making an all-electric sportscar. A year after, it was scrapped, only to be revived when a new type of battery with much better range was developed. But the thing with batteries is that they tend to be heavy, no matter how advanced, and the latest reports suggest the production R8 e-tron that was unveiled in Geneva weighs 1,840 kg (4,056 lbs).
A number of publications were invited to Lucerne, Switzerland in order to test an R8 e-tron prototype. From the outside, it looks like a matte black version of the old car, but the electronic bits are all there underneath.
Crucially though, Australian magazine Drive has learned the kerb weight s a massive 1840 kg. How does it compare to a normal V10-powered R8? Well, the base model with 540 hp weighs 1,555 kg (3,428 lbs) while the R8 V10 Plus tips the scales at 1,454 kg (3,205 lbs).
So that means that even though it has a lot less power, the e-tron has to carry around almost 400 kilos. Part of that is the 92 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which gives it a total range of up to 450 kilometers (280 miles).
All things considered, the e-tron isn't actually a porker. If you think about it, this electric car has 462 HP (340 kW) and 920 Nm (679 lb-ft) of instant torque. That's just as much power and nearly twice more torque than the Lexus RC F, which coincidentally also weighs exactly 1,840 kilograms.
Not surprisingly, the first all-electric Audi is faster than Lexus, taking 3.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h, compared to 4.4s. However, Tesla's P85D version of the Model S is still faster (3.4s). Bummer!
Crucially though, Australian magazine Drive has learned the kerb weight s a massive 1840 kg. How does it compare to a normal V10-powered R8? Well, the base model with 540 hp weighs 1,555 kg (3,428 lbs) while the R8 V10 Plus tips the scales at 1,454 kg (3,205 lbs).
So that means that even though it has a lot less power, the e-tron has to carry around almost 400 kilos. Part of that is the 92 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which gives it a total range of up to 450 kilometers (280 miles).
All things considered, the e-tron isn't actually a porker. If you think about it, this electric car has 462 HP (340 kW) and 920 Nm (679 lb-ft) of instant torque. That's just as much power and nearly twice more torque than the Lexus RC F, which coincidentally also weighs exactly 1,840 kilograms.
Not surprisingly, the first all-electric Audi is faster than Lexus, taking 3.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h, compared to 4.4s. However, Tesla's P85D version of the Model S is still faster (3.4s). Bummer!
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