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Audi Discontinues R8 e-tron After Less Than 100 Sold... Because Tesla

Even though Audi was on to a great idea - combining the R8 with an electric powertrain - it somehow managed to make the car equivalent of the dodo bird. The fact that they only managed to sell 100 units, though not as ridiculous as the price tag or the fact that nobody knows what it's like to drive.
Audi Discontinues R8 e-tron After Less Than 100 Sold... Because Tesla 22 photos
Photo: Audi
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According to Car and Driver, Audi has stopped production after less than 100 have been made. But that numbers could be anything from 1 to 99, and judging by how rare sightings have been, we think it's closer to the former.

The R8 e-tron was revealed in 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show, where it was presented next to the regular V10 supercar and an endurance racing version. But it was built exclusively to order and, get this, cost somewhere around €1 million ($1.1M). That makes it more expensive than the Porsche 918 Spyder, which we think is a much better car.

We say "think" because nobody has actually published any reviews of the R8 e-tron, at least not since it was a prototype based on the previous generation several years ago. It's more reclusive than the Volkswagen XL1 and much less successful than the Aston Martin Cygnet. And just like the Cygnet and the dodo bird, the R8 e-tron didn't take a serious enough look at its environment.

We all know what the Tesla Model S is capable of in a straight line. Meanwhile, BMW's key to success with the i8 has been bold design. But the R8 e-tron is somewhat lacking in both regards. Under its watered down supercar body there are only only 456 hp coming from two electric motors, enough to go from 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). However, as standard, it only goes up to 130 mph (205 km/h). So about 90% of all Audi models are faster than this €1 million toy.

What's more, the lithium-ion battery only offered a range of 500 kilometers, if that. There's now a 400km version of the Renault Zoe that you can buy for about 1/40th of the price.

Despite the setbacks, Audi is not going to give up on electric cars. There's a rumor of a fully-electric SUV being built at the same factory in Mexico as the Q5, plus a posibility of hydrogen propulsion for either the next-gen A7 or A8.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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