Audi e-tron (2009)
Audi presents the highlight of the 2009 IAA: the high-performance sports car e-tron with an electric drive system. Four engines – two each on the front and rear axles – drive the wheels and turn the study into a true quattro. With an output of 230 kW (313 PS) and 450 Nm of torque, the two-seater goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds. Going from 60 to 120 km/h (37 to 75 mph) takes 4.1 seconds. The lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 42.4-kilowatt hours for a range of around 248 km (154 mi).
The performance figures are by no means the only evidence of the consistent and holistic strategy. The design makes it clear that the e-tron belongs in the major leagues of sports cars, and the package takes into account the specific realities of an electric vehicle. The battery is directly behind the passenger cabin for an optimal center of gravity and axle load distribution.
The e-tron is able to freely distribute the powerful torque of its four electric motors to the wheels as required. This so-called torque vectoring allows for dazzling dynamics and an undreamed-of level of agility and precision when cornering.
Audi has taken a new and in some cases revolutionary approach to many of the technical modules. A heat pump is used to efficiently warm up and heat the interior. The drive system, the power electronics and the battery are controlled by an innovative thermal management system that is a crucial component for achieving the car’s range without compromising its high level of interior comfort. Networking the vehicle electronics with the surroundings, which is referred to as car-to-x communication, opens new dimensions for the optimization of efficiency, safety and convenience.
