Audi R8 e-tron charged for competition

Audi will showcase its e-tron technology at an Austrian motorsport event specially organised for electric vehicles.

The R8 e-tron will be piloted by Audi board of management member, Michael Dick and factory driver Lukas Luhr over ten special stages totalling more than 160 kilometres.

"We already received very good feedback on the Audi R8 e-tron in LeMans," said Dick.

"In Montafon, the e-tron will put its potential to the test in ten different mountain, valley and timed special stages. This is a good opportunity to showcase Audi's integrated approach and to experience the fascination of electromobility in a sports car on the road."

The specially modified R8 utilises one electric motor per wheel to provide quattro all-wheel drive, delivering a total of 230kW and 4500Nm (not a typo) for sub five second 0-100km/h acceleration times. The vehicle's top speed exceeds 200km/h.

Drive is biased toward the rear axle (at roughly 70 per cent) but can be varied as required via a central control unit if slip is detected at either the front or rear. Understeer and oversteer can also be controlled by momentarily and precisely increasing power where required and braking the opposing wheel(s).

Power comes from a water-cooled lithium-ion battery located directly behind the passenger cabin for optimal weight distribution (42:58 front to rear). The battery pack is charged with a domestic household supply (230V/16A) via a plug installed where the fuel filler once was. Charging takes between six and eight hours, but can be shortened to 2.5 hours using a high-voltage supply. Regenerative braking provides a mild on-going charge when mobile.

The R8 e-tron will be used as a test bed for Audi's electric technology platform, with further research eventually seeing the package used in road-going versions.

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