Audi A1, A2 e-trons put on the backburner
The Audi A1 e-tron and A2 e-tron have reportedly been placed on the backburner as the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer questions the feasibility of its electric city car duo.
UK’s Car Magazine reports members of Audi management are not convinced the A2 e-tron can sell in large enough numbers at its anticipated price of 40,000 euros ($50,700) given its limited range and diminutive size.
The 3.8m Audi A2 concept was unveiled at last year’s Paris motor show. Powered by an 85kW/270Nm electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, the concept had a total driving range of approximately 200km.
At the time, Audi predicted the A2 could go into production by 2015, around two years after the global launch of the all-electric BMW i3 city car, although Audi is now said to be focusing on other projects.
The future of the A1 e-tron appears similarly bleak in the short term. The hybrid-electric A1 e-tron concept debuted at the 2010 Geneva motor show, sporting a 254cc rotary engine, a 74kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery.
Audi estimated the A1 e-tron had a range of 210km and could sprint from 0-100km/h in 10 seconds.
While it is putting its electric city cars on ice, Audi is steaming ahead with development of its first electric production car, the Audi R8 e-tron sports car.
Captured in spy photographs in April, the R8 e-tron appears close to production-ready, and is expected to go on sale in limited numbers as early as next year.