Geneva 2015: Next-Gen Audi R8, R8 E-Tron Bowing In March
Audi announced Monday it would be bringing its next-gen R8 to the 2015 Geneva Auto Show in March, with two versions set for the ramp.
CarAdvice.com.au reports one of the versions bowing in Geneva will be an all-electric model promising future owners a range of around 250-310 miles per charge. The range figure is the result of Audi tech development board member Ulrich Hackenberg pulling the plug on the previous R8 e-tron project due to its low 136-mile range:
First I did agree to stop such a project. The project had to be re-engineered because the range was 220km – it was not enough. So what I made with the team was to continue to work on this, and we could realise between 400 and 500 [kilometres battery range]. Or something beyond 400km.
The revised R8 e-tron will be joined by a gasoline-powered version that will lose its manual transmissions entirely, going all in on dual-clutch automatics instead. Hackenberg says that such gearboxes are best “for the record of [one’s] personal lap time” over rowing one’s own.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Looks like a waterbug roach
Now that's Beast Mode. So cool looking.
It really IS about time to replace this model. It's been around since what, 08? Not that there's much wrong with the current model; I think it's aged and been updated nicely. But still - super car customers expect the latest and greatest, and the current R8 has not been that for about 4 years.
I have always been a huge fan of the R8 - this is my dream car. Beautiful, powerful, and not unreasonable to actually drive day-to-day.