Audi is preparing a rival for the Tesla Model S in the form of a family car that will offer an all-electric range of 280 miles (450 kilometers). Audi’s technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg said the all-new electric vehicle is currently under development and will arrive in 2017.
For the moment it is not clear whether the new EV will be a standalone model or will be part of one of the existing model ranges, like the A3 e-tron, for instance. “Such a car is under development. I was able to reengineer the R8 e-tron project and technology with the team and we are on the way to a range of 450 km,” Hackenberg told Auto Express.
The increase in driving range has been made possible thanks to the next-generation of electric motors and batteries which feature a higher power density. According to Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer, head of powertrain development at the Volkswagen Group, the electric motors are up to five times more efficient than the current motors used in models such as the VW e-Golf.
While Hackenberg remained silent on the new EV’s body style, it is expected to adopt a sedan shape which would allow for better packaging. In a sedan, the bigger and more powerful batteries would be placed beneath the floor of the car so they would not impact on boot volume or passenger space.
Note: 2012 Audi A6 L e-tron Concept pictured
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