Audi shoots down electric R8 rumor for Frankfurt
Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric R8 supercar (or an extended range EV that uses a diesel range extender) to the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September have been denied by an Audi spokesperson. The anonymous Audi representative told Inside Line simply that the stories in Auto Motor und Sport in Germany and L'Automobile in France were "not true." Instead, Audi will stick to the liquid fuel path and show off the R8 Spyder with gas engines. While we certainly don't fault Audi for sticking with what it knows, the possibility of a limited edition R8 EV challenging Tesla made for a good night's dream, anyway.
Gallery: Detroit 2008: Audi R8 V12 TDI
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark 10:22AM (5/29/2009)
Audi still are stuck in the 20th century.
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Tohe 11:12AM (5/29/2009)
A diesel powered range extender didn't make a whole lot of sense, that should have been a clue.
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Nick P. 12:01PM (5/29/2009)
If Audi were any smart, they would see the reaction to this story as a strong indicator for market demand. These two journalists did make up the story, but it's like free market research. Audi should have answered "We don't make this car...yet".
This is why Tesla has the field wide open: they are fighting dinosaurs who prefer doing the same old tired designs than doing something new.
Nick P.
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Mark 12:10PM (5/29/2009)
Audi are doing their shareholders and their customers a disjustice by ignoring a potiental market. VW and Audi are pretty much the same thing at the moment and they are trying to sell junk (ICE) to people for as long as possible.
ChrisStroetmann 8:20PM (6/01/2009)
Please, take a look at this: http://www.styleofspeed.com/land/carconversion/apollose/index.htm
Hopefully it explains it all.
With best regards
C. Stroetmann
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