In a recent interview with Autocar, Audi boss Rupert Stadler had some exciting things to say about the future of the brand. Stadler commented that Audi is strongly committed to electrification, so much so that the company plans to bring several new electric models to the lineup in just a few years.
“By 2020 we will have three EVs in the line-up,” said Audi boss Rupert Stadler. “We’ll start with the production version of the e-tron quattro concept car, which will have a range of up to [310 miles]. By 2025, 25% of our line-up will be battery-driven models.”
Along with the e-tron quattro concept car Stadler references, sources say that Audi has confirmed the development of an A9 e-tron model that will feature three electric motors, a 95 kWh battery and fully autonomous driving capabilities. The model, which would certainly be a Tesla competitor, may arrive in 2020 according to several outlets.
Before this, the Q6 e-tron SUV, which is the production version of the e-tron quattro, is said to start production in Belgium in 2018. There is no confirmation about what markets or countries the models will debut in, but we’d love to see new Audi EV and hybrid cars available for sale in Springfield, MO.
There are few other details about the EV models that have been in the news, but we do know that head of research and development for Audi, Stefan Knirsch, has stated that the company’s electric drive systems will differ from Tesla’s.
“Some rivals have gone for a synchronous motor with a high-power density but at relatively low revs,” Knirsch said. “There are also asynchronous motors that typically achieve similar power outputs but at much higher revs … From 2018, our electric cars will be equipped with asynchronous motors. We are convinced they offer higher efficiency levels than synchronous motors.”
When more news about Audi’s EV efforts is revealed, we’ll keep you updated on our blog. Subscribe to stay up to date on Audi and dealership news.
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