Audi Electric R4

[the1sen]

Kinda reminds me of the VW Blue Roadster Concept.

[Walnuts]

I like it (personally would prefer a coupe). Too bad its going to be electric instead of something neat like a relatively sporty turbo diesel (I may be alone in thinking that) since they've put all that effort in developing high performance ones for racing and whatnot.

[fitfan]

i would say too bad its electric (yawn...) rather than plug in series electric hybrid (yeah!) - stuff the lotus onboard genset in it - then we would be talking! but i am one of the few people that think awd IS perfectly suited to hybrid drivetrain - RWD with FWD regenerative braking on the same motor - how cool would that be! ..awesome application for a torq split differental

...thats what i would build

i do like the styling nice clean cohesive, producable.

[the1sen]

Originally Posted by Walnuts

I like it (personally would prefer a coupe). Too bad its going to be electric instead of something neat like a relatively sporty turbo diesel (I may be alone in thinking that) since they've put all that effort in developing high performance ones for racing and whatnot.

That's my beef too. ****ers can't get it right.

[...m...]

...absolutely does not do it for me - debilitatingly banal to my eyes...

[the1sen]

Now that I've had some time to think about the total package, I agree ...m... It's a direct rip off of the Blue Sport Concept with a ****ty drivetrain.





PS - what publication do you write for?

[2006PolarBlueElise]

Another electric Sports car available... Awesome!!!

I hope more car companies join in!!!

[qball]

Originally Posted by the1sen

It's a direct rip off of the Blue Sport Concept with a ****ty drivetrain.

You realize that VW and Audi are the same company don't you?

[AgentTripleX]

I like.

[Exigent]

"Web reports suggest the zero-emission sports car, to be called the R4, could hit the road as early as 2011.

And a report on UK website Auto Express says the R4, a smaller version of the R8 supercar, will also have petrol-powered versions.

It says the new car could share a platform with the next-generation Porsche Boxster and Cayman, given that Porsche is now part of the Volkswagen Group, which also owns Audi.

The R4 will slot in just above the TT coupe in the Audi range, and will most likely share some petrol engines with the TT."

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Why are you guys hating on electric only cars? These things are just bound to get better every year, and personally I want to see them evolve. They're on a trajectory to make a gas/diesel engine worthless except as a boat anchor in a few yrs.

[Ender]

Future: an electric fun daily driver, and a petrol-powered Lotus weekend car.

Sounds good to me.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

I don't see what the value of any gas powered car is going to be in a few yrs when battery issues are better sorted. I'll miss shifting, but I'm sure some people miss adjusting their points.

Edit: I guess I pointed out for myself what you mean

[the1sen]

Batteries are the problem - and not an easy one to solve. I look forward to an all electric car, when the time is right. A $110,000 Lotus (aka Tesla) that doesn't handle very well because of weight but does 0-60 in 2.8 seconds is frankly BORING.

I suppose the only way for any company to develop battery tech is to build what exists today and HOPE to stumble upon something special.

In the mean time, while electric cars are still too expensive and heavy, I don't understand why Diesel Tech is not implemented in cars when it would be better on mileage, cheaper to run, and have more torque than a train. Oh - wait - they already do sell cars that do that.

In Europe.

[apk919]

Originally Posted by the1sen

Batteries are the problem - and not an easy one to solve. I look forward to an all electric car, when the time is right. A $110,000 Lotus (aka Tesla) that doesn't handle very well because of weight but does 0-60 in 2.8 seconds is frankly BORING.

I suppose the only way for any company to develop battery tech is to build what exists today and HOPE to stumble upon something special.

In the mean time, while electric cars are still too expensive and heavy, I don't understand why Diesel Tech is not implemented in cars when it would be better on mileage, cheaper to run, and have more torque than a train. Oh - wait - they already do sell cars that do that.

In Europe.

Some turbo diesels are available here... (hint: TDI) if Audi made the R4 available with a TDI engine...

[SweetDaddyD]

Originally Posted by MyFutureSelfnMe

I don't see what the value of any gas powered car is going to be in a few yrs when battery issues are better sorted. I'll miss shifting, but I'm sure some people miss adjusting their points.

Edit: I guess I pointed out for myself what you mean

You do realize electric cars have been around well over 100 years now, and in the early part of last century actually outsold gas cars for a while, right? Even if they get better every year they still have a long way to go before a practical car they will make. I know laptop batteries have been getting better every year, and still no matter what I get, it's crap after a year. I notice my couple year old Energizer Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries will no longer hold a charge longer than a couple days now either. It's got a long way to go before you aren't stuck replacing $20K worth of hazardous waste every year or two to get your short range whenever you try to use your car. Wake me up when an electric sports car is not only somewhat affordable, but can also make a trip to the mountains.....and back.

Diesel electric hybrid is the way to go.

[the1sen]

I think the big selling point for a Diesel Hybrid is real world MPG & torque gains that are here TODAY.

Honda sold the HF Civic some years ago with a rinky dink little gas engine that got 45-55MPG EASY! NO HYBRID AT ALL. WHY WON'T THEY BRING THAT BACK? It's absolutely MADDENING. Imagine if Toyota swapped the engine in a Prius with a Diesel.

But, the US isn't ready for that kind of reliability and efficiency yet.

F every single car maker for holding us hostage to subpar gas mileage FOR NO REASON other than greed.

[apk919]

Originally Posted by the1sen

I think the big selling point for a Diesel Hybrid is real world MPG & torque gains that are here TODAY.

Honda sold the HF Civic some years ago with a rinky dink little gas engine that got 45-55MPG EASY! NO HYBRID AT ALL. WHY WON'T THEY BRING THAT BACK? It's absolutely MADDENING. Imagine if Toyota swapped the engine in a Prius with a Diesel.

But, the US isn't ready for that kind of reliability and efficiency yet.

F every single car maker for holding us hostage to subpar gas mileage FOR NO REASON other than greed.

Not just greed... there's more to it than that.

For what it's worth, I just bought an '09 VW Touareg 2 TDI... 407 ftlbs. of torque, >5000 lbs curb weight, but 17/25 mpg. And it looks like it's really getting that mileage.

[SweetDaddyD]

Originally Posted by the1sen

I think the big selling point for a Diesel Hybrid is real world MPG & torque gains that are here TODAY.

Honda sold the HF Civic some years ago with a rinky dink little gas engine that got 45-55MPG EASY! NO HYBRID AT ALL. WHY WON'T THEY BRING THAT BACK? It's absolutely MADDENING. Imagine if Toyota swapped the engine in a Prius with a Diesel.

But, the US isn't ready for that kind of reliability and efficiency yet.

F every single car maker for holding us hostage to subpar gas mileage FOR NO REASON other than greed.

Even the Smart car they give us here is crappy. Doesn't get the mileage that the 20 old CRX did, yet it's half a car, at full price, that takes premium gas. Europe (and I think Canada) gets the diesel model. With 50+ MPG from a non hybrid standard turbo diesel Golf you would think the rinky dink Smart car would have no problem achieving 70+ mpg. And for the matter a hybrid diesel electric Golf should get 70-100 mpg. (heck with some people getting 65+ MPG on road trips with TDI's without crazy hypermiling they wouldn't even have to gain much efficiency from a hybrid drive train to be there)

My well used 1986 non turbo diesel Golf had 4 doors and a roomy hatch and got 52 MPG all day long and well over 700 miles per tank. It's pathetic that nearly 25 years later the Smart car they foist on us at half the size isn't even close.

Glad to see Audi starting to at least Advertise the diesel. The average American car buying public (your coworkers) are clueless on diesel.

Give us diesel electric!!!

[SweetDaddyD]

Originally Posted by apk919

Not just greed... there's more to it than that.

For what it's worth, I just bought an '09 VW Touareg 2 TDI... 407 ftlbs. of torque, >5000 lbs curb weight, but 17/25 mpg. And it looks like it's really getting that mileage.

Is that the 10 cylinder?