Audi has ceased production of the pure-electric R8 e-tron, just 19 months after the 456bhp two seater was first revealed at the 2015 Geneva motor show.
The victim of a streamlining of Audi’s electric car operations, the R8 e-tron was conceived to act as a showcase for the German car maker’s battery technology and electrical system know-how prior to the arrival of a range of more practical EVs, including a production version of its e-tron quattro concept due in 2018.
With two electric motors producing a combined 456bhp and 679 lb ft, the rear-wheel-drive coupé has a claimed 0-62mph time of just 3.9sec.
A 92kWh lithium ion battery mounted within the centre tunnel and in what would be the engine bay in the 532bhp 5.2-litre V10-powered R8 provides it with a claimed range of more than 280 miles.
Audi won’t be drawn on how many R8 e-trons have been produced, although low demand meant it was only built to order on a special line at Audi’s Neckarsulm plant in Germany.
Earlier incarnations of the R8 e-tron based on the first-generation R8 were only developed to concept stage and weren't offered for sale to the public.
Audi intends using the engineering and manufacturing capacity freed up by the ceasing of R8 e-tron production to focus attention more heavily on other electric car projects in a program chairman Rupert Stadler says will see it offer three new electric cars, including an SUV, saloon and hatchback, by 2020.
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Huh
Seems very impressive though. 92 kWh in a 1780 kg body? Aside from the price, it sounds like a Tesla Roadster for the mid-2010s.
All I can find about the sales is that they sold "less than 100". If it's close to the hundred, that's another impressive figure given the €1m price tag and time spent on sale.
Though quite how they justified that price is a bit beyond me - batteries are expensive but that must be the worst $-per-kWh deal in automotive history.