Following the R8 e-tron, which was a limited edition car, Audi could now be working on an all-electric supercar.
“You can very well imagine that at some point in time we will have an electric supercar,” said Peter Mertens, Audi’s New R&D boss, at the Formula E race in Berlin earlier this month. Mertens, newly arrived from Volvo, made it clear that he is keen for Audi to have another halo electric model, however, plans for such a car are still in the planning stages.
“The question is ‘would I like to make it happen soon?’ and the answer is yes, of course,” he said. “For a brand like Audi, a supercar is always interesting and it’s a segment in which we have been playing. We have been a very serious player.”
Mertens has committed to build e-tron models that will eventually replace the company’s combustion-powered offerings.
He, however, insisted that electric Audis will have to be distinct designs, rather than just being another R8 spin-off like the e-tron.
Mertens has said that the company will look at a technical collaboration with Porsche to make fast EVs, and a super-sports version with high-performance 800V electrics instead of the 400V system of current Audis.
“800V puts a significant extra cost on the bill. We need to evaluate whether customers will be prepared to pay that. In segments like super-sports cars, the answer will be yes, no doubt about it,” said Mertens.
