Audi’s Electric Division Detailed

Audi’s E-Performance initiative, which it set up late last year, has released its second car – the new e-tron. An affiliate, Audi Electronic Venture (AEV), oversees the project. The AEV works with universities, research institutions and start-up companies in the areas of electronics, mobility and design.

Frank van Meel, head of Audi’s vehicle electrification strategy, said that the company is seeking to establish concepts that can be put into production. Van Meel said that instead of converting cars, they aim to develop stand-alone models that are perfect for electric propulsion. He revealed that Audi decided to use electric drive on sports cars instead of city cars due to studies that conclude that people are more likely to “fork out for a sleek two-seater than a boxy commuter” even if these cars use the same technology. Van Meel described the second, smaller e-tron to be a “rocket off the line.” It has rear-wheel drive but due to torque vectoring, the car still has “great traction and terrific agility.”

12►

[Source: Autocar]