Four-door model previewed in new sketch
As part of its aggressive plan to make more electrified cars, Audi will launch a four-door E-Tron Gran Turismo in the next few years. The automaker announced the new model at its annual press conference this week and released a sketch of a prototype version.
“We interpret sportiness very progressively with our fully electric e-tron GT, and this is how we will take our high-performance brand Audi Sport into the future,” Audi AG Chairman Rupert Stadler said in a statement. The E-Tron GT will make an interesting rival to the Tesla Model S.
Production on the E-Tron GT will begin early next decade at Audi’s Böllinger Höfe facility near Neckarsulm, Germany. This is where Audi currently produces the R8, although the future of the supercar remains unclear. As our colleagues at AUTOMOBILE pointed out, there’s no replacement planned for the R8 right now and it’s expected to be phased out in 2020.
Audi will bring out its first fully electric series-produced vehicle later this year. The E-Tron Quattro SUV will enter production in Brussels, Belgium. It’s expected to have three electric motors that produce a combined total of 429-496 hp depending on whether or not a boost function is activated. An E-Tron Sportback is due next year and will also make Brussels its home for production.
By 2025, Audi plans to have more than 20 electrified models that will make up a third of its unit sales. Audi is working with Porsche on new vehicle architectures to accommodate new electric vehicles.
Pictured below are the E-Tron Quattro and E-Tron Sportback
Source: Audi