Costing more than the R8 supercar, it is expected the showroom-ready e-tron will carry a price tag of around £120,000. Featuring the same lithium-ion battery pack and four electric motors, it will get a new aluminium spaceframe chassis and a lightweight aluminium body, virtually identical to the e-tron concept. What's more the e-tron name will be carried over too - although not in France, where 'etron' is slang for fecal matter.
Development has already started on the newcomer. Project team leader Thomas Krauter told Auto Express: "Apart from some of the dramatic aluminium trim pieces, the exterior will stay the same on the production car. We will manage the aerodynamics with an underfloor tray so there will be no large spoilers and the car will maintain its simple look. Between now and 2012, our acoustic department will create a synthesised 'engine' sound too, but our biggest challenges will be to keep all the electrical systems cool - and also to integrate the latest battery technology."
