Tesla BEV Competition Developments

[ScepticMatt]

Audi talks Q7 BEV (the one detailed months ago in Autobild magazine)
It confirms that the R8 ev is a test mule for future Audi EVs, similar to the roadster->model s transition.


Audi confirms large all-electric SUV | Auto Express

 

[Beryl]

The R7 is supposedly autonomous.
I Rode 500 Miles in a Self-Driving Car and Saw the Future. Its Delightfully Dull | WIRED

If the R8 is slated the same, they have a real Tesla competitor. IMO. Otherwise, it only sounds like a very nice, long range BEV.

 

[RobStark]

Audi has said the R8 BEV is a special order vehicle that will be priced at the top of the range.

And the R8 V10+ starts at $173.5k. Europe wide, North America wide nor Eastern China wide fast charging network included. Or available.

We are looking at a ~$200k BEV here.

How much cheaper is a Q7 BEV gonna be if it has the same battery pack?

 

[ecarfan]

Doesn't sound like the R8 EV will be a big seller, and likely not a Tesla competitor. Might steal a few sales, but not many.

 

[FANGO]

Audi has been talking about the r8 for like 7 years now. It's never getting made. Every word spoken about it is a waste of everyone's time. Forget about it until it's actually on the roads. Until then ignore their bs. Audi is full of it.

 

[Alfred]

R8 e-tron

First-hand information from Hackenberg (in German). He stated that the r8 e-tron is indeed just a development platform and it will not be built in series. Some samples may be custom built to order. The aim will be a "SUV-like" battery electric car with a range of over 500Km, apparently aiming to better the Model S.

 

[ScepticMatt]

http://ecomento.tv/2015/03/10/audi-...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Not first-hand. A repost of the AutoExpress article above.

 

[Bgarret]

We are doomed wink Audi is developing a Model X killer!

Tesla Model X Competitor Confirmed By Audi: Sleek Electric SUV May Beat It On Range - Yahoo Autos

you would think that some journalist would have an intern look back over the last 5 years and summarize all the Audi electric vehicle claims. "Out in about 2017...." Really? I know Volkswagon has almost as much cash as Apple, but there is no prototype developed, Audi currently has no battery technology to scale, no manufacturing and will still need to go through a reluctant dealership system to "market" the car. I wish it were true, but I sense a Mirai-like production goal of 4-5,000 cars by 2020.

 

[Gerasimental]

A huge SUV weighing more than Model S and with a substantially larger frontal area and C_d going more than 300miles on a 90kWh battery pack? Right.

 

[MartinAustin]

A huge SUV weighing more than Model S and with a substantially larger frontal area and C_d going more than 300miles on a 90kWh battery pack? Right.

...at 55mph.

 

[Gerasimental]

...at 55mph.

Or downhill

 

[techmaven]

...at 55mph.

Actually, it's worse than that since the NEDC Combined test cycle has an average speed of 33.6km/h or 21 mph. The average speed for the Japanese JC08 cycle is 24.4 km/h or 15 mph. To be fair, these cycles have a number of start and stops - the Model S fares particularly poorly as a heavy vehicle on tests with a lot of start/stops.

The different driving cycles - Car Engineer

Nissan in the UK, for example, presents Leaf range this way: Range - Nissan Leaf car battery autonomy - electric cars Nissan
Note the 38 mph speed for 124 mile range.

 

[Lump]

Mercedes' self-driving car that is built for luxurious living spotted cruising around the streets of San Francisco | Daily Mail Online

It is unclear whether the F015 was being operated by a human driver or not when it was spotted cruising around San Francisco. Footage of the car was later circulated on Instagram and Twitter.

 

[Beryl]

Super news regarding Mercedes. Love the cabin styling and hope it gives Tesla the incentive it needs to bring on more autopilot functions.

 

[ModelX]

Looks like a great car, I wish it was all electric and had a release date!

 

[ecarfan]

At The Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion. Mercedes claims the car is a "hybrid" and can run on batteries or on electricity produced by fuel cells. That would be a foolish decision. The interior is innovative though I think a wood floor in a car that is supposed to be so advanced looks ridiculous.

Come on Daimler, stop wasting money on concept cars that will never go into production and instead build a real EV competitor to the Model S!

 

[RobStark]

The interior is innovative though I think a wood floor in a car that is supposed to be so advanced looks ridiculous.

Back when Mayback was a separate brand and wanted the Rolls Royce reputation for bespoke cars a friend of mine asked they if they could do a heated cobblestone floor like his bathroom. That was the funniest think I had heard in a good long while. Mayback said no of course.

 

[Beryl]

That is the point of the wood -- right or wrong, they believe people want to feel like they are at home and wood (not carpet) is currently popular.

 

[evme]

Someone managed to get a test drive on a new electric R8 prototype:

2015 Audi R8 e-tron first drive review

 

[AudubonB]

I'm very happy to laud non-Tesla autos when they deserve it. But if not....

So...for me....that Mercedes looks like one of those CreatureFeature monsters whose jaws open up to reveal a zillion slavering teeth. Yecch!