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Rumors are kicking around the interwebs that Audi has outright axed the delicious R4. The vehicle was intended to drop into the company’s model line just below the TT, borrow more than a few styling cues from the luscious e-tron Detroit Concept and get its power from a range of efficient and powerful diesel engines. If that sounds good enough to bring a tear to your eye, get ready for some real waterworks. According to reports, the model has been canned because it would step on too many familial toes. In addition to robbing sales from the TT, Audi is worried that Porsche Boxster and Cayenne sales may see a hit, as well.

In addition, the R4 platform-mate, the Volkswagen BlueSport has also been scrapped due to cost concerns.

If that’s not enough of a beating for your, Audi has one last kick in the ribs to share: the A2 resurrection has also been delayed until at least 2016. The reason? The German automaker doesn’t want to have to shell out for a unique chassis for the vehicle and instead wants to find a suitable sister model to help spread the cost around.

Still, these reports come from various murky sources. Audi has yet to say word one about either the R4 or the A2.

Audi cancels R4, delays A2

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Nestled on the fringe of Stanford University’s campus in Palo Alto, California is one of the coolest toy stores in the automotive industry. Officially it’s called Volkswagen’s Electronics Research Lab, and inside they’re working on some of the most innovative technology that we’ll soon see in cars.

Volkswagen is using the ERL to develop electric cars, autonomous cars, online navigation, new human-machine interfaces and other electronics related technology. The reason the lab is in Silicon Valley is that VW wanted to tap into the “let’s-just-get-it-done” entrepreneurial spirit for which the region is famous. And it’s attracted some pretty interesting talent to work there.

For example, Martin Eberhard, the guy who created Tesla and who later had a major fallout with Elon Musk (who now owns Tesla), is now working on electric cars for VW. And yes, he’s still working with laptop-type batteries, which are officially known as the 18650. Eberhard claims he’s going to be able to come out with an electric version of the Golf with a 200-mile driving range, and an Audi e-tron with a 300-mile range.

Continue reading…

Continue reading Inside Volkswagen’s electronic toy store

Inside Volkswagen’s electronic toy store

When cruising at 15.53 miles per hour or slower, an electric car runs virtually silent. Once over that speed, road noise and air moving over the car begin to become prevalent and the car can be “heard” as it travels down the road. That silent running is an intriguing part of the electric car world, but it’s problematic, mostly because those speeds are generally reserved for traffic-clogged cities, parking lots and other areas where pedestrian foot traffic meets automotive. If you are hard of hearing, you might not know that an electric car is heading your way as you step out into the street. Audi is working to prevent this, by incorporating an exterior sound system into its e-tron.

A team of acousticians is hard at work behind Ingolstadt’s closed doors. Their goal is to develop a sound that reflects the brand’s core values. But what does Audi sound like?

According to Christian Schüller, Head of Brand Development/Corporate Identity:

“The obvious approach would be to work on the basis of the familiar sound of a combustion engine. On the other hand, we want to underscore that an electric or hybrid Audi is an innovative product. We also want to make our Vorsprung durch Technik audible in the era of electric mobility.”

Dr. Ralf Kunkel, Head of Acoustics at Audi AG, has a different idea:

“The sounds used for space ships in films are reminiscent of car sounds, yet are also very different, making this a rather interesting approach.”

Kunkel goes on to say that, although it’s unlikely we will see Audis that sound like jets or spaceships, we will hear something unique and “distinctively Audi.” He says to picture the Audi RSQ from the film I, Robot and we should get a good idea of what to expect. Follow the jump for the official press blast.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi’s electric e-tron to get artificial sound

Audi’s electric e-tron to get artificial sound

Audi has pulled back the covers on how it created the e-tron Spyder for the Paris Motor Show, and it’s giving us a rare glimpse into what went on behind the scenes. It took five months to turn the sketches into the Paris runway beauty, and Audi tells the story from the viewpoint of the designers modeling and how they balance styling with feasibility. Much of it was, of course, hand made, but even then it went beyond Audi’s show-car usual, such as building wheels each containing 66 individual parts.

Not surprisingly, the tale begins like a superhero fable – “It is a functional, rectangular building with a gray facade – a hall like thousands of others in the industrial parks dotting our cities…” – and you’ll find the details after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading How Audi created the e-tron Spyder

How Audi created the e-tron Spyder

Audi keeps on growing its e-tron family. The automaker pulled a fast one by unveiling yet another electrified monster at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, only this time, the low-slung hybrid came sans-top. The concept is powered by two electric motors and a 300-horsepower twin-turbo TDI V6 that comes to the fight with 479 pound-feet of torque. Audi says that despite the hefty 9.1 kilowatt-hour battery mounted up front, it managed to keep the weight low and distribute the pounds evenly across the chassis. As a result, this e-tron should be plenty flingable if it ever makes it off of the stage and onto a public road.

Audi says the e-tron Spyder hits the scales at 3,196 pounds and that the drivetrain can be driver-controlled to operate on electric power only at speeds up to 37 mph for a total of 31 miles. The manufacturer says that in city driving, the capability is more than enough to hang with traffic. If not, there’s always that juicy diesel V6 to play with. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Photos by Zach Bowman / AOL

Continue reading Paris 2010: Audi e-tron Spyder is what topless hybrid dreams are made of

Paris 2010: Audi e-tron Spyder is what topless hybrid dreams are made of

We aren’t sure of the provenance and we have no information beyond the images, but these could be the first sketches of the oft-rumored Audi e-Tron Spyder that’s supposedly set to debut at the Paris Motor Show. As you’d expect, this convertible creature appears to be based on the design of the e-Tron Concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show this year, not the original concept shown in Frankfurt. Still, no word on the powerplant involved, but if it is headed for production expect a run of 1,000 units in 2012. Hit the gallery for a few more images.

[Source: Caradisiac (translated)]

First images of Audi e-tron Spyder leak out?

There’s a lot of allure surrounding Audi’s all-electric e-tron. We’ve seen prototypes out and about on public roads and collected a fair share of photo galleries from different auto shows. Our comrades at AutoblogGreen even had the chance to ride shotgun in the R8-based electric rocket. But until now we haven’t thought much about Audi’s choice of nomenclature for its torque-tastic supercar, and according to Green Car Reports, Audi may have fudged this one… slightly.

Étron, in French, is apparently not a word that signifies electric power, sex appeal or innovation. It is, in fact, a word that’s closely associated with the less-than-glamorous act of excretion. If you hit up any one of the numerous online translation tools, you’ll learn that étron has some pretty… crappy synonyms, which include words like “caca,” “excrement,” “dung” and “feces.” Unfortunately, Audi may have inadvertently named its entire lineup of EVs after a bodily function that’s seldom associated with spectacular vehicles. That is, unless the automaker intended that we translate e-tron as, “the Audi that’s as fast as, well, you know.”

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Green Car Reports]

Oh, Crap: Audi mucks up e-tron name in French

Here’s what we know: Audi was doing something with a disguised and coupe (or cabrio) somewhere in Tyrolean Alps. Here’s what we don’t know: the precise nature of Audi’s activities nor the precise identity of the coupe. It has been surmised that it could be a more production-ready evolution of the Audi e-Tron Concept/R4 shown at the Detroit Auto Show in January, but a better guess might be a convertible version of the same concept.

Going through the five clips taken by an unknown and rather unsteady videocamera holder, that guess appears plausible. The lines look about the same, and an R4 Spyder was rendered as long as 18 months ago, and the R4 coupe is reportedly coming in 2013 to fill shoes below the TT. Or, knowing Audi, it could be any number of brand new things. We just hope it comes to the Paris Motor Show next month. So don your Zaruder-film glasses, have a look at the videos after the jump and tell us what you spy with your little eyes.

[Source: Carscoop]

Continue reading Video: Mystery Audi coupe spied on ski slopes

Video: Mystery Audi coupe spied on ski slopes

We’re taking this news with a grain of salt for now, but Motor Trend is reporting that Toyota is hard at work on a fully electric supercar. If there’s any truth to this report, Toyota President Akio Toyoda was so impressed after a spin in Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster that he immediately green-lit a feasibility study into the electric supercar project.

Lending at least an air of credence to this story is the fact that Toyota and Tesla are indeed working together in some as-yet-unknown capacity, and rumors of electric Toyota SUV mules powered by Tesla battery packs have abounded ever since the announcement was made. That said, some existing platforms converted to electric drive is a far cry from a completely new electric supercar.

In any case, Toyota’s supposed electric supercar would theoretically go up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Cell, Audi e-tron and whatever BMW’s Efficient Dynamics movement has cooking up. We should also point out that Toyota has indeed shown off a number of hybrid sportscar and electric vehicle concepts over the last few years, so such a project wouldn’t be completely out of the blue.

[Source: Motor Trend]

MT: Electric supercar from Toyota in the works?

Rumors have floating around for years that Audi has been planning to develop a small entry-level, mid-engine sports car, and Auto Motor und Sport is now claiming the so-called R4 will debut in 2013. The R4 is expected to be based on Audi’s second e-tron concept that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show last January although it will use internal combustion power instead of the electric drive of the concept.

The R4 is expected to weigh in at a comparatively modest 2,500 pounds and offer a choice of gas or diesel inline-four engines. Gasoline propulsion would come from a 180 horsepower 1.4-liter TSI unit while the high-mileage option would be the 170 horsepower version of the 2.0-liter TDI used in the TT and the Golf GTD. The R4 is also expected to be priced well below the TT with a base of about €22,000 (about $27,000). A tip of the hat to Chris!

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Report: Audi R4 to launch in 2013, slotted below the TT

So you think you’ve got what it takes to design an electric car? If so, Audi is interested in hearing from you. The company just kicked off an electric car competition that challenges people to try their hand at designing the cars of tomorrow. The competition is open to anyone with an eye for design who also knows a thing or two about electric cars. Audi officially calls the competition “The Production of Electric Automobiles,” and concept ideas are currently being accepted. Unfortunately, the site is in German, making entry a wee bit more difficult, but this translated Google page will help English-only speakers out.

There are a few guidelines that must be followed in order to have chance at winning the contest, but it’s pretty simple stuff. Of those who do enter before the July 31st deadline, Audi will select eight finalists to attend a workshop to perfect and resubmit their ideas. The company will then choose an overall winner in November. Bernd Griesbach, an Audi spokesperson for the event, hints at what the company expects from entrants:

We are convinced that we will receive many innovative and creative entries because the competition is a unique opportunity for young employees and potential employees. It is important that the concept can be easily implemented and demonstrates clear progress over the state of the art.

Interested? Give it a try, as there’s certainly nothing to lose. If you do well enough, your design might even be implemented in future Audi products and could even land you a spot at the company. How’s that for forward momentum? Follow the jump to learn more about the contest. Hat tip to Larzen!

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi wants your help designing its future electric vehicles

Audi wants your help designing its future electric vehicles

	Challenge Bibendum: riding in the Audi e-tron is a dream And that’s all it is for now.		Video: Coda Automotive promo clip explains electric sedan Answers and some more questions.
	Aptera fixes infamous opening door safety issue by simply recessing a button The X-Prize has had an effect.	Other news: Senator introduces bill to ban offshore drilling, increase CAFE standards to 55 MPG Chevrolet and OnStar to train emergency responders on electric vehicle technology Michelin execs explain why the company cares about greener tires, cars

AutoblogGreen for 06.03.10

According to Autocar in the UK, which is citing unknown “high-ranking Audi insiders in Ingolstadt,” the future of the Audi R4, Volkswagen BlueSport and possibly an unnamed entry-level model from Porsche (we vote 914) are currently being mulled by the three-headed German automaker. The major stumbling block? Whether or not a stamped steel architecture or Audi’s familiar aluminum spaceframe chassis should be used.

Naturally, we’d argue for the light weight of aluminum, which seems more appropriate for a line of sportscars… but at the price point afforded by the much less expensive steel. Decisions, decisions. In any case, the British mag continues to suggest that the R4 would presumably get two turbocharged gasoline engines (1.4-liters and 1.6-liters) along with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel mill in lieu of the all-electric powertrain shown off in concept form.

Volkswagen, parent company of both Audi and Porsche, is said to get the final say in the development of all three machines, but some sort of production seems likely. Says the unnamed insider, “Scale is important to a project like this… But with three different car makers working to a common goal, the chances [of it getting the go-ahead] look good.”

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Manufacturing questions standing in the way of Audi R4 production