Audi
e-tron Spyder Concept
Audi
presented the Audi e-tron Spyder Concept, the study of an open sports car, at
the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The show car, with plug-in hybrid drive, is 4.06
meters long, 1.81 meters wide and only 1.11 meters high. The two-seater is equipped with a 300 hp twin-turbo V6 TDI
at the rear axle and two electric motors producing a total of 64 kW at the
front axle.
The
Audi e-tron Spyder Concept features what is without a doubt the most advanced
and simultaneously the most consistent evolution of the current Audi design
language, while also providing initial hints at the design language of future
Audi sports cars. It reinterprets the most important design elements that already
characterized the previous e-tron concept vehicles. This also ensures the
necessary formal differentiation to the purely electric-powered Audi e-tron
shown at the 2010 Detroit Motor Show.
The
Audi e-tron Spyder Concept's low total weight of only around 1,450 kilograms combined with the high-torque TDI and the two electric motors
results in respectable performance. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds, and top speed is electronically governed at 250 km/h. The
Audi e-tron Spyder Concept can combine the powerful torque of its TDI - the
diesel engine generates 650 Nm and the total of 352 Nm of its two electric motors during acceleration in a process known as
"boosting."
The
combination of a highly efficient TDI and electric drive also provides for
excellent fuel economy and amazingly low emissions. The Audi e-tron Spyder
Concept requires on average just 2.2l diesel/100 km,
corresponding to CO2 emissions of 59 g/km . A range of more than
1,000 kilometers is possible with the 50-liter tank. The
open sports car can also drive strictly on electric power and thus with zero
emissions over distances of up to 50 kilometers, such as in urban
areas. The top speed of 60 km/h is just fine for normal driving.
The
cockpit of the Audi e-tron Spyder Concept is also oriented toward the driver -
a further characteristic Audi trait. Instead of the classic instrument cluster,
the concept car is equipped with a large, display with integrated MMI functions
and flanked by two round dials. The MMI can be controlled via a touch-sensitive
control panel on the steering wheel - an element inspired by modern
smartphones. It can also be controlled via the MMI control unit (MMI touch) on
the center console. The steering wheel itself is clearly flattened off at both
the top and bottom, in a clear reference to motor sport. Speed is displayed in
digital form only. The dial instrument with information about the drive system
can be chosen via the menu item "Drive."
Besides
information about the speed, the revs of the combustion engine and the electric
drive, the central display also provides all of the key information from the
infotainment and navigation systems.
Characteristic
for the concept of the Audi e-tron Spyder is the near total elimination of
switches and components such as the ignition. The climate control unit is
located to the right above the steering wheel. The display provides temperature
and ventilation information. Again drawing inspiration from a smartphone, the
system is operated by means of a touch-sensitive control panel.
