Remember the Audi R8 e-tron? Well, according to a new report, the German automaker has quietly axed the all-electric supercar from its line-up in Europe.
Why? Well, an anonymous Audi representative talking to Car and Driver blamed exceedingly slow sales for the decision.
Indeed, the source told the US publication that “fewer than 100” production units were made, adding that “we could have built more than we did”.
Interestingly, the build-to-order Audi R8 e-tron was only ever available in Europe, with its price-tag reportedly in the region of €1-million (that’s a whopping R15,7-million). Car and Driver furthermore adds that the vehicle didn’t ever appear in the Ingolstadt automaker’s online configurator.
The production version of the rear-wheel drive R8 e-tron was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015, and featured a pair of electric motors on the rear axle and a 92 kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the floor. Peak outputs sat at 340 kW and 920 N.m, which was enough for a 3,9-second dash to 100 km/h along with a claimed range of about 450 km.
On the other hand, the range-topping V10 Plus model – with its 5,2-litre, naturally aspirated, ten-cylinder petrol engine – makes 449 kW and 560 N.m, blasting to three figures in just 3,2 seconds. All for a fraction of the price of the R8 e-tron.
Then, of course, there’s the Tesla factor…
