Audi’s upcoming quattro e-tron SUV is expected to be the first in a series of new all-electric premium vehicles from German automakers. Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW are all planning new electric vehicles to come out between 2018 and 2021.
The company has now revealed plans for two more electric vehicles to follow the SUV next year: an electric sports car and an electric compact, said CEO Rupert Stadler via AutoExpress.
The quattro is expected to compete head-to-head with Tesla’s Model X when it comes out in 2018.
Audi even took a swipe at Tesla last month when it claimed that it will be ‘the first real premium electric SUV’ – insinuating that the Model X is not really a “premium SUV”.
It looks like the German automaker is trying to create a rivalry as it plans to more aggressively roll out electric vehicles.
The “electric sports car” is expected to be a next-generation electric R8 since the company officially killed the last generation last year.
They had launched the program back in 2009, but they could never get it off the ground and reportedly ended up delivering fewer than 100 units over the last 2 years since starting series production. It was unsurprising considering they were selling it for 1 million euros ($1.1 million) or about 6 times the price of a gas-powered Audi R8.
A new more powerful version leveraging the technology developed for the quattro e-tron could definitely find a market if they make it competitive price-wise with the regular R8.
It is expected to be available by 2020 – around the same time as a new compact all-electric vehicle from Audi. This vehicle will be on the new MEB platform for electric vehicles developed by VW, Audi’s parent company.
It seems that Audi will be an important part of Volkswagen’s new effort to lead in the electrification of the industry.
Featured Image: The concept car Audi e-tron quattro at the Volkswagen Group Night (IAA) in Frankfurt.
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