Audi has confirmed that it will launch an all-electric luxury sedan by 2020 as a rival to the Tesla Model S.
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According to a recent report from Autocar, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler recently gave the green-light for the company to develop and release a vehicle set to go head to head with Tesla’s Model S.
Autocar further stated the new A9 will have the same powertrain as that of the Q6 E-Tron.
Expected to arrive under the A9 e-tron name, the new vehicle will advance some of the technical highlights of next year’s all-new A8 range, including additional autonomous driving capabilities beyond the self-driving suite being prepared for the new A8.
“By 2020 we will have three EVs in the line-up”, said Stadler.
The A9 e-tron will have the same drivetrain setup as the upcoming Q6 e-tron SUV.
Newly available tech features include the e-tron-specific Audi virtual cockpit, which includes a display easily visible to the driver showing range and consumption figures for both electricity and gas.
The company is developing a bespoke EV architecture as showcased by the e-tron quattro at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. There are also asynchronous motors that typically achieve similar power outputs but at much higher revs.
He also mentioned that the 2018 Audi’s e-tron program would utilise asynchronous motors for better efficiency, as opposed to the synchronous motor systems now in use in other vehicles.
As an indicator of performance, Audi says the production version of the e-tron quattro concept will have a 0-62mph time of 4.6sec and a top speed limited to 131mph. “We are convinced they offer higher efficiency levels than synchronous motors”. A9 was rumored to be a four-door coupe to take on the likes of Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe, but plans changed due to the diesel emission scandal and Audi planning to make 25 percent of their lineup to be electric by 2025.
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“Next year the A8 will be the first model with level three automation”, said Ricky Hudi, head of electric development at Audi.
