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The German car maker Audi is planning a fifth E-tron model, an Audi E-tron Spyder. The car is expected to be an evolution of the E-tron system and previews the electric version of the upcoming convertible version of the R4 sports car.

This is vastly different when compared to the original e-Tron concept. The Audi R8 e-Tron was shown off a year ago with four electric motors combining for 230 kW (313 hp) and up to 4,500Nm of torque. With that massive figure, the car cruised to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds en route to a 200 km/h top speed. Its range of 248 kilometers came from the 213kg lithium-ion battery pack, which required up to eight hours recharge time on a 220V outlet.

The e-Tron Spyder might use the same technology found on the e-Tron Detroit Show car, which was powered by two electric motors delivering a total output of 204hp (150kW) and 2,650Nm (1954.54lb-ft). With these numbers, the car can accelerate 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in just 5.9 seconds while the sprint from 60 to 120km/h (37.28 – 74.56mph) is achieved in a mere 5.1 seconds.

Featuring a wraparound windscreen and no roof whatsoever, making it a permanent convertible, the R4 Spyder gets an identical front end to the fixed-roof e-tron, while at the back the bodywork surrounding the rear lights is finished in black.

The Audi e-tron Spyder is most likely based on the company's space-frame aluminium chassis, with two electric motors sending 204 HP to the wheels, and a production version should debut around 2012.

Source: AutoBild

A German agency appears to have mistakenly released the official brochure of the new Audi RS5 Coupe ahead of time as the car's world premiere isn't due for another week or so at the Geneva Motor Show on March 2.


No details about the powertrain or performance specs are revealed in the brochure. However, it does mention three types of seating and four wheel design choices. Audi's 7-speed dual clutch S-tronic transmission is the only choice - no mention of 6-speed manual. Also, no flat-bottom steering wheel is shown.


Look closely and you'll be able to spot the slightly blistered wheel arches that hark back to the original Quattro coupe, the new front bumper with larger air vents at each corner, the honeycomb grille without the horizontal bar, the redesigned rear bumper with an integrated diffuser and the two large oval tail pipes.


Speculation over which powerplant will drive the RS 5 has ranged from a massaged 3.0-liter supercharged V6 in the S4, 4.2-liter V8 and 5.0-liter V10 in the RS 6 to the range topping 5.2-liter V10 from the R8. Horsepower has been logically guestimated between 450 PS (331 kW / 444 hp) and 550 PS (405 kW / 542 hp), essentially where the RS 4 leaves off with 420 PS (309 kW / 414 hp) and ending with the RS 6 and its 579 PS (426 kW / 571 hp).


The revised LED tail lamps, the specific alloy wheels and what looks like a retractable boot lid spoiler round off the exterior styling tweaks.



The interior shots suggest that there won't be any cosmetic upgrades over the S5 Coupe.


The RS 5 will undoubtedly debut at the Geneva Motor Show in two weeks. According to previous reports, the RS5 hits the streets soon after in July.
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