At the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Audi launched the production version of its highly-anticipated R8 e-tron to curious onlookers — and it was about time. The company had teased the possibility of an electric R8 for nearly six years. In production trim, it would build on the successful platform of the gas-powered R8, but instead use pure electric power to propel it from 0-62 mph (100 kmh) in just 3.2 seconds.
Unfortunately, e-tron sales didn’t match performance figures; a new report suggests that after a little more than a year on the market, Audi is officially putting its hybrid supercar out to pasture. Abysmal sales are to thank.
Available exclusively to buyers in Europe, the R8 e-tron started off with an astounding price tag of €1 million (about $1.1 million). Add to that fact the e-tron seemingly wasn't marketed at all to customers, and those that were interested would have to purchase the car at Audi headquarters in Germany directly, and you have yourself a recipe for failure.
According to Audi, “fewer than 100 examples” were sold in its short lifetime, understandably. A representative from the company suggests “we could have built more than we did” in a recent interview, but production of the e-tron eventually took a back seat due to slow sales.
Of course, the R8 e-tron separated itself from the standard R8 with its all-electric powertrain, which included 339 pound-feet (460 newton-meters) of torque and a total range of 280 miles (450 kilometers) on a single charger. Top speed was limited to 130 mph (210 kmh). Maybe Audi will rethink its electric supercar project in the future.
Source: Car and Driver
Gallery: 2015 Audi R8 e-tron
