The Audi e-tron concept electric car

The all electric car is basically a modified Audi R8 sports car, but slightly smaller in all dimensions. The car delivers a massive 4500 Nm (3,319 lb-ft) of torque and 233 kW (313 horsepower), and the car can go from 0 to 100 kph (0-60 mph) in 4.8 seconds. The power comes from four electric motors: one for each wheel.

According to Audi the car can travel around 250 km (154 miles) on a full battery charge. The lithium-ion battery provides an energy content of 42.4 kilowatt hours. The top speed is limited to 200 kph (124 mph) to avoid flattening the battery too quickly.

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The car is light, being constructed of aluminum and carbon fiber, and fiber-reinforced plastics on the doors, body panels and roof. The styling is modified to accommodate the cooling needs of its Sanyo lithium-ion battery, and there are moveable flaps that open to help cool the battery when the car is traveling at slow speeds.

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The Audi e-tron concept electric car

Other ideas incorporated in the two-seater concept car are cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, and an adjustable array of LEDs in place of headlamps. Since the car is electric, gears are replaced by a simple forward, reverse and neutral selection. Many of the controls are touch panels rather than buttons or switches.

The Audi e-tron is still at the concept stage, but a few prototypes are expected to be released in 2010, with a small run to be manufactured in 2012 and made available in the U.S., essentially for research purposes. More widespread manufacture of the car is not expected for some years.

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The Audi e-tron concept electric car.

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