Expected to be called RS e-Tron, the next Audi supercar will be all-electric and call upon Rimac’s experience in the field.
Audi’s been working on the next generation of their Audi R8 supercar for some time. One thing’s been clear since the onset: it will be electric. We drove an early R8 e-Tron some years ago only to find out shortly after that the project was to be scrapped. Now, it would seem as though Audi is calling upon Rimac for help in developing what promises to be an impressive electric supercar.
In a story published by Carmagazinne.co.uk, Rimac, who already has close ties to the Volkswagen Auto Group, is being petitioned by Audi for assistance with the next R8. According to the story, Rimac would supply Audi with the four-motor (one per wheel) powertrain and fast-charge batteries for the projected 950-horsepower all-electric sports car.
With this kind of power, the Audi RS e-Tron would be capable of reaching 100km/h in only 2.5 seconds. As far as batteries, it is expected that by the time this car nears production readiness, solid-state units will be far more common. This will have a direct impact on range and overall performance.
Audi Sport may ask Rimac to do more than simply provide them with the motors given important budgetary limitations. It seems as though Rimac might be responsible for large portions of the car’s development before Audi takes over and assembles the RS e-Tron in Audi’s own Bollinger Höfe factory near Heilbronn, where the A6/A7/A8 are currently assembled.
The Audi RS e-Tron should hit the road sometime between 2023 and 2024 with a €200,000 price tag.
