Audi is helping to perpetuate Volkswagen AG’s offensive of introducing more electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to help shove the recent Dieselgate scandal under the rug. Part of this includes a car to compete directly with Tesla and it’s tentatively called the A9 E-Tron.
In a recent report from AutoCar, word is that Audi’s A9 E-Tron will be a fully electric luxury sedan. And although Audi insiders didn’t specifically mention what specific Tesla model the new A9 will compete with, the fact that the A9 has been rumored to be a flagship sedan leaves the Model S as the only possible rival.
The latest development from the British publication suggests at least 429 horsepower from a network of three electric motors: two for the front wheels and one for the rear axle. They will receive power from a 95-kilowatt-hour battery pack, providing at least 310 miles of range on a single charge, utilizing the European driving cycle. These electric parts will also be used in other Audi EVs, such as the new crossover SUV Audi is planning to complete with the Model X.
Because of the multiple electric motors, engineers programmed the A9 to feature electronically controlled torque vectoring to further replicate the performance of a mechanical all-wheel drive system.
Wireless inductive charging is also not ruled out as an option, as well as some semi-autonomous driving and self-parking technology.
-Jack Wilson