Audi News: Rumorpile: Audi Approves Model S Fighter

[William Maley]

The Tesla Model S is becoming a problem for the German luxury automakers as its stealing away customers from their flagship sedans. Audi is hoping to turn the tide as they have approved a flagship electric luxury sedan to take on the Model S.

Autocar reports that the German automaker has given the go-ahead on a new electric sedan. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler describes the sedan “as high up as possible, in the A8 segment”. This model will likely be part of three new EVs joining the Audi lineup by 2020.

Autocar believes the model will be named the A9 e-tron and utilize the powertrain from the upcoming Q6 e-tron. This means one electric motor for the front axle and two on the rear. A 95 kWh liquid-cooled battery is expected to provide a total range of over 300 miles. One key item that the A9 e-tron will feature is Audi's answer to Tesla's Autopilot system. Audi's system will be classified as 'level four' (vehicle will perform all critical driving functions and monitor the road during a trip).

Source: Autocar

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[A Horse With No Name]

Given Volkswagens issues with the E-Golf and the failure of the Hybrid Jetta to do anything, this will either be a spectacular success like the Veyron or a spectacular failure. My money is on the latter.

[David]

Interesting, the first of the Germans to take on Tesla and a possible ride to dethrone the MB S-Class. 

This is very interesting indeed. I expect this will do well in the limited high end sedans.

[A Horse With No Name]

4 hours ago, dfelt said:

Interesting, the first of the Germans to take on Tesla and a possible ride to dethrone the MB S-Class. 

This is very interesting indeed. I expect this will do well in the limited high end sedans.

One can hope!

[smk4565]

All the Germans will have electric sedans.  The A8 is kind of dead in the water right now, this might be a way to pump life back into it.  I don't see them needing an A8 and A9, but then again BMW may make an 8-series and 9-series.  A 95 kwh 3 motor A8 could be competitive, but they also need to get electrics down in the A6 level because $100k+ cars are a tiny segment.  Getting in the $50-60k area would make a bigger impact.

[oldshurst442]

What I find amusing is that when Tesla's Elon Musk talks a big game, he is said to be a magician. Smoke and mirrors....

When fossil fuel automotive CEO freaks talk a big game about EVs, not as much as a hint of negativity is thrown that way....

Yet...VAG(Porsche, Audi, VW and the rest), nor Mercedes have a pure EV on the market as we speak and their projects are at least another 2-3 years away.

We give Elon shyte for the Model 3 that is 2-3 years away, and ironically will probably be sold at that 50-60 thousand dollar threshold as SMK has stated,  but probably a tad cheaper and a very capable P100 could be bought RIGHT NOW! Plus the lesser battery Model S P##s for cheaper than the big gun P100...

To boot, VAG, BMW, M-B throw out EV performance numbers that their EVs will possibly be doing 2-3-4-5-6-7 years from now that a P100 actually does RIGHT NOW!!!

*SIGH*

Yeah. Yeah.

When the rest of the automobile industry makes a Tesla Model S fighter, Tesla will fold...........

 

'When and if' arguments just kill me!

 

[Frisky Dingo]

Here's my thoughts on this one-

 

Audi is killing it in the luxury game right now. I think their combination of understated elegance, AWD, balanced driving dynamics, solid powertrains, and stunning interiors really places them at the top of the heap currently.

 

But. I wonder if their conservative styling might work against them here. I think other brands' more dramatic styling, greater experience, and higher emphasis on sporty driving dynamics may put Audi at a disadvantage. Maybe they could use such a model to break the mould a little,