Audi e-Tron Vision Gran Turismo Unveiled As Electric Race Taxi With 804HP


Originally created to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Gran Turismo video game on PlayStation 4, the Audi e-Tron Vision Gran Turismo has now been brought into the real world.


Built in Ingolstadt as a one-off racing prototype, it uses three electric motors, one driving the front wheels and the other two channeling power to the rear axle, each with 200kW (272PS / 268hp), for a combined output of 600kW (815PS / 804hp).


Tipping the scales at 1,450kg (3,197lbs), the Audi e-Tron Vision Gran Turismo takes less than 2.5sec to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (0-62mph), aided also by a power-to-weight ratio of 1.78kg per horsepower and a 50:50 weight distribution between the front and rear axle.


Racing enthusiasts already know that some of the design elements and colors of the new e-Tron Vision GT are inspired by the ones of the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO. The legendary racer thrilled motorsport fans in the North American IMSA-GTO series back in 1989, with drivers such as Walter Rohrl, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Hurley Haywood and Scott Goodyear, behind the wheel.


The race taxi will be used at selected Formula E races and other events this year, in the hands of former DTM driver Rahel Frey and Le Mans winner Dindo Capello. It will wave to the public for the first time this Saturday, in Rome, Italy.


“Although the design of a virtual vehicle allows much greater freedom and the creation of concepts, which are only hard to implement in reality, we did not want to put a purely fictitious concept on wheels”, said March Lichte, Audi’s Chief Designer. “Our aim was a fully functional car. The Audi e-Tron Vision Gran Turismo shows that electric mobility at Audi is very emotive.”

Carscoops

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster & GT C Roadster Officially Revealed [w/Video]

Image
Mercedes finally pulled the wraps off the  AMG GT’s Roadster version  which will come in two flavors: the basic 469hp model and the range-topping 547hp GT C model. The rumors were true then, as the new AMG GT C Roadster not only offers 46hp more than the AMG GT S Coupe but also borrows some of the technology found  in the manic AMG GT R .  More specifically, the new AMG GT C comes with the GT R’s rear axle steering, electronic locking differential and a wider rear track. Torque is rated at a peak 501lb-ft (680Nm), available from just 1900rpm. Mercedes reckons it needs 3.7 seconds to hit 62mph from a standstill, with the top speed electronically limited to 196mph (316km/h). The AMG GT Roadster on the other hand requires 4 seconds flat for the 0-62 procedure and won’t stop accelerating before hitting 187mph. Both models are powered by the same twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine that has become the spine of AMG’s range, powering almost everything wearing their badge. As in the Coupe, a sev
Read more

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Is A Crossover For Droptop Lovers

Image
Droptop crossovers have always been rather odd and the T-Roc Cabriolet is no different. It will be the only convertible Volkswagen on sale for the foreseeable future and will celebrate its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rather than simply removing the roof of the standard T-Roc, Volkswagen has drastically altered the vehicle’s structure and body. In fact, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than the standard T-Roc while its overall length is up by 34 mm. In addition, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet features structural strengthening in the underbody, side panels, cross members, doors, and windscreen frame to make up for the lack of a roof. The folding fabric roof developed by Volkswagen retracts in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and is similar in operation to the roof of the outgoing Golf Cabriolet. The presence of the soft top reduces trunk space by 161 liters down from the 284 liters of the run-of-the-mill T-Roc. We don’t think bu
Read more

Limited Edition Ford GT 'Competition Series' Is All About The Track

Image
Ford's new GT Competition Series was built with weight-saving in mind, but also with an improved center of gravity for better road-holding. Among its features, you'll notice the lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars and side mirrors, as well as the unique race-inspired Perspex acrylic engine hatch with integrated venting. Thanks to the manual latch and the carbon fiber prop rod, weight near the roof has been reduced, though Ford engineers went even further in their quest to make the car lighter, by making the bulkhead Gorilla Glass behind the driver about half as thick (and as light) as on other models. "The Ford GT has racing in its blood," said Ford exec Raj Nair, while adding that the Competition Series "was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match." There are also plenty of remaining performance features from the production car, such as
Read more