Virtual racer from PlayStation 4 becomes a full-scale model for use as taxi ride in Formula E race series.
That’s a racy-looking EV!
The Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo you see here in official pictures is a full-scale model that has evolved from the virtual racer featured in PlayStation 4.
The 1:1 two-door e-tron Vision Gran Turismo will be deployed as a taxi ride in selected European rounds of the Formula E race series for the brand’s customers and guests to experience.
It will debut in Rome on April 14 and will be driven by either former DTM driver Rahel Frey from Switzerland or Le Mans winner Dindo Capello from Italy.
The design of the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo has been inspired by the 1989 Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO racer.
How much power has it got?
Audi says two electric motors propel the rear wheels of the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo, while another one drives the front axle.
With a combined power output of 815hp and a kerb weight of 1,450kg, the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo can accelerate from 0-100kph in 2.5sec.
No other technical details have been announced, be it for the kind of battery or how far the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo can travel on one single charge.
However, the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo still represents an improvement over the R8 e-tron, of which fewer than 100 units were produced in 2015 for the European market.
The R8 e-tron had two electric motors driving the rear wheels with an output of 416hp. And with a 1,780kg kerb weight, the R8 e-tron managed to hit 100kph from standstill in 4sec before reaching its 250kph top speed. The range was 450km.
Will Audi make one for the showroom?
Audi hasn’t mentioned anything about the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo’s prospects of making it to the showroom, although it stresses that “E-Mobility is rapidly gaining importance” for them.
There’s a good chance that the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo could make it to production to rival the 1,000hp Tesla Roadster, which can do 0-100kph in 2sec, hit a 400kph top end and travel for 600km on one charge.
The e-tron Vision Gran Turismo could serve as a formidable range-topper for Audi’s future EV family. The first EV confirmed for sale later this year is the e-tron SUV to be followed be five-door Sportback-style GT by 2020.
