R8 e-tron electric supercar will be built, Audi says

The Audi R8 e-tron is back on: Audi has backtracked on an earlier decision to cancel production of the zero-emission supercar and will now push ahead with small-scale production two-seater, Autoweek can confirm. The decision is part of a number of sweeping changes made to Audi's research and engineering operations since the arrival of its new head, Ulrich Hackenberg.

Citing recent advances in lithium-ion battery technology that has reportedly increased its range from an original 134 miles to close to 250 miles, high-ranking insiders at Audi's headquarters in Germany suggest the R8 e-tron will now go into limited production during the latter half of 2014.

The rear-wheel-drive R8 e-tron is set to act as a halo model for a number of smaller, more affordable new electric-powered Audi models. Hackenberg -- the man responsible for parent company Volkswagen's new e-Up, e-Golf, XL1 and Golf Plug-in Hybrid -- will oversee the line's engineering.

Audi says new lithium battery technology that makes the R8 feasible features an alternative chemical process and, it is claimed, results in greater energy density than the original 48.6-kWh unit.

Further details remain unclear, though the new car is expected to share the styling of the new second-generation R8 -- itself due to be launched with conventional petrol engines in 2014. From the outset, the R8 e-tron was engineered around the second-generation R8's new aluminum and carbon-fiber body structure. Prototypes had a curb weight of 3,924 pounds.

With a combined output of 376 bhp and a stout 605 lb-ft of torque from two electric motors, the earlier R8 e-tron claimed a 0-62-mph time of 4.2 seconds and was speed-limited to 124 mph. However, plans for production were cancelled due to concerns about the all-electric supercar's limited 134-mile range.

By Greg Kable