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Audi Urban Concept preview

Following this past weekend's spy shots of the new urban concept caught on a film set in Berlin, Audi has released a set of sketches of the all-new 1+1-seat vehicle set for its global unveiling in Frankfurt. Claimed to combine the ‘elements of a racing car, a fun car and an urban car' the concept exploits new lightweight manufacturing processes. Its cockpit is made from carbonfiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and it features free-standing, low-rolling resistance 21-inch wheels with protective plates.

Audi R8 e-tron killed off for production – again

It’s more than six months since we reported that Audi were planning to kill off any production plans for the electric R8 e-Tron, with Audi’s head of R&D saying the production plans for the R8 were going to be scrapped. And it seems they have now gone in the bin. Autocar are reporting that Audi has confirmed to them that the R8 e-Tron won’t be going in to production and the ten latest e-Trons to be built will be used just for testing and development to help Audi with its ‘electrification’ plans, which will now almost certainly concentrate on plug-in hybrids and range extenders, rather than EVs.

Fuel-tank probe rekindles old issue

The placement of fuel tanks on passenger vehicles has changed over the past three decades, and for good reason. Automakers gradually have repositioned the tank to an area in front of the rear axle, generally below the rear passenger seat. Statistically speaking, the tank in that location is less vulnerable in a high-speed, rear-end crash than in the previous location--between the rear bumper and axle.