Earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show Audi showed off the E-tron coupe, the E-tron Spyder is the future development off that concept. Where the Spyder differs from the earlier concept is in the larger footprint and switch from a purely electric setup to a plug-in hybrid drive train. This means that the E-tron Spyder features a twin-turbo diesel V6 powering the rear wheels and two electric motors mounted up front for the front wheels. The combination is a hybrid masterpiece with performance that should rival many top sports cars.
When compared to the current Audi R8, the E-tron Spyder is about a foot shorter and a few inches narrower, sparking the possibility that the Spyder could be a smaller R4 sports car. At this point in the concept design the E-tron Spyder leaves many questions unanswered since Audi is keeping most of the important technical details close to the hip. While similarities to the Porsche 918 concept shown at Geneva last Spring are clear, let’s keep our fingers crossed that the E-tron Spyder is the R4 we’ve been waiting for.
