With the Frankfurt motor show’s press days underway, Audi revealed a technical study that examines what its R8 sports car might be like if powered by four powerful electric motors. The answer is E-Tron. The four motors fitted under the hood produce a modest 313 horse power but an astronomical 3,319 pound-feet of torque. Isn’t it amazing!

The total torque produced does not come at once. Such a quantity of twisting force usually found in the M47 Patton tank would turn all the tires into rubber vapor at the first throttle. The E-Tron is equipped with an electronic version of torque-vectoring system that is found in some of the Audi cars which are already on the road. This electronic version distributes the required torque to each wheel as needed to maximize traction the cornering ability. As Audi says it takes 4.8 seconds to get to 100 Km/h (62 Mph) from 0. This may not be termed as spectacular when compared with other super-cars. But once the rolling sets to go, the plot quickens – 37 Mph to 75 Mph in just 4.1 seconds, the extra torque stepping into defeat the mountain forces of friction and the resistance by wind. Read the rest of this entry »