Audi R8 E-Tron program on hold, facing cancellation?

Throughout its brief history – from concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, to production-bound prototype – the Audi R8 E-Tron has promised supercar levels of entertainment in a sexy German wrapper. A prospective range of 241 kilometres (150 miles) with acceleration on the order of 0-96 kilometres per hour (0-60) in under five seconds suggested a more luxurious rival for the Tesla Roadster, and a challenger for the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive at the E-Tron's expected launch in early 2013.

Now it seems like Audi may have slammed on the regenerative brakes, as it were.

Car and Driver reports that the R8 E-Tron plan is on hold, pending a project review ordered by new research and development head, Wolfgang Dürheimer. Concerns about the project include a lack of sufficiently advanced and reasonably inexpensive batteries with which to power the car, as well as a buyer pool sufficiently rich and reasonably motivated to drop big sums on the R8 EV.

The Car and Driver report indicates that the expected launch in the first part of next year is now off the table, and that the entire project faces existential jeopardy.

News Source: Car and Driver

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