A New Competitor For The Tesla Model S From Audi
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Electric cars are sweeping the nation ever since Elon Musk introduced the Tesla models. Since then, car companies have been making electric vehicles but not at a rate to compete with Tesla, until now.
The German auto manufacturer Audi recently previewed their first production of electric sedans: The e-Tron GT.
Right now, it’s a concept car, unveiled at the most recent LA Auto Show in California, but it’s still a clear sign that Audi is entering the electronic car sales market alongside its US rival Tesla.
The car is set to arrive in showrooms in 2021, but we’ve already given some details of what this car is meant to be. The car itself will be powered by a 590-brake-horsepower motor. This motor will be able to reach 60 miles per hour in under 3.5 seconds.
This is something the company takes great pride in. Stating that the speed of this vehicle is what sets the car apart from the current competition. In fact, being able to hit those speeds is not something the competition can match at the moment.
With this engine alone, the car’s top speed is regulated at 149 miles per hour (240 kilometers per hour) in order to maximize the range that Audi claimed. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a guide on the range for the full production car.
We’re also left in the dark about the price of the car. That being said, we already know the Tesla Model S is starting at $78,000 so we can expect the price to be pretty tight if Audi is to compete with that model.
Going into more specifics of the car, the car is built with a 90-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery. This means that you’ll be able to charge the car either through cable or even through wireless induction.
The cable itself utilizes Audi’s 800-volt electrical architecture. This will allow you to charge to 80 percent in about 20 minutes. Audi also said that the car will also have public charging points at lower voltages too, much like Tesla.
For the wireless option, the process is a lot slower, although convenient. The “Audi Wireless Charging” is merely a pad with a coil installed permanently on the floor where the car is to be parked. A magnetic field is then created when the pads are in alignment via the coils in the car. With this method, Audi said that the e-Tron GT will be fully charged if you leave it there overnight.
Currently, Audi has two electric cars being produced for the mass market. We’ve got the e-Tron SUV which won’t hit markets until next spring. There is also the e-Tron Sportback, which will follow later on in that year.
Once again, the SUV’s selling point is the speed — going from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds and a base price of $74,800. You can currently reserve that now. Furthermore, if you use wire charging the 80 percent charge will be hit in half an hour. On top of that, Audi is working with Amazon to see if they can offer in-home charging.