Audi's e-tron Vision Gran Turismo
Many manufacturers are starting to embrace electric racing cars, with some even starting one-make racing series in the near future. But what would an Audi all-electric racing car look like?
Well thanks to partnership between Audi, Playstation and Gran Turismo, we have created this - the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo.
Unlike most Vision GTs that were only ever produced as full-scale models, Audi Sport has actually gone and made the thing as a fully functioning racecar. And would you just look at it.
“E-Mobility is rapidly gaining importance,” says Peter Mertens, Member of the Board of Management, Technical Development, AUDI AG. “That is why in 2017 Audi was the first German manufacturer to enter Formula E with a factory-backed commitment. In our development laboratory motorsport, we are continuously expanding our expertise in e-mobility and gathering valuable experience also in extremely demanding conditions. With the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo race taxi we are turning electric mobility into a tangible experience for our customers and guests as part of the Formula E races – in the middle of the world’s metropolises.”
The Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo has permanent all-wheel drive, with two electric motors driving the rear wheels and a third powering the front wheels. Torque vectoring allows the electric power to be distributed to maximise traction at all four corners, making the Vision GT a bit of a brute on track.
Amazingly, the all-electric Vision Gran Turismo is actually more powerful than the original IMSA beast. The concept car produces 600kW, 794bhp for you non-metric petrolheads. Combine that instant power with a relatively light kerbweight of 1450kg and a 50:50 weight distribution and you have an all-electric touring car that will reach 62mph in just 2.5 seconds.
The virtual version of the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo is now available in the “Gran Turismo Sport” game for PlayStation 4. In “Gran Turismo Sport,” in addition to the fully electric race car of the future, the “Audi Vision Gran Turismo” hybrid version is available as well in order to enable an extended deployment in (championship) races.
The car will make its public debut at the upcoming Rome ePrix this weekend as a race taxi but here at our test facility in Neuburg, Germany, the car is stretching its legs for the first time at the hands of Audi Sport’s top racing drivers.
