Originally, Audi only intended the E-tron Vision Gran Turismo for the virtual world of PlayStation 4. But now the automaker has decided to bring the "Gran Turismo" racer to life in the Formula E races this month.
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The Audi E-tron Vision Gran Turismo delivers a total of 815 hp with the help of three electric motors, two of which drive the rear axle and the other at the front. Audi says the model uses certain components from the future Audi E-tron. Weighing around 3,197 pounds, the permanent all-wheel-drive race car is said to have a 50:50 weight distribution between the two axles and a 0-62 mph time of under 2.5 seconds. Visually, it bears a resemblance to the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO that won several races in the American touring car series during the 1989 season. This car, however, was powered not by three electric motors but by a five-cylinder turbo engine.
It took Audi only 11 months to build the E-tron Vision Gran Turismo based off the virtual model from the video game. Audi chief designer Marc Lichte hints that this car previews what we can expect on future electrified cars from the brand. "This car incorporates numerous elements of our new design language such as the inverted single frame in the vehicle's color that will be typical for our new e-tron models," he said.
The E-tron Vision Gran Turismo will appear in all European Formula E races this year. It will be used as a race taxi that transports passengers along Formula E's city circuits starting April 14 in Rome. Piloting the race car will be former DTM driver Rahel Frey from Switzerland or Le Mans winner Dindo Capello from Italy.
Audi's first all-electric offering, the E-tron Quattro, arrives this year. The E-tron Sportback will follow in 2019, and both will be built in Brussels, Belgium.
Source: Audi
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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