Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo, Made For The Real World

by under News on 10 Apr 2018 12:05:41 PM10 Apr 2018

A 600kW track taxi, hinting at production.

2018 Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo

German automaker Audi may have originally intended for the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo to be the ultimate expression of e-tron’s capabilities (given that it wasn’t really restricted to real-world limitations as it was made for popular racing simulation game Gran Turismo). However, what the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo has also done is pique enough interest in a fully-electric hypercar that to test the mettle of the technology beneath the skin, they’ve made a real one.

Yes, a real one. That you or I could poke, prod, and even sit in (for a fee).

The real Vision Gran Turismo is a 600kW ‘track taxi,’ the sort of car that shuttles people around racetracks at immensely high speed ahead of major race events. Set to make its debut at the Rome installation of Formula E on April 14th, the Vision Gran Turismo will follow the Formula E calendar and bring fans for a pedal-to-the-metal trip round the circuit.

2018 Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo

The transition from virtual- to real-world came as a result of a marketing campaign conceptualised by Audi, to showcase the capabilities of its e-tron electric division and what potential it holds for the future. It’s notably the first-ever occurrence of a virtual vehicle being made into a fully-functional model, Audi says.

With 413kW/tonne rated and a 0-100km/h time of just 2.5-seconds, Audi says that the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo is not just a functioning concept. In fact, alot of the official commentary surrounding the car is rather suggestive that the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo could also be a vision of a future electric halo car:

“Although the design of a virtual vehicle allows for greater freedom and the creation of concepts that are hard to implement in reality, we did not want to put a purely fictitious concept on wheels.” — Marc Lichte, Head of Design, Audi AG
2018 Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo

What we already know of e-tron is what Audi has confirmed, mostly that it has three models slated for production. The e-tron Quattro, Sportback, and GT take the form of an SUV, a five-door liftback, and limousine. If the Vision Gran Turismo is indeed to be perceived as a vision of the future, perhaps we’re looking at a successor to the relatively-unpopular Audi R8 e-tron?

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