Electrification coming to Audi Sport range

AUDI’S plan to bring electrified powertrains across its range will include the Audi Sport line-up, which will see hybrid and full-electric offerings filter into the performance sub-brand by 2025.

Speaking to GoAuto at the launch of the RS5 Sportback, Audi Australia corporate communications manager Shaun Cleary said the Audi Sport range – which consists of the R8 supercar and RS models – was included in Audi’s electric expansion plans.

“We’ve said we’ll have 20 either full-electric (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) cars in our range by 2025, which is obviously a substantial number, and that’s a mix of all-electric and PHEV depending on the model range,” he said.

In November Audi revealed the e-tron GT concept at the LA motor show, which will become the first all-electric model created specifically for the Audi Sport range.

But rather than diverge between full-EV and internal-combustion powertrains, the performance sub-brand will begin incorporating either PHEV or BEV models into its range.

“I think it does come back to that point that we will see electrification permeate the full length and breadth of Audi – that’s been clear,” Mr Cleary said.

“If we’re talking about 20 models by 2025, that’s a lot, that’s big proportion, and that doesn’t even include mild-hybrid systems and that sort of stuff, so yeah, I definitely think we’ll see that become expansive over the next decade or so.”

The e-tron GT concept shows the performance potential of an electrified Audi Sport model, with its powertrain consisting of one electric motor each mounted to the front and rear axles, a 90kWh battery pack and a considerable output of 434kW.

BEV tech could also be coming to the R8 range, previewed by the PB18 concept revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August.

The PB18 dials up the power from its 95kWh battery and three electric motors to 500kW/830Nm with 570kW available on overboost, which would easily make it the most powerful Audi Sport model available.

As for PHEV offerings, a report from British publication Autocar suggested that Audi Sport will borrow the powertrain from the Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid for a performance version of its new Q8 coupe-SUV, which could also potentially be also applied to the Q7 large SUV.

The Porsche-derived powertrain teams a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for a combined output of 500kW/850Nm.

Audi has said the new electrified models do not include mild-hybrid technology, which has been seen on regular variants of the new A6, A7, A8 and Q8 ranges.