Rumored: Audi Gives the Green Light For Model S Fighter

Autocar reports that Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has given the go-ahead for a sedan that will sit above the A8 and share a fair amount of technologies from the upcoming Q6 e-tron.

Stadler says a name hasn't been chosen, but he did describe the sedan sitting “as high up as possible, in the A8 segment”. Autocar speculates it will be called the A9 e-tron. A9 was rumored to be a four-door coupe to take on the likes of Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe, but plans changed due to the diesel emission scandal and Audi planning to make 25 percent of their lineup to be electric by 2025.

“By 2020 we will have three EVs in the line-up. We’ll start with the production version of the e-tron quattro concept car, which will have a range of up to 500km. By 2025, 25% of our line-up will be battery-driven models,” said Stadler.

The A9 will use the same powertrain layout as the Q6 e-tron; an electric motor on the front axle and two electric motors on the rear axle. A liquid-cooled battery will sit underneath the passenger compartment and will have a range of over 300 miles. Along with the standard plug to charge the vehicle up, the A9 will also a wireless charging system.

Audi is also planning to add level 4 self-driving technologies to the A9. Level 4 if you are wondering is where a vehicle can fully drive itself in all situations.

It is expected that the A9 e-tron will debut by 2020.

Pic Credit: Audi