Audi e-tron concept: next TT?

The compact two-seater sports car is the German marque’s second all-electric concept in just four months, following the R8-sized beauty which debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The e-tron’s wedge-shaped front end is dominated by a single-frame grille, flanked by two large air intakes to create a truly stunning look.

The new e-tron is shorter, lower and narrower than the previous version – think more Audi TT than R8 – and is powered by two electric motors.

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These motors combine to produce 201bhp, delivering 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and with a top speed limited to 124 mph – driving above this speed quickly drains the lithium-ion batteries.

Mounted behind the driver, the batteries have a range of 155 miles and can be fully charged in around 11 hours with 240-volt household electrics – a 400-volt system cuts this to just two hours.

The e-tron features a developed version of Audi’s recuperation technology, which it claims recaptures all the energy that would otherwise be lost during braking, recharging the battery in the process.

Like the original e-tron, the new car has an aluminium space frame with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic body panels. This improves rigidity and reduces weight to a svelte 1350kg - 250kg less than its big brother.

Audi claims this lightweight technology will feature on production vehicles in the near future.

Reports suggest the "e-tron" name will become a brand of its own – like quattro – and a series of e-tron-equipped models is expected to follow.

Rhian Angharad Jones

Watch a review of the Audi R8 quattro: