Filed under: Convertible, Audi, Alternative Fuel

At last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi board member Michael Dick confirmed that a production version of the electric eTron sports car concept would be produced by late 2012. Following the show, Audi NA president Johan de Nysschen confirmed that announcement and now AutoExpress has produced a rendering of a production model. However, there appears to be some details lost in the translation. The eTron is based on the aluminum space frame of the R8 while AE says the R4 will be a smaller roadster with a chassis shared with the next generation Porsche Boxster/Cayman.

An Audi R4 has been speculated for some time, with the rumors flaring up after VW showed off the concept BlueSport in Detroit this year. It’s not clear if Audi will move ahead with the larger R8-based EV sportster or a smaller machine, or perhaps both. If they do, something like this rendering would be welcome, combining elements of the BlueSport, the eTron and even the top and flying buttresses of a Lotus Elise.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Rendered Speculation: Pondering what an electric Audi R4 roadster would look like originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2025 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The idea of a small, efficient vehicle is not new to Audi. Perhaps you remember their A2, the aluminum premium super mini that despite its technological innovations wasn’t a market success. But those were different times, when “premium car” was associated with the image of a luxurious sedan. With the current volatility in oil prices, going for smaller cars is not only smart, but also trendy. And because fashion is of high importance with the upper classes, the little green cars with luxury trimmings become quite plausible.

As VW has the Up/Space Up pair already in works, we can imagine that the new Audi will share the same platform. This gives us the approximate sizes and proportions. A slightly elevated floor is also necessary to provide battery space in an electric vehicle. The “service hatch” first used on the A2 could also make a comeback on the EV, especially if we consider that it makes a good place for a plug-in socket.

Add to that some chrome and lacquer finishes, LEDs and fiber optics in the lights, some fancy wheels and there you have it: small, electric, trendy and premium.