Audi just revealed a self-driving version of its R8 e-tron electric sports car at the CES Asia show in Shanghai.
The concept car is basically just a self-driving version of the 2017 R8 e-tron that Audi showcased during the Geneva Motor Show last March. From a mechanical standpoint the piloted driving concept is the same as the R8 e-tron. It uses an all-electric powertrain with two motors that generate a total of 455 HP and 678 lb-ft of torque to reach 60 MPH in 3.9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 MPH.
Needless to say, this concept steps beyond that by being able to drive itself without constant direct input from a driver. It achieves that by using a combination of video cameras, radar sensors, ultrasonic sensors and a new laser scanner that allow it to read the road.
Power for the car sits in a T-shaped battery that can fully recharge in less than two hours with a total driving range of 279 miles.
Audi is preparing to launch self-driving cars in the near future. Currently it is one of only three companies to hold a permit for testing self-driving cars on public roads in California. When the R8 e-tron launches for the 2017 model year, the company says customers may be able to order a form of automated driving as optional equipment.
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