The International School of Design in France has created a stunning Audi concept called the R-Zéro. The car would be powered by an electric motor yet offer a supercar level of performance and sportiness. The designers imagine an 800-volt output via high-tech lithium-ion batteries. Around 1200 kg of batteries would be used plus 4 engines weighing 85 kg total. The design is the work of Franck Levivier, transportation designer, and Rémi Marchand & Pierre-Olivier Wagner, digital designers. Whether such a vehicle would be possible to build remains to be seen, but we think the exterior design alone is worthy of the spotlight. See a gallery after the jump of how the car could look…



06/22, 3:42 PM
posted by:
Dav
i saw this on seriouswheels.com earlier thismorning. cool car. looks very muscular and tigeresque. a little bit of MC four twelve in the rear, but really really cool.
06/22, 4:19 PM
posted by:
British_rover
1200 kg of batteries is over 2700 lbs. I hope the entire rest of the car weighs less then 1000 lbs or this is gonna be one heavy super car.
06/22, 4:20 PM
posted by:
Jon
The full, narrow grill is very Silver Arrow-like, but I think Audi has decided to stick with the shield grill. I agree with Binge Drinkah that this is out of date, but since it didn’t from Audi, it really doesn’t matter.
Jon.
06/22, 4:22 PM
posted by:
British_rover
Oh wait i forgot the motors so 85 kg each, if that is what they mean it is not clear from the article if it is 85 kg for all four motors or 85 kg for just one, is almost 800 lbs in just motors. What are they going to make the rest of car out of unobtanium?
06/22, 4:26 PM
posted by:
BAMF
From the ISD France press release:
“It is necessary to foresee 800 volts. The best batteries for this application are those of the family ” Lithium-Ion “. The sizing criterion is the massique power : it is necessary to foresee 450 watts / kg. Thus approximately 1200 kg of batteries. 1200 kg of battery + 4 engines of 85 kg more the car itself, we should be around 2,2 tons.”
06/22, 4:30 PM
posted by:
ss
it looks killer from the profile…but the 3/4 view is hideous. the rear wheel area is horrible. i really like the rear end. if it were a little more aggressive i woudl say it could be the next batmobile..but it doesnt have that edge, to tame
06/22, 5:00 PM
posted by:
ness
The profile looks a lot like a squashed G35 coupe.
06/22, 5:13 PM
posted by:
swe
it looks kinda overweight
06/22, 5:14 PM
posted by:
Wickedated
I really like it
06/22, 5:39 PM
posted by:
e30e
EWWW TT AND G35 HAD A BABY!
06/22, 5:46 PM
posted by:
Ahk-Med
The Japanese are laughed at and mocked here, but as soon as the Euro manufactures start pushing electrics/hybrids/alternative fuel vehicles they will all of a sudden be cool. Watch then as all the hypocrites expose themselves, it’ll be a laugh.
06/22, 6:38 PM
posted by:
Joe
TT and G35 had a baby named Speedy! He’s like The Flash! Ya! Look at his gel hard combed hair!
06/22, 7:41 PM
posted by:
The Stig
Wheel motors, while elegant, are impractical if they weigh 85kg as that would reduce driving dynamics.
06/22, 9:22 PM
posted by:
Dre
Volta > R-zero
The complete volta weights 1250kg. They wanna put what in the R-Zero?!?!? 1200KG of batteries? Is that a typo?
06/23, 1:10 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
putting a motor in each wheel might give good accelleration, but it will give lousy handling, too. Far too much unsprung weight.
06/23, 1:55 AM
posted by:
Robert
And people think what’s coming out of BMW is ugly?
06/23, 6:29 AM
posted by:
ss
this is not an “Audi” Thois is what some kid did in school or his homeowrk lastweek.
06/23, 9:17 AM
posted by:
Jon
When did reading comprehension become a rare occurrence rather than the standard? People: read the entire post, then comment.
And yes, everything coming out of BMW (save for the passable Z4 / M-variants of the Z4) are FUGLY.
Jon.
06/23, 11:10 AM
posted by:
Donfuy
Odd!
06/25, 5:19 AM
posted by:
automany
this is a copy … it’s not a very good project ….
See this page :
http://www.forocoches.com/foro/showthread.php?t=433592
06/26, 11:50 AM
posted by:
Saul V
This is nothing more than a kid, stealing someone else’s idea. Refer to the site given above, though is in spanish you can see that someone else had come up with this design years before the release of this sketches. Not only that, the copy is so similar that the original artist could have no problems suing this School for them.