Audi has announced that the R8 E-tron sports car is bound for production and could have a battery range twice its predecessor's.
CEO Rupert Stadler announced the new electric version of the R8 sports car in a media conference call on Tuesday and promised an improved battery range, Edmunds.com reported.
"We had not been happy with that range," Stadler told media, as reported by Edmunds. "A pure electric should have a 350-400-mile range. Some solutions could provide that range."
The first R8 E-tron had a battery range of 180-200 miles. Stadler didn't specify what the range would be for the new production model, but Edmunds predicted the battery power will be about double that of its predecessor.
An exact launch date and pricing for the new R8 E-tron are also up in the air for now. The car, which will be available in the United States, will probably be produced in limited numbers, according to Edmunds.
Audi denotes electric vehicles with the "E-tron" stamp; other plug-ins for the brand include the A1 E-tron subcompact car and the R18 E-tron Quattro endurance racecar.
The German carmaker has made a 180 from last year, when Audi decided the R8 E-tron wouldn't be produced due to costs for batteries and other parts.
The updated R8 E-tron could be competition for the 2014 BMW i8 hybrid sports car, which is scheduled to hit dealerships this spring with a listing price of $136,625.
Audi recently showcased a crossover concept with the e-tron badge at the last Detroit Auto Show.
The company has also showcased laser-light technology to be introduced with the new 2014 Audi R18 E-tron Quattro that it believes will "open up completely new possibilities for our production models in the future."
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