According to a report by Automotive News, quoting Audi development chief Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, the Ingolstadt-based automaker has scrapped the A8 EV plans. Back in 2019, Audi CEO Bram Schot initially confirmed an A8 electric luxury sedan.
Now, the company will further enhance the drivetrain of the Audi A8 plug-in hybrid. The R&D chief says that the driving range will be extended beyond 47 km (29.2 miles).
In the A8 PHEV, for a $94,995 price tag, you get a 3.0 liter turbocharged V6, the same one as the standard Audi A8, but it’s paired with an electric motor and some batteries. When combined, the A8 hybrid makes 443 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. That makes the hybrid A8 almost as powers as the more expensive V8 model (453 hp) but more more torque (487 lb-ft). That actually makes the hybrid Audi A8 a bit quicker to 60 mph than its V8 sibling, doing the sprint in 4.3 seconds versus 4.5.
According to the WLTP test cycle, the powertrain has an electric-only range of over 25 miles (40 kilometers).
While the A8 EV has been scrapped, Audi will now focus on developing more electric crossovers. The company currently offers the Audi e-tron SUV.
