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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The Electrification of the Supercar

Fashion-forward, high-performance automakers are leading the way to electric vehicles.

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The Audi e-tron looks like a battery electric version of the R8, but it's actually smaller than its high-performance sibling. Expect a limited edition to be offered in two or three years.

As green has become the new black in the auto market, electrified propulsion has become the latest pursuit in the supercar segment. We examine why and identify the most notable developments in the electrification of the supercar, in the hopes of providing you with a better view of a more eco-conscious future that doesn't involve sacrificing performance for the sake of fewer noxious emissions.

What Are the Challenges?
There are still a few major obstacles hindering you from heading down to your local showroom, plunking down $100,000 or more and driving away in an electrified supercar. And they are the same issues — well, mostly — facing mainstream hybrid or plug-in manufacturers. Probably the most significant is battery development.

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Tesla beat all the performance big boys to market with the world's first performance electric car, the Roadster. With instant torque and 248 horsepower on tap in a lightweight body by Lotus, the Roadster can go 244 miles on a charge and run the quarter-mile in less than 13 seconds.

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