Audi’s Tesla S rival will offer a 280-mile all-electric range with room for a whole family

Audi has revealed that an all-new, all-electric family car with a 280-mile range is currently under development. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg who is the Technical development boss at Audi revealed that the model, which is set to rival the Tesla Model S and will arrive in 2017. However, it is not yet known if the upcoming electric car will join one of Audi’s existing model ranges like the Audi A3 e-Tron or be badged as a completely new model. "Such a car is under development," Hackenberg said. "I was able to reengineer the R8 e-tron project and technology with the team and we are on the way to a range of 450km (280 miles). Let’s say that technology will also be carried over and is a trailer for another car with long range. It is under development and will be in the market for around 2017, but it will not be a sports car.”   Audi achieved the 280-mile range by employing the next-generation of electric motors and batteries which feature a higher power density. Head of Powertrain Development at the Volkswagen Group, Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer revealed the electric motors are up to five times more efficient than the current motors used in models such as the e-Golf.   Hackenberg remained tight-lipped on further details of the all-electric family car but it is expected to have a saloon style body to allow for better packaging. The larger surface area of a saloon would allow for the bigger and more powerful batteries to be put beneath the floor of the car so to not take boot or passenger space.