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Well, what a year it's been for Audi so far, hey? After the German manufacturer's Formula E outfit (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler) miraculously turned around a disastrous start to the season, the team ended up on top in New York City, clinching the teams' title of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Now, with the champagne celebrations over, it seems the marque is preparing to launch an all-out assault on the electric supercar market with its new PB18 e-tron concept.
Launched at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, USA, the PB18 e-tron concept's radical design was dreamt up in the marque's new design studio in Malibu. Audi claims the concept presents 'a radical vision for the high-performance sports car of tomorrow,' which, err, basically means we can expect to see an all-electric supercar from Audi on the streets in the not-too-distant future. Sounds good to us.
Powered by a 95 kWh liquid-cooled solid-state battery and three electric motors - one up front and two at the rear - the PB18 delivers 150 kW to the front axle and 350 kW to the rear totalling a hefty 500kW (670bhp). Capable of covering the traffic light dash from 0-100km/h in around two seconds, the PB18 blitzes Audi's petrol-powered flagship R8's time of 3.6-seconds over the same distance.
But best of all is the PB18's ability to shapeshift. Yes, you heard us alright - Audi's all-electric vision of the future can morph from a stately, albeit aggressively styled shooting brake, into a track-day supercar. When driven solo, the driver controls and seat slide into the centre of the car - taking inspiration from Audi's R18 Le Mans racer, as demonstrated below by familiar face and Audi Sport Abt Shaeffler Team Principal Allan McNish in the video below. Thanks, Allan.
Aiding the PB18's ability on track is the active rear diffuser and spoiler, which help to deliver downforce as well as a more aggressive look. While Audi refrains from stating if the concept will make it to production, the concept confirm's the marques intention to roll out more all-electric models after the e-tron SUV launches in September. Watch this space - the PB18 could be the closest you get to being Formula E Audi Sport drivers Lucas di Grassi or Daniel Abt.