Spied: Audi R8 e-tron test mule at the Nürburgring

Our trusty Teamspeed spies at the ring send us today Audi R8 e-tron test mule shots, under-going fast, but oh so quiet lap on the Nürburgring. These are the first pictures of the Audi e-tron chassis testing mules.

These e-tron mules look more or less like the normal R8, except you'll notice the lack of exhaust pipes. Both mules spotted had rear windows fully covered up and we are the told the front hood openings are for cooling of the batteries. The R8 e-tron is expected to hit the showrooms in 2013 in limited numbers.

Interesting to note is the he new grille seen on these mules is the one the face-lifted R8's will get with the later this year.

 

what is this E-tron

 

Audi of America > Experience > Progress > Audi e-tron

try google next time

 

Cars just don't look the same without exhaust pipes!

 

And the ward goes to Audi for the most effectively disguised prototype of the year!

 

orly?

 

the only way to disguise it properly would have been to add an artificial exhaust sound and some tail pipes..

 

psh i thought it was a new gearbox lol

 

Did it make it around the Ring before the batteries went dead?

 

Then they would be taking a page out of the BMW book.