Aston Martin's First EV Will Target Tesla Owners Tired Of Feeling Poor

Because sometimes the best still isn't good enough.

For the past few years the Tesla Model S was the so-called “it” car for what the industry calls “early adapters” with money. They love to have the latest and the best. And now Aston Martin wants their business with its upcoming RapidE. Speaking to Autocar, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer openly acknowledged that his company is “looking to those guys looking for something above Tesla. That customer probably isn’t looking for ‘Ludicrous Mode’.

"Our offer will have very credible acceleration – equal to a petrol Aston Martin – but you’ll be able to drive the car rapidly all the way around the Nurburgring without it derating or conking out on you.” Aston Martin has already unveiled the prototype of its first EV, the RapidE, though customer deliveries won’t begin until 2019. Just 155 examples are planned, and it’s safe to assume the final production version won’t look 100 percent identical to the prototype. In fact, the prototype you see pictured here is merely a proof-of-concept. Developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, the prototype is currently powered by Williams’ Formula E battery, but the production battery will be smaller.

Unlike the Tesla Model S, the RapidE’s battery will be front-mounted as opposed to floor-mounted. Also unlike most Tesla’s today, the RapidE will be rear-wheel-drive only. Aston Martin hasn’t announced specific performance numbers, but a 155 mph top speed, at the very least, is guaranteed. Given everything, why is Aston Martin turning a V12 engine four-door coupe into an EV instead of developing something new from the ground up? “I’ve engineered cars for a long time,” Palmer said. “It’s very hard work when you try and change everything at once…I wanted to do this with a car we understand intrinsically.”

New Audi A6 Allroad Is For Those Tired Of Driving A Subaru Outback

Reports suggest the new Audi A6 Allroad is coming to America.

Thanks to the unrelenting popularity of crossovers, practical wagons are becoming practically extent in America. But if you’re getting tired of driving a Subaru Outback, which is one of the few mainstream wagons sold in America right now, there could soon be an alternative.

Spy shots have emerged showing Audi testing a prototype of the new A6 Allroad at the Nurburgring. An unusual choice of location perhaps, since this isn’t the car’s natural habitat. Essentially a jacked-up version of the A6 Avant sold in Europe, the prototype looks practically production-ready as only model-specific components such as the fenders, side sills and bumpers are covered in camouflage. A new front grille with six vertical strips will also make it look more rugged than other A6 models.

Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system will be offered as standard, we also expect some off-road driving modes to help the car trudge through tricky terrain. Engine options haven’t been confirmed, but the new A6 Allroad is likely to adopt the regular car’s 3.0-liter TFSI V6 gasoline engine with 335 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque and the 3.0-liter TDI V6 diesel with 282hp and 457lb-ft of torque.

At this point, we would normally rant about America being deprived of yet another German wagon, but the A6 Allroad could be an exception. According to a report by Quattro Daily, the unexpected popularity of the A4 Allroad over here has persuaded Audi to sell the A6 Allroad in America.

Sources claim it will go on sale in late 2019. Expect the final production model to have a taller ride height than the regular A6, some rugged plastic body cladding and possibly some roof rails.