DESPITE ORIGINALLY denying claims that it was working on a battery-powered version of its R8 supercar, Audi may actually be preparing a R8 EV concept for next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Audi board member Peter Schwarzenbauer was recently quoted saying the German automaker will unveil a “very, very sporty” electric vehicle at the Frankfurt Show.

While Schwarzenbauer would not confirm or deny whether the all-electric car would be based on the mid-engined R8, he did say that it won’t be based on a small or light-car platform and will instead be a more upmarket offering.

Unlike Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi is taking a top-down approach to its introduction of all-electric drivetrains.

While its German counterparts focus on relatively cheap small electric cars, Audi will debut its first zero-emissions models at the top of its range; where the extra expense of an all-electric powertrain won’t have as much of an impact on buyers.

If the rumours of the so-called Audi R8 ‘e-Version’ are correct, the car would become the second pure-electric vehicle to be announced by a German manufacturer - the recently-teased Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG electric drive being the first.

No technical details of Audi’s battery-electric vehicle are known; but all will be revealed at Frankfurt next month where the Audi EV will be revealed alongside the A5 Sportback and R8 Cabrio.

GALLERY » Audi R8 Electric