Audi E-Tron Electric Vehicle To Appear In PlayStation 3 Vertical Run Driving Game

MAKING ITS HOME in 'Audi Space', an area of Sony's online PlayStation Home community, the all-electric Audi e-tron concept is set to feature in the upcoming Vertical Run driving game later this year.

The aim of the game is to defeat opponents by gathering the most electrical energy along the course, one which features enough ups and downs to please even the most ardent Wipeout fans.

"Most young people gain their first driving experience from video games," Kai Mensing, who is responsible for video games and virtual worlds in Online Marketing at Audi, said.

"With the Audi Space, we can bring this target group into contact with our brand in a highly emotion-packed and interactive environment, and demonstrate our 'Vorsprung durch Technik' with the virtual e-tron race."

Unlike the Volkswagen Scirocco R 24 Hour Challenge app released this week for the Apple iPhone, the Audi e-tron's presence represents the only opportunity for fans anywhere in the world - not just in Australia - to 'drive' the all-electric concept.

Based on the R8’s chassis, the e-tron concept is dressed in new sheetmetal with unique bumpers and sealed-off air intakes, vents and cooling apertures to improve aerodynamics.

A battery-electric vehicle, the e-tron concept is propelled by four beefy electric motors - two on each axle. Power output is a (relatively) unexciting 230kW, but torque is a phenomenal 4500Nm.

Acceleration is brisk. The e-tron concept is claimed to hit 100km/h from a standstill in just 4.8 seconds, and 60-120km/h overtaking maneuvers take 4.1 seconds.