Audi rumored to challenge Tesla’s Model X with an all-electric SUV of its own

By Alexander Kalogianni December 5, 2014

audi rumored to challenge tesla model x 2014 q7 tdi — Audi Q7 TDI Image used with permission by copyright holder

Tesla has been on a steady rise from the start, debuting strong in a world where all-electric vehicles were given little regard and supplanted its prominence with the manufacturer’s award-winning Model S sedan. It only stands to reason that it expands to other segments, and it’s here that the up-and-comer has become an influencer in its own right.

With the EV automaker gearing things up for the launch of its Model X all-electric crossover, Audi is rumored to be planning a competitive, all-electric SUV of its own.

Automotive News reports that, in a recent meeting in with Bloomberg in Berlin, Audi AG CEO Rupert Stadler stated that a zero-emission vehicle is in the works. “It’s probably going to be a crossover, but development work is still ongoing,” the CEO added.

tesla-model-x-2-4-640x0 — Tesla Model X Image used with permission by copyright holder

This isn’t uncharacteristic of Audi, who already has the A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid set to roll off assembly next year, as well as the all-electric R8 e-tron sports car being delivered through its limited production run.

So what should Tesla expect to run into on the way to electric crossover superiority? Nothing has been set in stone, but previous rumors swirl around the idea that a powetrain similar to the one in the R8 e-tron, made up of two electric motors driving the front and rear wheels separately, will find its way in the Q8 crossover set to replace Audi’s current Q7 (pictured above).

We won’t know if the Tesla Model X will knock it out of the park like the Model S did, but it’s something all-electric fans have been clamoring for in a package that is just as unique as its sedan counterpart. Audi, on the other hand, has a fairly decent lay of the land in the car world, with more than a few decades of experience under its belt, so it’ll be interesting to see how they hold up when they quietly hit the streets.

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Alexander Kalogianni

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…

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