Turns Out ‘E-Tron’ is a Crappy Name, Audi

The all-electric E-tron is expected to make production in the next few years, promising to be an efficient alternative to those who value performance but have a concern for the environment and how much they spend on gas. It is said to have similar performance of the Audi R8 but uses absolutely no gas. Cool idea.

What wasn’t a cool idea though, was naming it E-tron. While the name sounds cool and futuristic, obviously the whole world doesn’t speak English. Which means that different words have different meanings in cultures across the world. Audi is finding that out the hard way.

Turns out in French Etron is slang for feces. Obviously having a car named after excrement is not ideal. It would give way to way too many puns such as “that car is a piece of shit.” This isn’t the first time Audi has screwed up names. Remember when they insensitively created the Green Police? The same guy responsible for that in Audi’s research department must’ve come up with the Etrons name.

This also isn’t the first time a new car’s name meant something hilariously different in another language. GM came to the startling realization that the name of its top selling sedan, the LaCrosee, means rather crudely to masturbate in la Francais Quebecois. Luckily for GM, they came to this realization before the LaCross went on sale and named it the Allure in our market. Since then, GM has decided that LaCrosse will be the name of here and Canada too. They apparently don’t care about Quebec culture or references anymore.

[Green Car Ports]

Audi Warming Up to That Electric Feel

“No one is going to pay a $15,000 premium for a car that competes with a (Toyota) Corolla. So there are not enough idiots who will buy it” -Audi of America President on the Chevolet Volt.

“They’re for the intellectual elite who want to show what enlightened souls they are” – Audi of America President on electric vehicles.

We’re not sure how Johan de Nysschen still has his job after making comments like that, especially since they are now proving to be immensely hypocritical.

Audi’s E-tron concept, an all electric sports car, will indeed make it into production for the 2012 year. The E-tron is supposedly only 88 pounds heavier than its gas engine twin the R8, so that combined with  309 horsepower electric motors means some serious competition for the Tesla Roadster.

The newly introduced A1 will also become electrified as it makes its debut at the Geneva Auto show. It’s going to have a Wankel range extender, so expect the little hatchback to do quite well for city driving.

With expectations of a Q5 plug-in hybrid and an A8 hybrid Concept already debuted, we guess Audi doesn’t think the Chevy Volt is for idiots anymore since both will cost a much larger premium for a car that gets worse mileage than a Toyota Corolla. We’re just sayin’.

Think next time you speak, de Nysschen!

Prayers = Answered. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Going Into Production!

2013 is going to be a very good year.

Possibly the most innovative concept to come out in a while, BMW attempts the difficult task of combining power with efficiency. Also, BMW obviously couldn’t just stand by while their main rival Audi releases their all-electric E-tron.

The production version will obviously be a lot tamer than the concept you see, still, expect a shapely supercar like body.

What’s under the hood? Well, not what you’d might expect. It will reportedly feature a 3-cylinder diesel with a range extender and two electric motors. Sound underwhelming? Well the complicated hybrid set up will produce around 356 horsepower and a ridiculously insane 590 pound feet of torque!

There’s more good news. Vision EfficientDynamics will not be the name of the production version. BMW may be considering reviving the M1 moniker for it.  But really, they could call it pig-farter and we’d still buy it.
Check out more pics over at autoblog.