The €36m (£29m) Audi Electronics Venture GmbH (AEV) project launched in October 2009, in partnership with electronics manufacturer Bosch and several departments of RWTH Aachen University. Some €23m (£18.5m) of the budget was supplied by the German Federal Ministry.

Splitting the powertrain into modules, each developed by an individual team, AEV’s first completed project was the e Sport platform, which is being tested in a vehicle disguised as an R8. Named F12, this uses three electric motors to offer front-wheel drive in low speeds, and quatttro four-wheel drive at higher speeds, with two of the motors located on the rear axle.

The F12 produces 200bhp and 406lb.ft, and has a battery which can switch between high and low power outputs, maximising available performance but also conserving energy at low loads. Audi said early computer and real world testing has shown the unit can withstand side impact crash tests, including the Euro NCAP pole test.

Dr. Christian Allmann, one of the project managers, said: ‘Our team united engineering art, creativity and a portion of lateral thinking. Young, independent free-thinkers worked together with the experts from the Technical Development departments at Audi and Bosch. We enjoyed a constant sharing of our respective knowledge and different work cultures.’

As well as the F12, the team has developed components which can be used on saloons and city cars, as well as production sports cars, providing a potential architecture for Audi’s future electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.