Here's Why The Tesla Vs. Audi Race Is Heating Up

According to Clean Technica, which cited EV Obsession, the long-rumored Audi Q6 E-Tron will begin production as soon as 2018. The car will reportedly include a fully electric build with a range of approximately 310 miles per charge.

Clean Technica said that Audi's closest competitor would be Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA)'s soon to be released Model X with "only" 200 miles of range given its heavier profile versus the Model S sedan.

"In the world of electric cars, range is as critical to sales as cubic inches were back when great thumping V-8 engines ruled the road," sister site Gas2 noted.

Naturally, Tesla will win the first-move advantage battle with its Model X set to hit the market this year, as opposed to Audi's yet to be fully confirmed 2018 debut.

In the rapidly changing and not yet mature electric vehicle space, a lot can change within three years.

Tesla's Model X seems "rather likely" to take a dominating market share, according to Clean Technica, with its "much-loved" tech/infotainment system, falcon-wing doors, free Supercharging, and reportedly the driving feel of a sports car.

On the other hand, Audi won't be able to offer a dedicated charging station to rival Tesla's free network, but the German automaker is known to be working on wireless recharging technology that will eliminate the need to plug in a car.

"The only thing we know for sure is that while Tesla has been struggling to get production of the Model X started, the rest of the world's automakers have been hard at work preparing their own electric SUV models to compete with it," Clean Technica concluded.