The Audi e-Tron concept, a shrunken R8 powered by a lithium-ion battery, certainly had all the looks of a pure showpiece—particularly since Audi’s own press materials characterize the electric cars as something that on which a lot of work still needs to be done. But when Michael Dick, the board member in charge of technical development, introduced the car on stage, he blurted out the news that Audi would in fact be building a test fleet of 1000 e-Tron sports cars in 2012.

 Later that same day, another Audi executive talked about 1000 to 2000 e-Trons. Obviously, the details are still to be worked out—or maybe the Audi guys have gotten caught up in the electric-car mania that is so heavy in the air here. However it shakes out, the U.S. Audi people are keen to participate in the program, so you may see an e-Tron whirring down your street much sooner than we first expected.