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Audi insists that that GT bit of the e-tron GT’s name is more than just two rather familiar letters. But grand touring suggests a driving experience of a certain gentility and based purely on its performance potential this latest pure-electric Audi is a long way from genteel. The RS e-tron GT runs the equivalent of 523bhp in “regular” form, but that rises to 637bhp in over-boost mode, which means a zero to 62mph time of just 3.3 seconds if you want it. That and the mountain of torque an EV delivers from a standstill.
That’s just showing off though and, besides, it’s a rather reductive way of looking at what is a seriously seductive and deeply clever car (Tesla can do the ludicrous stuff). Audi’s e-tron electric model line-up is already well established in large SUV and crossover forms but this is the one we’ve really been waiting for. At its heart lies an 800-volt, 93kWh battery that promises a range of up to 295 miles and features fast DC charging at up to 270kW. That means 62 miles of range replenished in just over five minutes.
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Two electric motors, combined with their power electronics and the two-speed transmission, are housed on the front and rear axle and provide a fully electric interpretation of Audi’s famous Quattro all-wheel drive. The motors’ torque is continuously varied between the axles within a few thousandths of a second for maximum traction. In normal use, the drivetrain defaults to a “sailing” mode to optimise efficiency and energy can also be recovered and redeployed in this phase, as well as under braking. The 33-cell lithium-ion battery pack sits between the axles, to help deliver the best possible centre of gravity. The e-tron GT also uses a heat pump to warm the interior using the waste energy generated by the high-voltage components. Anyone who’s driven an EV in cold weather will know how much heating the car can sap the batteries and hobble the range. Finally, the e-tron GT’s handling smarts are enhanced by a self-locking centre differential, which sharpens traction and stability. The RS version gains another diff on the rear, whose functionality can be altered by the driver using a drive controller. On top of all that is the option of rear-wheel steering, which improves low-speed manoeuvrability and high-speed agility. It’s a formidable technological armoury.
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On the other hand, just look at the thing. Like Porsche’s magnificent Taycan, with which the Audi shares much of its hard- and software, the e-tron GT is the type of car you’d hope we’d be treated to this deep into the 21st century – short of actually being able to fly. It’s low, wide and long, has a lengthy wheelbase and boasts the sort of slippery aerodynamics that always sounds good but are actually highly significant when it comes to electric vehicles’ efficiency. The nose reframes Audi’s signature “singleframe” grille, whose cooling attributes on conventionally powered cars give way here to controllable cooling air inlets for the e-tron GT’s active aero. They also open during harder acceleration to cool the brakes. Charging ports are located behind both front wheels.
Matrix LEDs or laser light are also available, while a full-length light strip at the rear underscores the car’s unashamed futurism. Ever since the original Quattro arrived in 1980, Audi has also given its fastest cars tumescent wheel arches, but this particular design signature has reached a new zenith on the e-tron GT. It is an utterly mesmerising looking motor car. In RS GT form, you can spec a Carbon Black or Carbon Vorsprung pack to gain a carbon fibre roof. Better still.
The interior advances Audi’s recent 12.3-inch virtual cockpit and MMI for infotainment and connectivity, but adds some e-tron flourishes in terms of the cabin ambience and sustainability. The interior can be trimmed in a combination of artificial leather and a new material called Cascade, which uses recycled elements from plastic bottles and other discarded textiles. A microfibre material called Dinamica, similar to Alcantara, is used on the upper sections of the doors and dashboard.
Prices start at £79,900 for the e-tron GT Quattro, rising to £133,340 for the RS e-tron GT Carbon Vorsprung. The year is just six weeks old, but could its hottest car have just arrived?
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