German luxury carmaker Audi, famous for its quattro all-wheel drive and monster-powered Group B rally cars, today detailed its first fully-electric high-performance car with pricing that undercuts the related Porsche Taycan.
Looking splendid in ‘Tactical Green’ at Audi Australia’s preview event in White Bay, Sydney, the Audi RS e-tron GT is the full-fat version of Audi’s high-performance play in the EV world, priced from $249,700 plus on-road costs, while the regular Audi e-tron GT kicks off from $181,700 before on-roads. Both models lob here in September.
While Audi has been in the battery electric vehicle business for several years already, with its e-tron SUVs effectively using existing chassis architecture, the all-new e-tron GT is the first to use the bespoke J1 EV platform is shares with the Porsche Taycan.
When it comes to pricing it’s hard to compare the two brands, given the Porsche is available in four variants. The entry-level Taycan starts from $153,600, before leaping to the Taycan 4S at $194,700. The Taycan Turbo kicks off from $276,300, while the range-topping Turbo S is yours for a cool $345,800 – considerably more the than the RS e-Tron GT.
You can draw some parallels – the 350kW/630Nm e-tron GT isn’t far off the Taycan 4S’s 390kW/640Nm outputs (especially in its 390kW boost mode), and the RS e-tron GT (440kW/830Nm) is within reach of the Taycan Turbo’s 500kW/850Nm.
Nevertheless, the two EV cousins couldn’t be more different in their design execution, with the Porsche looking decidedly futuristic (but still unmistakably Porsche), while the Marc Lichte-designed Audi is more traditional in its styling – though still with a generous dollop of old-school attitude.
Apart from the shared platform, the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan use the same two-speed transmission on the rear axle, as well as sharing the same 93.4kWh battery – though Porsche does employ less-powerful batteries (71kWh and 79kWh) on lower grades, where the larger pack is standard on the Audi.
Power is plentiful regardless of e-tron GT you choose, with the standard version making system outputs of 350kW (390kW with boost) and 630Nm from its dual-motor drivetrain. That translates to a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds.
The high-performance RS e-tron GT takes it up a few notches with 440kW (475kW on boost), while torque swells to a manic 830Nm, making it the most powerful Audi RS road car ever. Going from standstill to 100km/h takes just 3.3 seconds, while top speed is a claimed 250km/h.
e-tron GT interior
Thanks to the 93.4kWh battery pack across both versions, Audi claims a driving range of up to 488 kilometres (WLTP combined) for both versions of the e-tron GT.
Charging times are also maximised thanks to the 800-volt on-board electrical architecture which allows charging at up to 270kW Direct Current (DC), replenishing 100 kilometres of range in as little as five minutes.
Audi e-tron GT buyers will also get a complementary 11kW AC home charger with purchase, including a wall mount box (provided they have three-phase power), which can fully recharge either version of the GT overnight.
Additionally, Audi Australia is currently offering all e-tron models a six-year subscription to the growing Chargefox public charger network which includes unlimited charging on all ultra-rapid, fast and standard chargers across the 100 per cent renewable energy network.
Moreover, e-tron GT buyers will also receive six years free scheduled servicing and roadside assistance as part of Audi Australia’s EV ownership experience.
Audi also recently pivoted to a five-year, unlimited-kilometre new vehicle warranty (e-tron GT included), as well as providing 12 years against bodywork corrosion, and eight years of battery warranty.
Both models feature three-chamber air suspension and quattro all-wheel drive, while the RS e-tron gets 21-inch alloy wheels that cloak specially-treated tungsten carbide brake discs – which largely eliminate brake dust for more efficient stopping performance – as well as a rear differential lock and all-wheel steering.
As a pure, zero-emissions EV, the e-tron GT is characterised by what Audi has dubbed the ‘listener experience’, which is effectively specially composed synthetic soundtrack projected through four speakers, inside and out. The sound itself is said to mirror the workings of the electric motors and drive system.
RS e-tron GT
As Audi’s flagship EV model, the e-tron GT is also equipped with an extensive inventory of luxury creature comforts, including HD Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light, electrically-operated sports leather seats with contrasting inlays, three-zone climate control, front seat heating and remote air-conditioning when stationary.
Additional highlights include the very latest in infotainment: including a 12.3-inch configurable driver’s instrument cluster, 10.1-inch navigation display, Bang & Olufsen 710-watt, 16-speaker 3D sound system, DAB+ radio, a head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless smartphone charging.
There’s also a full suite of the latest active driver assist systems comprising adaptive cruise assist, side assist (blind-spot assist), active lane assist, intersection assist, surround-view cameras and tyre pressure monitoring system that also measures tyre temperature.
Audi e-tron GT buyers also have a choice of eight very cool metallic paint finishes at no cost, including Floret Silver, Suzuka Grey, Daytona Grey (pearl effect), Kemora Grey, Mythos Black and Tango Red. Ascari Blue and Tactical Green are exclusive to the RS e-tron GT flagship.
The all-new Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT arrive in Australian showrooms from September.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Keyword: Audi RS e-tron GT priced from $249,700, here in September