Audi's RS models are some of the most coveted performance cars on sale, and they have been for some time. However, they can be a bit hardcore for daily driving or simply commuting in, but that doesn't mean buyers have to settle for something totally docile when shopping for a non-RS Audi.Should go-faster juice and a less-hardcore driving balance sound right up your street, then opting for a non-RS-spec Audi could be an interesting avenue to explore. While there are plenty to choose from, for the ultimate high-performance choice outside the RS family, this is the most powerful non-RS Audi model on the market. Audi's Sporty EV Provides Supercar Levels Of Grunt AudiIn a conclusion that will likely not come as a surprise, one of Audi's sportier electric models comes out on top of the non-RS powerstakes. The Audi S e-tron GT is a sleek four-door sedan built upon the same underpinnings as the mighty Porsche Taycan, which means it has some pace about it. The car comes boasting a pair of electric motors, with the two units shared between the front and rear axles. Not only does this help to improve the vehicle's weight balance, but it also means the car retains Audi's traditional all-wheel drive layout. The result is that its grunt can be transmitted to the road much more effectively, improving performance and driver friendliness.This is a good thing too, as the powertrain kicks out a commanding 583 horsepower in standard mode. Its potent powertrain puts it just shy of the Audi S8 Plus' output, but the S e-tron GT also comes with a launch control mode that boosts peak power to 670 hp. The upshot of this is a 0–60 mph potential of 3.3 seconds, which has the effect of turning your face inside out with barely a consideration. The car also comes with a revolutionary two-speed automatic transmission, which is in deference to the single-speed unit most electric vehicles get loaded with.Whereas the first gear is built to provide the rapid launches made possible by the temporary power boost, the second gear is tuned to provide extra efficiency. Indeed, the S e-tron GT can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge, should the driver spend their time rolling around in the higher gear. The S e-tron GT Is Built To Thrill You Everywhere AudiWhile the S e-tron is less hardcore than its RS-badged sibling, it still knows its way to an apex. The 2026 version gets all-wheel steering as standard, which means the rear wheels will turn to help the nose tuck neatly to the inside of the bend. This extra agility means you can carry more corner speed, or at least not have to work so hard to get the vehicle turned in at slower speeds. The e-tron GT also comes with air suspension, which keeps the car nice and flat even under the most intense cornering forces. This reduces weight shift across the chassis, which ensures the tires can work to their full potential at all times.The e-tron GT's handling-boosting tech doesn't end there either, as the electric motors being placed on either axle not only enhance traction. The car comes with an advanced e-torque vectoring system, which uses the car's onboard computer to work out how much grip each wheel has at a given moment. Power can then be shared around each corner to maximize grip, which helps reduce understeer and wheelspin when getting on the throttle while cornering. However, because it isn't an RS, the S e-tron GT also provides a smooth ride thanks to its supple air suspension arrangement. Audi's Rapid EV Will Give Your Wallet A Fright AudiOf course, all this high-end technology doesn't come cheap. The standard Premium Plus Edition model will set you back $127,700, though you do get a beautifully-appointed cabin that boasts high-end leather and a range of trim options, such as wood or metal. There's also a ton of equipment placed at your fingertips, like a Bang and Olufsen audio system, electric and heated front seats, as well as soothing ambient lighting that helps soothe your heart rate. Spending an extra $10k will net you the Prestige Quattro model, which provides extras like a heads-up display, a panoramic glass roof, as well as more effective HD Matrix LED headlights.Financing an e-tron GT may be the more effective way forward for most buyers, given that handing over nearly $130k for a car at the moment you order it is pretty painful. As an example, if you handed over $10k as a deposit, you could secure a brand-new example for $2,221 per month. This would be over a five-year term, and at a 5% interest rate. This value can change drastically depending on the amount of money you can put down from the outset, so there's a decent chance you'll be able to get the monthly payment lowered considerably. Get Ready To Lose Some Money AudiBefore you head down to your local Audi dealer, it must be noted that depreciation will be your biggest enemy when buying a brand-new example. EV's struggle to hold their value at the best of times, and luxury-focused specimens suffer even more. According to CarEdge, you'll have to wave goodbye to a painful 49% of the car's value over the first five years of its life. As a result, your $127k will shapeshift to just $64k during that period. At least you've got the e-tron GT's launch mode to put a smile back on your face. Expect To Get Through Consumables Faster Than A Normal Car AudiThen we come to the costs of running the thing. Due to featuring an EV powertrain, there is at least much less to go wrong versus a traditional internal combustion-engined machine, so you'll save some money there over time. The battery is extremely expensive to replace, but Audi provides an extensive eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty should anything go wrong in that regard, so you'll be well covered with a brand-new vehicle. In addition, you'll be granted a four-year or 50,000-mile warranty covering the powertrain and other bumper-to-bumper components, though this will only cover bits that have failed due to a manufacturing defect or being of poor quality as opposed to general wear and tear.As a result, parts such as brakes, suspension and tires will need to be replaced eventually. Due to the huge battery hidden beneath the floor, the S e-tron GT is very heavy. With a curb weight of over 5,000 pounds, the car will give its running gear more of a hammering, so you'll find yourself needing replacements more often than you would on a lighter ICE equivalent. The air suspension is also very expensive to replace, though the system should last around a decade before it needs serious work. The cost of charging the S e-tron GT is also reasonable, especially if you can invest in a home charging station, which means you can top the car up overnight using your own power supply.The e-tron GT's special mechanicals, including the various performance-boosting features like four-wheel steering, can cost a fair bit to replace if they go wrong, but this is no different to a normal ICE of a similar standing. Wear and tear might catch up to you faster than it would on a normal car, but then you've got a lot less to worry about as far as the powertrain is concerned. It's all swings and roundabouts in this game. The S e-tron GT's More Powerful Sibling Enjoys Its Own Accolade AudiBut wait; maybe all this talk of power has turned you towards investing in Audi's most powerful model, full stop. As you might expect, it comes with RS badges adorning its various surfaces. The vehicle in the spotlight is the S e-tron GT's more powerful sibling, the RS e-tron GT. While it retains a similar dual-motor powertrain setup as the S, the RS has a more potent arrangement that shares 737 hp between all four wheels. In its most powerful launch mode state, which provides it with an insane 912 hp, the car can sprint to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds. Aside from being stupidly quick, the high-output mode makes the RS the most powerful Audi road car the German giant has ever produced.It also gets a hardened chassis when compared to the normal S, as well as a range of more hardcore steering and throttle settings to afford the car a more focused character than the entry-level vehicle. This is a proper track-ready weapon, so it also comes with a serious pricetag. Without any options installed, you'll need to part with $170,500 of your hard-earned dollars. It's a huge amount of money, but having the most powerful road-going Audi ever made does have a nice ring to it.Then again, you could always save $50k if you fancy having more power than you know what to do with in your life, and also have a more comfortable journey by opting for the (slightly) calmer S. Whichever route you elect to take, getting the most grunt with four rings on the front requires you to embrace the electric revolution.
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