Audi RS e-Tron GT: Plenty of wow power

What is it?

It’s not the destination, it’s the journey, so the saying goes: and there is no better way to sum up Audi’s new all-electric supercar — the RS e-tron GT.

With a limited top speed of 250km/h (the destination) and a sprint from zero to 100km/h (the journey) in 3.3 seconds in boost mode, both are unlikely to be called on in full off track.

Claimed is a range of 488km (WLTP).

However, this is no scary monster on the high street.

Around town, the sleek grand tourer is as placid as the Prius, remember, one of the original petrol/electric hybrids, which went on to become one of the most popular taxis around the world?

And, when called on safely to overtake almost anywhere, or to filter into fast-moving motorway traffic, the RS e-tron GT, with up to 475kW of power and a massive 830Nm of torque coming from two electric motors, one on either axle, delivering power to all four wheels with the latest Audi e-quattro system — will simply oblige with some to spare.

What’s it cost?

Support act to the RS e-tron GT is the well-equipped e-tron GT quattro, which can be had from $180,200.

The addition of the RS prefix brings with it more kit, and supercar substance, from $248,200.

Both are without on-road costs. As luck would have it, I scored the latter.

RS e-tron GT highlights include all-wheel steering, controlled rear differential lock, 21-inch alloy wheels, body-colour grille and inside colour ambient lighting, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, four-way lumbar support, extended Nappa leather / Dinamica upholstery, carbon twill inlays, plus RS e-tron sport sound.

Head of Audi Design, Marc Lichte rates the Audi e-Tron GT as ‘the most beautiful car that I have ever designed’ and tasked his team with dressing the luxe four-door coupe in the manner for which a vehicle of such elevated driving performance deserves.

It may sound a tad twee but the first electric Audi to wear the iconic RS badge really does look super-fast even when it’s at rest.

Front on, a blanked-out grille space sits above a horizontal panel incorporating cameras and radar, while active slats for cooling and airflow chip in for a drag coefficient of Cd 0.24.

The rear-light set-up is interesting, especially at night with its entertaining light show.

There’s also a hidden rear spoiler that deploys at two different angles depending on speed – at 90km/h it’s aero-efficient, at 170km/h it acts on downforce.

Spiffing 21-inch alloy wheels, tungsten carbide brake discs with red calipers, black exterior styling highlights and panoramic tinted glass sunroof complete the picture.

The RS e-tron GT flies the flag for Audi info-tech with its virtual cockpit-plus, Audi Connect plus, wireless smartphone interface and charging, DAB+ digital radio and head-up windscreen information display.

The Bang & Olufsen 16-speaker sound system has the run of whisper-quiet surroundings for its concert-hall sound reproduction.

Sound of a different sort emanates from ‘under the bonnet’ with speakers inside and out producing distinctive notes, developed by engineers using data from the rotational speed of the electric motors, to go with a high-performance driving experience.

Although with no results of any ANCAP testing to hand, standard safety equipment is paramount as much for the electric Audi as it is for the ICE models.

This includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, junction assist, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, traffic jam assist, lane keep assist, lane guidance assist, collision avoidance assist and blind-spot monitoring.

Manoeuvring is aided by a 360-degree surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, front, side, curtain airbags and driver attention monitoring.

Audi covers its cars with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and provides e-tron GT owners with six years free scheduled servicing and roadside assistance.

It also gives 12 years warranty for body corrosion, in addition to an eight-year warranty on the battery.

What’s it go like?

The cabin is not left wanting, with ample space for relaxed travel, thanks to clever design and the absence of a transmission tunnel.

A Dinamica package makes use of recycled top-quality materials, including vegan upholstery and headlining for environmentally conscious customers.

Power adjustable sports front seats have heating and ventilation, with driver’s side also having a memory function.

Leg room in the rear is adequate for the average-size occupant. However, the sloping roof can be a tad tight for tall people.

The driver is sold short on a rear view, with a slitty back window.

The boot will take 366 litres of gear and there’s 25 litres under the bonnet.

There’s no spare wheel, only a tyre repair kit.

e-tron GT is powered by electric motors, front and back, combining to produce 350kW (390kW boost) and 630Nm.

The RS version stumps up 440kW (475kW boost) and 830Nm.

The 93kWh battery gives a driving range of up to 540km and 504km, respectively.

Audi offers all e-tron owners a six-year free subscription to the Chargefox network.

Recharging at the maximum 270kW direct current capacity stores 100km in a short five minutes.

An 11kW AC home-charge unit can fully recharge the pair overnight.

Call it ‘aperture anxiety’: it’s with some tribulation that you drop into or clamber out of a low-slung sportscar with a swoopy roof and wide opening doors, especially in a skinny shopping centre parking spot.

Welcome to the Audi RS e-tron GT.

However, settle into the seats and it’s all sweetness and light? Well, almost.

The twin electric motors spear the two-tonne-plus supercar to 100km/h in a touch above four seconds, while tungsten carbide brakes pull up the vehicle in short order.

In between, a three-chamber adaptive air suspension works on the 21-inch wheels to iron out road blemishes and can be called upon to dish up a tasty driving experience.

Steering wheel mounted paddles can be used to control braking regeneration levels, with corresponding changes in performance.

Energy consumption is put by the maker at 20.2kWh/100km on the combined urban/highway cycle.

The test car recorded a best figure of 19.1kWh on a motorway run.

As for charging the high-voltage battery, the test car, at a public charging station, went from 57 per cent to 85 per cent in 28 minutes at a cost of just short of $10.

What we like?

• Electric supercar
• A real Jekyll and Hyde
• Placid as the Prius around town
• Takes off like a scalded cat
• All-wheel steering

What we don’t like?

• Needs space to access with wide opening doors 
• Sloping roof can be a tad tight for tall people
• Rear vision limited thanks to slit window
• No spare wheel, only a tyre repair kit

The bottom line?

Jeff Mannering, Audi Australia boss, sums up: “The e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT combine striking design with the highest standards of performance and handling.

“All-electric drive and zero emissions, just makes them more compelling.”

Right on, chief.

 

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