Audi e-tron GT updated with up to 912bhp and longer range
Audi has revealed details of its revamped e-tron GT electric grand tourer, which will go on sale later this summer as its most powerful road car ever.
Like the related Porsche Taycan, the updated e-tron GT gets significant improvements in power, chassis and charging as well as more minor cosmetic changes and a new naming structure.
Entry-level models are now labelled Audi S e-tron GT, with RS e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT performance sitting above it. In all cases, the e-tron GT uses upgraded motors and a new, lighter but higher capacity battery.
As before, Audi doesn’t offer the single-motor variant available from Porsche, so all versions use a two-motor arrangement with a 236bhp unit at the front and a new rear motor that’s 10kg lighter than the previous one and available with three different outputs.
In S models, total power is a respectable 671bhp, meaning a 0-62mph time of just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 152mph.
The RS model steps that up to 844bhp while the RS performance puts out a massive 912bhp, making it the most powerful production car Audi has ever built. Those peak power stats are unlocked via a boost button that frees up an additional 94bhp for a 10-second burst. Standard RS models will cover the 0-62mph sprint in a mere 2.8 seconds while the top-spec model shaves another 0.3 seconds from that time.
To cope with such performance the brakes have been enlarged and updated, with RS performance models getting ten-piston callipers to help haul it to a stop. The chassis has also been reworked with two-chamber active air suspension featuring multiple settings for more comfort- or performance-focused demands, and a host of pre-set and personalisable driving modes.
The e-tron GT’s battery is also new, with a larger capacity but lower weight. Better battery chemistry and cooling packaging means the battery has a higher cell density than before and now offers 97kWh of usable capacity which can provide up to 375 miles of range. The updated chemistry and hardware also means even faster charging, with peak power up from 270kW to 320kW, allowing it to go from 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes and maintain higher charging rates for longer.
Both the standard S e-tron GT and RS models have been given an exterior revamp to enhance their sporty appearance. Typically for a midlife refresh, the grille, air vents and rear diffuser have been redesigned and new features include a ‘carbon camouflage’ trim detail on RS models. There are also new designs for the S’s 20-inch and RS’s 21-inch wheels and an exclusive Bedford Green paint finish for the RS that’s matched with green stitching in the cabin.
Interior upgrades include new sports seats for S variants and the option of a massage function in the RS, plus a new flat-topped and bottomed steering wheel and new sill plates. The panoramic sunroof now comes with a liquid crystal surface that turns from clear to opaque at the touch of a button. Digital upgrades including a refreshed virtual cockpit that can provide real-time info on the battery’s temperature and possible maximum charging power.
The new Audi e-tron GT will be available to order from August, priced from £108,680 for the S e-tron GT, rising to £127,280 for the RS and £143,780 for the RS performance model.
