Audi hesitated for a long time with a Tesla Model S competitor. Now it comes as an offshoot of the Porsche Taycan. The technical data is promising.
Driving experience with the Porsche Taycan can be quickly reduced to a common denominator: the electric car is extremely enjoyable with its handling. Now Audi is launching an offshoot of the Taycan with the e-tron GT.
There are only a few identical parts, but conceptually there is very little separation between the two: Here and there, it is a four-door sedan, each almost five meters long – roughly the size of an Audi A7. The e-tron GT differs from this one in that it has a flatter, wider rear, which looks good on the car. Some details are only noticeable at second glance – for example, that the front fenders are slightly higher than the hood in between. The standard rims are 19 inches, for an additional fee Audi can also screw 21-inch wheels onto the wheel hubs. The c W value is 0.24.
The top performance of the basic model is a little below that of the Porsche Taycan, but even those who are spoiled hardly have to worry. In the top model, it takes just 3.3 seconds for the sprint to 100 km / h . Tesla recently announced a time of around 2 seconds in the standard sprint , but this should only be possible if certain parameters interlock. Audi will initially offer two engine variants, a base model with rear-wheel drive could follow.
| e-tron GT | RS e-tron GT | |
| Power in kW | 350 | 440 |
| Peak power in kW | 390 | 475 |
| Torque in Nm | 630 | 830 |
| Maximum speed in km / h | 245 | 250 |
| Range | 488 | 472 |
The battery in the Audi has a net energy content of 85 kWh. Audi puts the range in the WLTP at 488 and 472 km (Audi RS e-tron GT), which is slightly above the information provided by Porsche. Audi justifies this with a further development of the battery cells and a modified engine management. A heat pump that reduces power consumption during air conditioning is standard. The maximum charging power of 270 kW is impressive for today’s conditions, but can only be achieved under ideal circumstances.
At the forefront of the Charging Index?
But even without this peak, Porsche is ahead in the P3 Charging Index. The highest average charging power in the Taycan was 224 kW in the window of SOC 20 to 80 percent. To translate that: In this test, the Porsche needed 20 minutes to charge from 17 to 68 kWh. The e-tron GT will presumably move in the same league.
Audi goes its own way in the interior. Many manufacturers are currently relocating the entire operation to one screen, Audi has more buttons in the e-tron GT. This may look less futuristic than a giant display, but it could mean that some things are more intuitive to use. The own steering column lever for the cruise control is also noteworthy – this is now rather rare in the Volkswagen Group. At Audi, they are particularly proud of the vegan interior fabrics, be it synthetic leather or a microfiber material, which also uses recycled materials such as PET bottles.
Price still unknown
Audi did not want to reveal anything about the prices in advance, a car for everyone is unlikely. The e-tron GT will probably be a little less expensive than a comparable Porsche Taycan. With around 100,000 euros upwards, however, you can be pretty sure. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this year.
