Audi e-tron ready to take on Taycan

EARLIER this week, Audi finally took the camouflage wraps off its production-ready all-electric four-door sports cars that are aimed squarely at the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S.

The e-tron GT is a reinterpretation of the age-old GT car philosophy.

The RS e-tron GT is the most potent road car they’ve ever made.

E-tron GT quattro and RS e-tron GT share platforms and electrical architectures with the Porsche Taycan thanks to the group’s J1 platform technology.

The e-tron GT’S headline facts and figures include a drag coefficient of just 0.24. Active aerodynamics with switchable air inlets for brakes and radiators, as well as a rear spoiler that extends in multiple stages and a closed underbody and wide diffuser, add efficiency.

The car comes with Matrix LED headlights in RS e-tron GT spec. Audi laser light technology is available as an option for both models. The rear lights offer a 3D light band in combination with top-of-therange headlights.

On the inside, it features an instrument panel with “driver orientation” and “monoposto character” said to provide a greater feeling of space.

You get electric allwheel drive with one permanently excited synchronous motor (PSM) at the front and rear axles with a twospeed transmission at the rear axle.

The GT quattro has a total output of 350kw of power and 630Nm of torque, while the RS e-tron GT makes do with 440kw and 830Nm.

With launch control engaged, an electric “boost” function increases the vanilla model’s output to 390kw for 2.5 seconds. In the Rs-e-tron GT, the power increases to 475kw for a maximum period of 2.5 seconds.

According to official numbers, 0-100km/h takes 4.1 seconds in the e-tron GT quattro and 3.3 seconds in the RS e-tron GT.

There’s intelligent control of sailing functions and energy recuperation, with brake recuperation of up to 265kw available under load.

You get the best of lithium-ion battery technology with a net energy capacity of 85kwh (93kwh gross) and a voltage level of 800 volts. The battery can also accept DC charging with an output of up to 270kw as standard for rapid charges, once those high-output charging units become available. According to Audi, e-tron GT drivers can expect a range of around 488km with one charge.

Audi South Africa plans to launch the e-tron GT and its SUV siblings this year.