CALABASAS, Calif. — The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT doesn’t go on sale in america till someday this summer season, however final week we received the prospect to drive a German-spec RS E-Tron GT model out of Ingolstadt’s pre-production fleet (pictured above). Audi has excessive hopes using on its new luxurious sedan, calling it a halo automotive for its E-Tron sub-brand of electrical automobiles. And but, it’s unimaginable to debate the E-Tron GT with out mentioning the Porsche Taycan.
When the thought of recent electrical vehicles have been first pitched on the flip of the century, auto execs have been virtually frothing on the mouth over how easy (and thus cost-effective) a automotive may very well be. Concepts like promoting prospects a single skateboard chassis on which they may swap bods starting from sports activities vehicles to minivans have been brazenly mentioned. 20 years on, the market hasn’t shifted in the direction of vehicles that may be modified round like Lego bricks. In actual fact, model id is extra vital than ever, particularly on the expensive finish of the market.
Each the E-Tron GT and the Taycan have been developed in parallel on what’s identified internally because the J1 platform. They’ve quite a lot of {hardware} in widespread, beginning with an 800-volt system (versus the 400-volt system discovered on Teslas), which helps cut back charging occasions and weight alike for the 93-kWh battery pack. Each share a warmth pump that makes use of coolant strains to switch warmth from high-voltage electrical parts to the batteries to maintain them working on the supreme temperature.
The similarities don’t finish there. Each vehicles make use of the identical underlying twin electrical motor structure, and thus AWD. Each have a rear axle with an electronically lockable diff and e-torque vectoring. Porsche calls it PTV, Audi calls it Quattro 2.0, however it’s all simply branding. Each have rear-wheel steering, and a three-chamber air suspension, which Audi says has 60% extra quantity than its different air suspensions, permitting for better variation between modes.
Regardless of the various commonalities, the Audi truly does a fairly good job of distinguishing itself from the Taycan. The Porsche is positioned as an excellent high-tech machine on the reducing fringe of the electrical revolution. The Audi is nearer to a standard automotive, splitting the distinction between a standard ICE luxurious sedan just like the RS7 and the long run that’s the Taycan.
At first, there’s the styling. The Taycan is sleeker than a Star Wars stormtrooper helmet and is as a lot a departure from the Porsche norm as you may get as of late. The E-Tron GT is way more aligned with the remainder of the model portfolio. Like different Audis, there’s a semblance of grille, even when it’s crammed with diamond textured plastic. We dig its muscular sculpting of the fenders and rear haunches, and the areas between are crammed with dramatic character strains and curves. It immediately makes an RS7 look flat.
A part of that’s the truth that the E-Tron GT cuts 2 inches off the RS7’s peak and is 1 inch wider. The one Audi with a decrease roofline is an R8. Positive, should you calm down your pupils such as you’re staring right into a magic eye poster you may see Porsche-esque curves within the rear three-quarters view, however it would not be preposterous to say the E-Tron GT appears higher. Head of design Marc Lichte calls it “probably the most lovely automotive I’ve ever penned.”
Nonetheless, it’s the inside the place the E-Tron GT actually units itself aside. The very first thing you’ll discover is that the decrease MMI display screen discovered on higher-end Audis is gone, changed by bodily buttons for local weather management. Beneath that sits one other row for drive mode, traction management, parking cameras, and the like. Snazzy as touchscreens could also be, we truly desire these Audis (, the cheaper ones) which have stored buttons and knobs round. Satirically, then, right here it’s the E-Tron GT that sticks with tactile switchgear whereas the Taycan’s gone so screen-happy you anticipate Max Headroom to pop on and promote you a New Coke.
As for the cabin itself, it’s an exquisite surroundings that bathes you in decadent supplies, Dinamica fake suede is commonplace and there are six totally different hues of Nappa leather-based should you select. We should always observe that Audi informed us that the Arras Pink leather-based you see on our RS E-Tron GT tester differs barely from what U.S. manufacturing will appear to be. The inside feels extra intimate than that of an A7, cocooning you in a smaller general house. Driver and navigator received’t thoughts, however rear seat passengers could really feel a tad cramped. It’s not the legroom, which is ample on account of rear footwells fashioned by destructive house within the battery pack, however the sloping C-pillars that may intrude in your temples.
Audi is understandably treasured in regards to the pre-production Daytona Grey RS E-Tron GT we sampled. Throughout our drive across the winding Santa Monica Mountains, there have been handlers forward of and behind us in separate automobiles. Although transient, our spin did reveal some fascinating traits.
The automotive rolls out with a pleasant, engineered whine just like that of the Taycan, or some type of hovering transport in a sci-fi film. However mash the pedal and the takeoff is nothing wanting rapid. It’s cliché to say that acceleration pins you in opposition to the seat, however it does. With 637 horsepower and 612 pound-feet on faucet, the RS E-Tron GT goes from 0-60 in simply 3.1 seconds (the non-RS has 522 hp and 464 lb-ft and takes 3.9 seconds).
That’s to not say it is turbulent, although. A quick ICE sports activities automotive just like the Nissan GT-R NISMO snarls because it claws on the asphalt. You’ll be able to really feel the gnashing of metallic and churning of equipment throughout you. The RS E-Tron GT, alternatively, merely picks up the tempo prefer it’s floating on a beam of sunshine, with solely a barely louder hum and wind noise.
Most stunning, nevertheless, is the RS E-Tron GT’s steering response. Given the free really feel of the A6 and A7, a sure stage of drive-by-wire fuzziness was anticipated. As a substitute, the steering returned suggestions that was, for lack of a greater time period, Porsche-like. Physique roll is imperceptible, due to a heavy battery pack within the ground sucking the middle of gravity means down.
The RS comes with ceramic brakes (16.5-inch entrance, 16.1-inch rear) that drag it to a cease successfully and with out fade, regardless of a 5,139-pound curb weight. We didn’t have an opportunity to check if the metal 16.1-inch entrance, 14.4-inch rear brakes will do the identical for the non-RS’s 5,060 kilos. That’s nonetheless quite a lot of mass, and it retains the RS E-Tron GT from delivering the uncooked connection to the street that you just’d get from a real sports activities automotive. However, the E-Tron GT will most likely blow that sports activities automotive away on paper in each quantifiable metric. Additionally, we didn’t get to drive it at Autobahn speeds, or on the freeway in any respect, however we consider the mass (together with all-wheel-steering) will truly plant the RS with a sense of supreme stability at sustained cruising pace, identical to a correct GT ought to.
In half an hour of spirited driving, we noticed the vary drop from an almost full cost of 220 miles to 160 regardless that the precise distance coated was solely 19 miles. Although Audi’s ready for the EPA to certify its most claimed vary of 232 miles (238 for the non-RS), the truth is that indulging within the E-Tron GT’s irresistible accelerative powers will sap vary at an alarming price. That may very well be a turn-off for some consumers, particularly with a automotive that’s billed as a GT (and when Tesla can begin with a claimed 412 miles).
When do you want to recharge, the E-Tron GT provides two ports. On the driving force’s aspect is a regular J1772 AC connector, and on the passenger aspect is a 270 kW CCS1 DC connector that may get the battery as much as 80% from empty in about 20 minutes. Think about, having the ability to cost whereas parallel parked with out dragging the cable throughout the automotive!
The E-Tron GT begins at $99,900 (earlier than vacation spot prices, which have not been introduced for the 2022 mannequin yr). The RS provides $40,000. On paper, although, there are locations the place a Tesla Mannequin S wins out — considerably extra space for storing with a 26.3 cubic foot trunk versus the Audi’s 14.3 (to not point out a 5.3 cubic foot frunk to the Audi’s 2.9), a claimed 1.9-second 0-60 time for the tri-motor $144,490 Plaid+ that additionally has most marketed vary of 520 miles. However for many who are accustomed to conventional vehicles, it’s the unquantifiable areas like inside really feel and steering response that give the Audi an edge.
The Taycan truly looks like it’s nearer to the Mannequin S in spirit, which brings us to our last level. Sure, the Audi and Porsche have distinct identities, however it appears they have been inadvertently switched, “Freaky Friday” model. Audi was at all times the Vorsprung durch Technik model and Porsche the normal driver’s selection. Right here, it’s the E-Tron GT that appears to be extra driver-oriented with its cabin format and muscle automotive styling, whereas the Taycan takes on the function of spaceship. Not that we’re complaining. Given the worth level, and options, the E-Tron GT slots neatly into the candy spot between the bottom Taycan and 4S, whereas the RS E-Tron GT nuzzles between the 4S and Turbo. In each circumstances, the Audi strikes the right stability, and factoring its extra car-like attraction, it is arguably the one to get.
