AFTER months of teasing and data drip feeding, Audi AG has eventually revealed its new e-Tron GT electrical grand tourer with two variations set to be provided globally, each of that are due in Australia within the second half of this yr.
Set to be provided in e-Tron GT quattro and RS e-Tron GT guises, Audi says the brand new electrical four-door coupes reinterpret the ‘gran tourismo philosophy’ and have day-to-day usability on the forefront of their grand touring intentions.
That closing level in Audi’s eyes is finally what separates the e-Tron GT from the Porsche Taycan regardless of the 2 fashions sharing a platform, structure, operating gear and fundamental silhouette with Porsche advertising and marketing its automotive as a four-door, all-electric sportscar.
In consequence, the Audis experience on a very completely different suspension set-up with different adjustments mentioned to be discovered within the traction management system, torque distribution and steering, to not point out the entrance and rear designs.
Measuring in at 4990mm lengthy, 1960mm large and 1410mm tall, the e-Tron GT sports activities a 2900mm wheelbase and rides on aerodynamically optimised wheels starting from 19-21-inches in diameter relying on the variant and elective extras.
Each the e-Tron GT quattro and RS e-Tron sport an electrical motor on every axle which draw their energy from a 93kWh lithium-ion battery stashed underneath the ground of the cabin – each variations utilise a two-speed transmission.
Peak energy and torque within the e-Tron GT quattro is rated at 350kW/630Nm, leading to a zero-to-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds and a high pace of 245km/h.
The RS model in the meantime ups the ante to 440kW/830Nm, sufficient to compete with essentially the most highly effective internal-combustion Audi RS fashions.
0-100km/h is handled in 3.3 seconds whereas the highest pace is electronically restricted to 250km/h.
Due to the sheer capability of the battery and an R8-beating drag coefficient of 0.24, Audi says the e-Tron GT quattro will cowl as much as 487km on a single cost, with as much as 100km of vary capable of be added after simply 5 minutes when related to a DC quick charger – the RS’ vary is a claimed 472km.
Beneath the pores and skin, the e-Tron GTs utilise a double wishbone suspension set-up with the quattro coming as normal with mounted damping and spring charges.
The RS in the meantime comes as normal with adaptive dampers (elective on quattro) and a three-chamber air sprung set-up which might both elevate (+20mm) or decrease (-22mm) the experience peak relying on the driving state of affairs whereas the dampers have 4 completely different settings – consolation, effectivity, dynamic and particular person.
4-wheel steering can also be optionally accessible on each variations whereas a rear limited-slip differential is normal.
Braking duties come courtesy of metal discs on the quattro and tungsten carbide coated forged iron items on the RS nevertheless carbon ceramics can be found as elective extras on each.
Befitting of an electrical automobile, the inside of the e-Tron GT has been developed and constructed with sustainability in thoughts, a lot in order that Audi says luxurious has “modified”.
In consequence, lots of the upholstery choices function no animal merchandise in any respect, as a substitute counting on artificial leathers, Diminica microfibre and recycled PET bottles.
Leather-based and Nappa leather-based comes as normal when the usual ‘sport seats’ or ‘sport seats professional’ are specified with the ‘sport seats plus’ being the eco-friendliest choice.
One other sustainable function fitted to each variants as normal is the Econyl (recycled nylon fibres from manufacturing waste, cloth and carpet remnants and outdated fishing nets) carpet and matching floormats.
Whereas not a devoted sportscar, the e-Tron GT nonetheless has sporting pretensions as each good grand tourer ought to and so its dashboard has been tailor-made in in the direction of the driving force with the Audi digital cockpit seemingly standing by its lonesome to keep away from distractions.
The show itself measures 12.3 inches in diameter and is complemented by the “floating” 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen.
Different normal gear highlights embrace a flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel, MIB 3 infotainment system, satellite tv for pc navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, built-in Wifi hotspot, Audi join, LED head-, tail- and daytime operating lights in addition to inside ambient lighting within the RS.
Native pricing and specs of the e-Tron GT vary are but to be detailed for Australia nevertheless Audi has revealed a few of the world security techniques, together with Audi pre-sense entrance and Audi pre-sense fundamental security techniques, lane departure warning and cruise management system with most different options included within the ‘Tour’, ‘Metropolis’ and ‘Park’ packages relying on buyer preferences and priorities.
In accordance with Audi board member for gross sales and advertising and marketing Hildegard Wortmann, the e-Tron GT marks the start of a brand new period for the model.
“Our goal is to form the way forward for electrical premium mobility,” she mentioned.
“Love of element, most precision, and design that factors the way in which to the longer term present how a lot ardour we at Audi put into designing and making automobiles.”
Audi bought 1455 new vehicles in Australia final month, up seven items on the 1448 it bought final January with its greatest sellers being the Q3 (385) and Q5 (305) SUVs.
