AUSTRALIAN Audi sellers are being armed with an unique two-day Phillip Island monitor expertise to assist shut offers on the model’s high-performance E-Tron GT electrical autos, described as a money-can’t-buy occasion designed to offer potential consumers confidence in vehicles value as much as $309,900 plus on-road prices.
The August occasion on the well-known Grand Prix circuit consists of scorching laps within the newly up to date E-Tron GT vary, a culinary expertise with an Audi model ambassador and lodging at Melbourne’s prestigious new One Resort, with roughly 25-30 spots accessible nationally.
“We’re placing collectively a particular occasion for these clients to allow them to drive the automotive at Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit over a two-day interval,” revealed Audi Australia head of product Matthew Dale on the latest E-Tron GT launch in South East Queensland.
The invitation-only expertise represents a big funding by Audi Australia to transform consumers into clients for its electrical flagship, significantly because the model launches its strongest manufacturing automotive up to now – the 680kW RS E-Tron GT Efficiency.
Sellers have discretion over which clients obtain invites, with this system focusing on consumers near signing contracts. Mr Dale instructed GoAuto comparable applications had been supplied to “high-end” Audi clients prior to now, centred on the mid-engined R8 supercar.
“If a seller has a potential buyer that’s on the level of contract, they’ll put their identify in for this, and that have will likely be given to that buyer,” Mr Dale defined.
The technique seems to be working, with spots already being snapped up. Mr Dale mentioned one attendee at Audi’s System One expertise on the Australian Grand Prix in March has already ordered a Bedford Inexperienced RS E-Tron GT Efficiency with Serpentine Inexperienced stitching – and will likely be buying and selling in a pre-facelift RS E-Tron GT.
“He is coming to this. He needs to drive the (RS E-Tron GT) Efficiency, however he is already presently an RS E-Tron GT buyer. That is a great instance of shoppers leaping from one to the brand new merchandise,” Mr Dale mentioned.
The primary day of the expertise features a detailed presentation on the automotive’s new expertise and options, adopted by the culinary occasion. Day two is devoted fully to trace driving with skilled instruction.
“It is not simply concerning the automobile. We’re providing a full buyer expertise as effectively to those high-end clients, to permit them to expertise the sheer driving pleasure that we have got with this new Audi E-Tron GT,” Mr Dale mentioned.
The monitor expertise serves to each showcase the automotive’s efficiency and construct driver confidence.
With the flagship RS E-Tron GT Efficiency producing as much as 680kW and 1027Nm for a 2.5-second 0-100km/h dash, correct instruction turns into essential.
“For these clients that do wish to hone their abilities and construct that confidence in driving a high-performance automobile, that occasion’s excellent for it,” Mr Dale instructed GoAuto, evaluating the expertise to “leaping into an open wheeler” race automotive in comparison with a few of the autos clients could also be buying and selling up from.
The managed atmosphere of Phillip Island permits clients to soundly discover options like the brand new “push to move” enhance perform that gives a further 70kW for overtaking, the improved recuperation system delivering as much as 400kW of regenerative braking, and the brand new energetic suspension system that limits physique pitch and roll to simply two levels.
Audi’s funding within the expertise displays the significance of the E-Tron GT to the model’s electrical automobile technique and its positioning available in the market extra broadly.
“It is our spearhead for the BEV vary. It is also our spearhead for our sports activities tourer as effectively,” Mr Dale mentioned.
The timing coincides with Audi’s broader push into experiential advertising, following the model’s System One grid look earlier this 12 months the place high-rolling Australian Audi clients loved unique entry.
“We had superb suggestions from the shoppers that did attend that occasion,” Mr Dale mentioned, including with greater than a frisson of anticipation that Audi’s world debut on the 2026 F1 grid will happen in Melbourne.
For sellers, the Phillip Island expertise gives a robust closing software for a automobile that begins at $209,900 earlier than on-road prices and choices for the S E-Tron GT and tops out at $309,900 + ORC for the RS E-Tron GT efficiency.
With complete customary tools and a big technological leap over its predecessor, the facelifted E-Tron GT now instructions a big extra funding for consumers.
“Dealerships which have a scorching prospect that it is as much as the dealership whether or not or not they wish to ship them to this, however they may say, ‘Okay, effectively, you understand, Matt hasn’t signed the contract but, however he is presently in an E-Tron GT. He actually needs a brand new one. We actually wish to ship him to today to have the last word take a look at driving expertise,'” Mr Dale defined.
This system mirrors profitable initiatives by different luxurious manufacturers however takes it additional with the two-day format and monitor focus. Members will expertise all three E-Tron GT variants – the 435kW S E-Tron GT, 500kW RS E-Tron GT and range-topping RS E-Tron GT Efficiency.
Melbourne was chosen strategically, with contributors staying on the new One Resort on the Yarra River’s northern financial institution and promoted as providing “sustainability pushed luxurious”.
“It is a model new resort, which we have partnered with,” Mr Dale mentioned.
GoAuto understands that contributors will likely be supplied the expertise freed from cost, the unique nature and two-day format representing a big funding in changing prospects into consumers for autos that may exceed $320,000 drive-away with choices.
The late-August timing provides sellers a number of months to determine and qualify appropriate candidates, with the expertise serving as each a gross sales software and brand-building train for Audi’s electrical flagship.
For purchasers unable to attend the Phillip Island occasion, Audi affords its common Audi Driving
Expertise program the place folks can discover the autos’ efficiency potential which, as Mr Dale dryly identified, “you may’t essentially do on suburban streets”.
