Faster, pricier Audi E-Tron GT arrives in Aus

AUDI’S strongest manufacturing car to this point has landed Down Below, the facelifted, technologically overhauled and all-electric E-Tron GT four-door coupe doling out as a lot as 680kW and 1027Nm in its prime trim degree whereas nonetheless undercutting former four-ringed halo – the R8 Efficiency – by virtually 100 grand.

The three-variant vary now opens at $209,900 earlier than on-road prices and choices, with the madcap range-topper priced precisely $100,000 north of that. Costs are up throughout the board, in return for some massive efficiency upgrades courtesy of the most recent tech.

Described by Audi Australia head of product Matthew Dale as “a big replace“ to the model’s electrical flagship, the revised E-Tron GT incorporates a technological step-change extra usually related to a brand new era than a mid-life refresh.

Mr Dale mentioned Audi has bought greater than 35,000 E-Tron GTs throughout 90 markets, with round 550 delivered in Australia to this point.

For context, the V8- and V10-powered R8 mid-engined supercar discovered 687 consumers in Australia between native introduction in 2007 and discontinuation in 2022, when it handed the model flagship baton to Audi’s inexpensive and extra sensible E-Tron GT.

The newly S-badged entry-level E-Tron GT variant now matches the outgoing RS flagship’s outputs, in return for a cool $28,116 worth enhance over its predecessor.

Beginning at $209,900 + ORC, the S produces 435kW (500kW in increase mode) with 740Nm of torque, delivering a 0-100km/h declare of three.4 seconds (earlier equal: 350kW/390kW increase and 4.1s).

The mid-range RS E-Tron GT is $264,900 + ORC (up $10,185) and generates 500kW commonplace output, rising to 630kW in increase mode with 865Nm of torque for a claimed 2.8-second 0-100km/h dash (beforehand 440kW/475kW increase and three.3s). Prime pace is electronically restricted to 250km/h.

Crowning the vary is the RS E-Tron GT Efficiency at $309,900 + ORC, delivering 550kW commonplace and 680kW in increase mode.

With 1027Nm of torque channelled by means of all 4 wheels, it demolishes the 0-100km/h benchmark in simply 2.5 seconds – only a tenth shy of (whisper it) the mechanically associated Porsche Taycan Turbo S.

All three variants bought in Australia have a brand new 105kWh lithium-ion battery pack that includes 396 cells organized in 33 modules.

Regardless of the 12 per cent capability enhance over the earlier 93.4kWh unit, the brand new battery weighs 9 kilograms much less at 625kg and is bodily comparable in measurement attributable to a 13 per cent power density enchancment.

“We’ve elevated the density by 13 per cent total. We’ve diminished the burden as nicely, and that’s primarily attributable to a brand new wafer profile by way of the cells,” Mr Dale defined through the Australian E-Tron GT media launch in South East Queensland.

The battery improve delivers Australian-homologated WLTP ranges of as much as 559km for the S E-Tron GT, 522km for the RS E-Tron GT and 528km for the RS E-Tron GT Efficiency.

Charging pace will increase from 270kW to 320kW DC, enabling 10-80 per cent charging in as little as 18 minutes attributable to developments in thermal administration that imply the battery pack and associated electronics can maintain larger power inputs for longer, throughout a broader temperature vary than beforehand.

“Each 10 minutes, we will get virtually 280 kilometres of cost,” Mr Dale mentioned.

A brand new show within the digital sprint reviews on battery temperature and what this implies for charging capability in kW.

Battery temperature can also be routinely optimised when a charging cease is programmed into the native sat-nav to allow the quickest-possible cost – even bearing in mind the ambient temperature on the charging station’s location.

The delicate new thermal administration system makes use of cooling jackets on prime and backside of the battery pack to keep up optimum charging temperatures, pumping 22 litres of coolant all through the system.

Additionally it is a part of the rationale regenerative braking can now harvest as much as 400kW of kinetic power in comparison with 290kW beforehand, adjustable utilizing paddle-shifters.

“It’s fairly abrupt. When you actually placed on the recuperation to degree three, similar to engine braking. You should use it to enter corners with out really pushing or activating the mechanical brake,” Mr Dale mentioned.

RS fashions acquire a button-operated increase perform offering a further 70kW for overtaking, just like that fitted to Porsche fashions with the Sport Chrono bundle.

“The Germans wish to name it Push to Cross, but it surely offers you a further increase by way of energy and output and acceleration,” Mr Dale mentioned. Like Porsche’s model, a 10-second countdown timer seems within the instrument panel when activated.

The E-Tron GT debuts Audi’s new two-chamber hydraulic suspension system, commonplace on the RS Efficiency and non-obligatory ($15,900) on the RS E-Tron GT (a carryover air suspension setup is commonplace on the S and RS) that includes adaptive wheel-selective electrohydraulic actuators.

“What this tries to do is degree the physique off as rapidly as attainable and attempt to cut back that swaying second within the car, particularly with 1000Nm of torque and virtually 700kW,” Mr Dale defined.

Physique pitch and roll are restricted to 2 levels, whereas the system rapidly raises the car as much as 55mm upon door opening for simpler entry, exit and baggage loading.

Commonplace wheel sizes begin at 20 inches for the S mannequin, with RS variants driving on 21-inch alloys wrapped in new Italian-made Bridgestone Potenza Sport rubber mentioned to be the model’s first mass-produced tyre to make use of 55 per cent recycled and renewable supplies.

The S options 390mm entrance and 358mm rear brake discs with six-piston calipers, whereas RS fashions improve to tungsten carbide-coated models measuring 410mm entrance and 365mm rear with 10-piston entrance calipers.

Mr Dale mentioned the benefit of the tungsten carbide rotors on electrical automobiles is corrosion resistance, given friction braking is used a lot lower than with inner combustion automobiles, together with diminished brake mud.

Carbon-ceramic brakes are non-obligatory on RS variants at $13,000, that includes huge 420mm entrance and 410mm rear discs in a bundle claimed to save lots of 5kg per nook and “one of many largest braking techniques on an EV in Australia,” Mr Dale claimed.

Inside, all E-Tron GTs function 18-way electrical adjustable tombstone type sports activities entrance seats with heating, air flow and reminiscence capabilities.

Nappa leather-based upholstery with honeycomb stitching is commonplace, whereas RS variants add therapeutic massage perform and particular design parts.

A brand new flat-bottom steering wheel incorporates RS mode buttons so the motive force can toggle between preconfigured customized settings.

The usual 12.3-inch digital instrument panel plus options RS-specific shows on the highest two variants.

Commonplace know-how highlights embody matrix LED headlights with laser gentle perform, a ten.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 710-watt Bang & Olufsen 3D sound with 16 audio system, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a collection of greater than 30 driver help techniques.

The panoramic glass roof options Audi’s new switchable transparency know-how on the 2 RS grades.

“You possibly can have full opaque, full transparency, but additionally have sections or predefined areas the place you possibly can block off entrance half, rear half, for occupants,” Mr Dale defined.

Audi Australia has consolidated choices into packages of the most-popular configurations fitted to pre-facelift E-Tron GTs.

These embody a Sensory bundle ($6000) for the S grade which provides an air ioniser, therapeutic massage seats, rear-seat heating and Dinamica headlining.

RS fashions could be specified with gloss carbon exterior ($10,000) or matte carbon camouflage ($10,000) packages.

Inside design packages ($3800-$4500) supply contrasting stitching in Specific Pink, Gray Or Serpentine Inexperienced, with an unique Bedford Inexperienced exterior end possibility for the RS Efficiency.

All E-Tron GT variants embody six years of scheduled servicing, six years roadside help, one-year Chargefox community subscription, five-year guarantee and eight-year/160,000km battery guarantee.

Go to GoAuto once more on July 24 for our first drive assessment of the brand new Audi RS E-Tron GT.