Audi e-tron GT saloon - Electric motor, drive & performance
The Audi e-tron GT is fast, quiet and comfortable, not to mention suitably entertaining on the right road
It might weigh as much as a luxury SUV but the dual motors fitted in the e-tron GT give it a total of 469bhp in normal driving, or 523bhp for 2.5 seconds with overboost. Use launch control and the 0-62mph time is just 4.1 seconds, while top speed is 152mph. Not quite as incredible as the Model S, which manages 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds, but more than fast enough for most drivers. The RS e-tron GT has an even more impressive 590bhp (637bhp with overboost), for a 0-62mph time of 3.3 seconds.
The optional sound package makes the e-tron GT sound like a sports car too. This is thanks to digital 'engine' and 'exhaust' sounds that are not only audible inside the car but also to anyone admiring the car as it glides past. It won’t be to all tastes but it helps make the e-tron GT feel like a performance Audi that happens to run on electricity.
The car’s acceleration is addictive, with a sustained surge that will have passengers laughing in disbelief. One surprise is that, while light, the steering is better than that of many other Audis, with genuine feel; it makes it very easy to place the car precisely when driving quickly. There's almost nothing in the way of body lean to betray the fact the GT weighs more than two tonnes either. Four-wheel steering also helps the five-metre-long GT feel nimble and able to turn as tightly as a family hatchback.
There are Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic and Individual driving modes, which have an appreciable effect on the suspension, throttle response and electronics. Comfort mode is good, with a compliant ride even on scarred British roads, while Dynamic makes the car feel sharper but still refined. Our only real complaint is the braking recuperation, which only has two levels controlled by wheel paddles and could be much stronger. There's currently no option for one-pedal driving, so we’re left hoping that this is added in a future software update.
Audi e-tron GT - electric motor, drive & performance
With its 238bhp front and 456bhp rear motors, the RS version is not only ballistic off the line, it also puts the petrol-powered Audi RS 7 to shame. Its controls are more precise and it flows along the road much more convincingly. Unsurprisingly, given its Taycan underpinnings, it feels very Porsche-like.
Its incredible straight-line performance doesn't completely dominate, either, as the driving experience is well-rounded. The RS e-tron GT's biggest rival is the closely related Porsche Taycan 4S, which is arguably even better and costs less.
