New Audi e-tron GT now has 912bhp in RS Performance guise
2024 brings improvements across the board for the Audi e-tron GT, including a new battery, more power, and updated looks
- Available in S, RS and RS Performance trims
- Up to 912bhp
- On sale from August 2024
Audi’s flagship electric car, the Audi e-tron GT, has gone under the knife for 2024, receiving a wide-sweeping set of visual, chassis and performance upgrades. The headline power figure of 912bhp will catch the attention of speed-junkies, but new battery tech means that range has seen a substantial improvement, too.
The Audi e-tron GT first hit the UK market in 2021, and it's fair to say that electric performance cars have kicked up a notch in the past three years. We’ve seen the likes of the new 905bhp Lotus Emeya and the lairy Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in that time, so Audi will hope that this round of upgrades is enough to keep the e-tron GT at the front of the pack. UK buyers will have to wait until August 2024 to place an order, with official pricing expected to be announced closer to that date.
What do I need to know about the new Audi e-tron GT?
The Audi e-tron GT shares the majority of its electrical hardware with the Porsche Taycan, the latter of which received its own facelift earlier this year. Like the Porsche, the e-tron GT gets a new 105kWh battery (97kWh usable) which Audi claims is far more energy-dense than the outgoing unit. Range has improved as a result; the base car can travel up to 375 miles, versus the old car’s sub-300-mile range. That’s certainly a big leap, but it can’t quite match the 421-mile range of the Taycan. Charging speeds have seen an upgrade, too, with a 10-80% charge taking just 18 minutes at 320kW DC.
The Audi e-tron GT range has expanded from two to three models for this facelift. Buyers must now choose between the S e-tron GT, the RS e-tron GT, and the RS e-tron Performance, with performance stepping up at each level. None are slow, however, with the S e-tron getting 669bhp and a 0-62mph time of just 3.4 seconds. The RS e-tron is a more serious piece of kit with 844bhp, while the Performance variant is the most powerful car that Audi has ever built. It’s 912bhp is enough to launch it from 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds – 0.3 seconds quicker than the regular RS e-tron.
A new standard-fit air suspension system has been designed to provide better body control when aggressively cornering, accelerating and braking, but also to deliver a smoother ride when you’re not in such a rush. Tick the option box for active suspension, and Audi claims that the air springs work with electronically controlled dampers to virtually eliminate any body roll. As a bonus, the system can raise and lower the whole car when parked to make it easier to get in and out of. To help bring the e-tron GT to a stop, there are larger brakes, while optional carbon-ceramic discs with giant 10-piston callipers can be fitted for a fee.
On the outside, the visual upgrades are minor for the Audi S e-tron GT, although its large black ‘mask’ and new 20-inch wheels set it apart from the outgoing model. RS versions get a more aggressive front bumper with L-shaped ‘blades’ helping to direct air flow, along with a new diffuser at the rear and a set of 21-inch wheels. Performance models add some ‘chopped’ carbon fibre trim to the mix.
The only major change inside the Audi e-tron GT is the new steering wheel, complete with orange ‘Boost’ and ‘RS’ buttons. Elsewhere you’ll spot new trim and upholstery options, while Performance cars get plenty of carbon fibre to match the exterior.
How much does the new Audi e-tron GT cost and when can I buy one?
Audi hasn’t revealed UK pricing for the new e-tron GT yet, but a European starting price of €126,000 (just over £106,000) is significantly higher than that of the outgoing entry-level model, which costs from around £88,000. RS Performance models cost the equivalent of just over £135,000 in Europe, but we’ll have confirmation of UK pricing closer to August 2024 when the e-tron GT will go on sale.
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