Enough time has passed since the electric vehicle breed came into the world for dynasties of such machines to begin taking hold. Born in the stables of established carmakers, as opposed to the startups that began all this, these new vehicle families enjoy great success in the segments they are meant to serve. And probably few do it better in the premium segment than Audi's e-tron range.
The e-tron name has been around since the end of the 2000s, when the four-ring German brand started using it for the hybrid and electric concepts it was making back then. The first use of the name on a production car came with the unveiling of the A3 Sportback in 2012, but it wasn't until Audi introduced the e-tron SUV to the world in 2019 that the name stuck.
In the years that have passed since, the e-tron range has solidified, becoming from a series of unrelated models a solid family that caters to the most diverse needs. This story is for the people who need an Audi luxury passenger vehicle powered by electricity - you'll understand why I call these things luxury and not premium as soon as we get to how much they cost.
It's the GT e-tron we're going to have a close look at now, a breed of electric vehicles that was born in 2021 to cover the grand tourer segment, thatwas just given a significant facelift with some mechanical upgrades in tow.
The first thing we should mention is that the e-tron GT now comprises three distinct models, set apart through minor visual differences and major performance ones. As with any facelift, the changes made to the GT range include various visual nips and tucks compared to what came before, especially on the front end.
The four-door gran turismo models are offered in a total of nine exterior finishes, most of them metallic or pearl effect (including Ascari Blue, Daytona Gray, Florett Silver, Kemora Gray, Mythos Black, and Progressive Red), but also a solid one - Arkona White.
Photo: Audi
No matter what color the customer chooses, Audi throws into the mix an optional Black Optics package that includes dark Audi rings up front and at the back, dark air intakes, wing mirror housings, and diffuser elements.
Several wheel choices are on the table, starting with the newly designed 20-inch, multispoke set, and moving to the 21-inch twin-spoke wheels that have been drawn in such a way as to remind people of the Avus wheels shown on the Avus quattro all the way back in 1991.
As said, there are three versions of these things to be had. The entry-level, if it can be called that, is the S e-tron GT, powered by an electric drivetrain setup capable of delivering 671 horsepower. The system allows the car to accelerate from a standstill to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, topping at 152 mph (245 kph).
Up next is the Audi RS e-tron GT, whose permanent-magnet synchronous motors deliver a total of 845 horsepower. The increase in punch allows the car to hit 62 mph in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph). This model also offers Nimbus Gray as a choice of color on top of those mentioned above.
And now comes the cherry on the cake, the "most powerful production car that Audi has ever built:" the RS e-tron GT performance. The car's name hides a beast of an electric vehicle, something that packs an impressive 912 horsepower and can push the thing to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds. The top speed is the same as that of the RS GT, namely, 155 mph.
The car is described by Audi as its first fully electric RS performance model, and as such, aside from the special styling, it also comes with an exclusive color: Bedford Green. Mechanically, it also features modified electronics on the front axle, where a revised pulse inverter is used for higher discharge currents.
Photo: Audi
All three Audi e-tron GT models share the same battery, a 107 kWh piece of equipment that, in ideal conditions, should allow for a maximum range of 378 miles (609 km). Revised and lighter compared to its previous form, the battery is backed by 400 kW of power coming from regenerative braking, up from 290 kW in the previous GT models.
When using a high-power charging station, the GT battery can store enough electricity to last for 174 miles (280 km) in just ten minutes.
All of the above goodies don't come cheap, at all. Over in Europe, Audi is asking 126,000 euros ($135,000) for the GT, and 147,500 euros ($158,000) for the RS GT. The top of the range performance will make you 160,500 euros ($172,000) poorer if you choose to go for it.
Audi says all three models are available for order on the Old Continent, but no mention was made yet about American specs and pricing.
Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies. Full profile
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