Audi powers towards EV perfection with its dazzling e-tron GT

Robert Downey Jr lends his superpowers to Audi’s dazzler

JOE SCARNICI

The e-tron GT has the sort of performance specs that leave Iron Man in need of a suit upgrade. Capable of sprinting from standstill to 100km/h in just 4.1 seconds, it has an output of 470bhp and 640Nm of torque . . . and that’s just the standard version.

The €140,367 RS model has an output of 590bhp and 830Nm of torque. It accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 3.3 seconds and should by all rights come with a free heart-health check prior to purchase.

Driving through the barren landscape at the top of the Dublin Mountains during last week’s snow showers was a thrilling experience. Single-track roads snaked into the distance for miles. There was good reason to be cautious. The Sally Gap has proved the downfall of many a more proficient driver than me, but the e-tron GT proved to be the most forgiving of sports cars.

With its 86kWh (net) battery, it has a claimed range of up to 479km. A one-hour jaunt in the hills was never going to put that to the test but the statistics are exciting nonetheless. Audi reckons the GT’s 270kW capacity means you will be able to recharge the battery from 5 per cent to 80 per cent in just 23 minutes. A five-minute blast should be enough to add 100km to your range. Meanwhile, a heat pump protects the battery from damage during high-voltage charging and ensures longevity.

If you thought the specs were like something from a sci-fi adventure, you should hear the noise it makes. Audi sound engineers Rudolf Halbmeir and Stephan Gsell were given carte blanche to create a futuristic soundtrack for the car. Using a range of sources, from didgeridoos to metal pipes, they created a library of loopable soundbites that provide an audio match to accompany your driving and the mode you are in.

I would love to tell you the GT has a fantastic stereo, but the truth is I never bothered trying it. The evolving soundtrack is way too interesting to waste time with music or podcasts. The industrial, whoops, loops and whirrs are like something to emerge from the workshop of electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire . . . and I was absolutely hooked.

Looks-wise, the e-tron GT speaks for itself. It has the trademark long bonnet, tapered roofline and short rear overhang look of the GT nailed. Added to this are futuristic elements such as the closed grille blended with sporty features such as the large diffusers and arch-filling wheels. The front aprons are dominated by vast air vents that gulp onrushing wind and channel it down the flanks. There are hints of Audi’s R8 supercar, which happens to share the same production line, and the result is a miniscule 0.24 drag coefficient.

The interior is typical Vorsprung durch Technik fare, with luxurious leather seating, high-end materials and layer upon layer of glossy tech. The driver-focused cockpit makes you feel like you are piloting something destined for the stars. Front-seat occupants are nestled in low-slung seats either side of a high-mounted centre console.

Rear-seat passengers are often an afterthought in grand tourers but here they do surprisingly well. Rather than install a slab-like battery pack that runs the entire length of the floor, Audi split the battery pack in two to create footwells for the rear-seat passengers. This has allowed them to mount the seats low in the chassis for added headroom. The boot is fairly big for an EV at 405 litres with underfloor storage. There is also 81 litres of “frunk” storage under the bonnet, which is useful for cables and smaller bags.

The e-tron GT is broadly similar in proportions to an A7 Sportback but slightly shorter in length. Switching to this car from a high-end, fossil-fuelled grand tourer like the A7 requires less of a leap of faith than, say, trading a Porsche 911 for a Taycan EV, as the overall aesthetic is still decidedly Audi in nature.

Our car was fitted with an upgraded air suspension, so it was buttery smooth, even in “dynamic” mode, across the undulating track of the Sally Gap. The electric powertrain has motors on both axles, so you have the added traction of four-wheel drive. The GT distributes power between the front and rear axles according to what drive mode you are in and the conditions.

Steering is pin sharp and it’s a joy to hurl into bends. It’s also remarkably quiet and comfortable when you want it to be. Buyers can upgrade to tungsten-carbide-coated or carbon ceramic brakes for added stopping power. Meanwhile, torque vectoring automatically sends power to the wheels with the grip to harness all that power.

Press your foot hard on the throttle and it has the same giddying acceleration of a performance Tesla, but the all-round package just feels that much more competent. Having satisfied market demand with the e-tron SUV and its Sportback stablemate, the GT heralds a new dawn of electric sports cars for Audi. Richard Molloy, general manager of product and marketing for Audi Ireland, insists that this car is just a trailblazer for further innovation. “The design and technology of the e-tron GT is a marker of what is to come from Audi with our future electric vehicles,” he says.

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