Audi RS E-Tron GT On Test

Whether we like it or not, fast forward a decade or so and electric cars will be the norm. What does all this mean for the car enthusiast? Will we all be driving around in anonymous battery powered boxes, devoid of any character? Well not if the good folk at Audi have anything to do with it!

What is it?

An e-tron GT could be on your driveway for around £84,000, but if you want the RS version, as tested here, then expect to pay somewhere north of £130,000 with a few choice extras. Not cheap, but then the best things in life never are!

I guess you would classify it as a four-door electric sports coupe. Resplendent in ‘Tactical Green’ metallic, the car attracted a huge amount of attention on my meanderings through the Dales and beyond. I would say the colour polarised opinion and seemed to find more favour with a younger audience.

The drive

The headline figures are simply astonishing. Should the right buttons be pressed, the RS e-tron GT will catapult you from 0-62mph in just 3.3 seconds. Bearing in mind the car weighs in at a hefty 2,323kg and that is some power.

The car is always so fast that it takes a while for your brain to compute what is happening. A little wind noise is the only indication of increased speed, that and the speedometer rapidly heading into licence-losing territory.

Straight line speed is all very well, but Audi now make some of the very best handling cars for sale today. The e-tron does not disappoint. Pin-sharp steering and a lack of body roll help guide the car through the bends at breakneck speeds and with a motor driving each axle, traction is plentiful whatever the weather.

All that high-speed cornering prowess does not come at the expense of ride quality either. Even with 21-inch alloy wheels, the car’s low speed ride is always firm, but never uncomfortable, allowing the Audi to take on the role of grand tourer rather well. Comfort mode on the adaptive suspension seemed to work best on UK roads.

Audi quotes a combined range of 284 miles. I would suggest 200 miles is more representative if you use the car’s considerable performance to the full, and maybe 220/230 if a little restraint is used.

Charging was simple enough with a flap on both front wings for attaching the cables. The e-tron can accept rapid charging up to 270kW, which means you can add a 5-80% charge in around 22 minutes. With my 7kW home charger, an overnight was generally required to fully charge the battery.

On the inside

I found getting in and out a little challenging. With the seat set for my long legs, I found I had to manoeuvre myself around the B-pillar and the gap between it and the steering wheel. Once ensconced however, the driving position is first rate. There are comfortable seats, with support in all the right places, imperative for a car likely to be driven in a spirited manner.

The coupe looks do impinge on rear headroom and legroom will be tight for the very tallest of rear seat passengers. Luggage space is reasonable with 350 litres, a tad small if four adults were travelling with luggage.

Equipment count is high, but there is huge scope to personalise the e-tron to your exact specification. Get carried away and you can add tens of thousands of pounds to the list price. I suspect most buyers will.

Build quality is exemplary, one of Audi’s undoubted strong points. Material quality is excellent too but do pick a brighter colour for the leather as I find a sea of black a tad gloomy.

Verdict

As a car to get from A to B in haste, the RS e-tron GT is incredibly impressive. It is doubtful that many cars on sale in the UK today could keep up, such is the usable power on offer. It drives and handles as an Audi wearing the RS badge should, yet driven in a more sedate manner, the refinement and comfort on offer will impress.

Fast Facts

Audi RS e-tron GT
Price £134,195
0-62mph in 3.3 seconds
Top speed 155mph
Maximum electrical power 440kW
Maximum torque 830Nm
Range up to 284 miles