I didn't find the ride quality between the 20" wheels on the e-tron GT to be that much more different than the RS' standard 21" wheels. The air suspension really is fairly magical. The latter is a similar version to that found in the magnificent Audi RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback, capable of tilting the rear wheels in either the same or opposite direction as those at the front to improve high-speed stability and low-speed maneuverability. You also get an electronic rear differential with a multi-plate clutch, carbon-ceramic brakes with red calipers, and power steering plus with rear-wheel steering. The three-chamber air suspension system is Godsend on extended drives, helping offset any of the firmness bumps that the sizable 21" 5-twin-spoke-concave wheels might otherwise present you with. My year one Tango Red metallic RS e-tron GT tester packed all the performance features, black Audi rings, and badges expected of an RS model. At the same time, the short overhangs and gorgeous proportions are worth writing home about. His vision for quattro in form and function brings the muscular wheel arches to life, giving the e-tron GT a solid and planted stance. Where the e-tron GT truly shines is in the styling department, thanks to Audi's head of design, Marc Litche. For reference, Audi's car is marginally longer than a Taycan yet slightly narrower and taller, despite both electric cars sharing the same J1 platform. The Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT are more about grand-touring performance and luxury, rather than outright acceleration. If longer range is essential, I'd be remiss if I didn't steer you toward the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS and Tesla Model S, which each offer somewhere between 400 and 500 miles of range. Depending on your driving needs, you get 238 miles on the e-tron GT and six less on the RS version from a full charge. Powering the electric motors is a 93 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with an 800-volt electrical architecture, and capable of accepting up to 270 kW of DC fast charging. Out in the real world, though, slicing through the curvaceous mountainside, it managed to offer the delicate precision of an R8. Personally, the steering felt a little lighter than I'd prefer when pushing the RS e-tron through the slalom. The two-speed gearbox mated with the electric motors feel relentless, propelling the e-tron GT with the tenacity of a land-bound rocketship. It's deadly fast and near-silent you don't quite realize just how fast you're going as your body is pressed against the 18-way RS Sport Seat+ with their handsome full-leather trim. All the same, the lift-off makes up for the difference. It's honestly incredible how straightforward it was to set up launch control: disengage the traction control, switch to Dynamic drive mode, step on the brake pedal, smash the accelerator, and then release the brake when the tach hits 100%.Īdmittingly, the sensory experience is nowhere as surreal as in, say, Audi's R8 V10 Plus: without the screaming gas engine soundtrack it's easy to feel a little underwhelmed, particularly if you're a sports car traditionalist. My personal best time was 3.09 seconds at a top speed of 124 mph. The RS e-tron GT consistently struck the 2.97 to 3.2 second range during our repeated back-to-back launch control tests, on a hot airstrip after numerous slalom runs. Going fast in a straight line is decidedly easy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |