Audi RS e-tron GT review reveals insane grand tourer

This Audi RS e-tron grand tourer looks fast and expensive … yes, you can judge this book by its cover.

Heads turn. Onlookers stare. But it’s not the sound which captures attention with the Audi RS e-tron GT – the all-electric four-door emanates pure class and style.

When launched last year, the Audi hierarchy described it as the future of high performance electric motoring.

It looks fast. And expensive. Both are truisms.

You’ll need at least $260,000 to drive away in the most potent version of the e-tron GT from an Audi showroom.

This variant was recalled recently due to a fire risk due to fears of the battery short circuiting, but with limited units Audi is across the issue with a fix. The only thing burning during our family test was rubber.

What do you get?

There is a base GT variant which is about $70,000 cheaper, but as expected the RS version turns up the wick in every facet.

It’s faster, sportier and meaner.

From the outside it’s set apart by the gigantic 21-inch alloy wheels housing tungsten carbide brake discs with distinctive red calipers, black badges and a glass roof.

Climb inside and the lashings of carbon fibre across the dash, leather and suede finishes around the doors, flat-bottom sports steering wheel, nappa leather trim with honeycomb stitching on the front seats and stainless steel pedals all combine to deliver something special.

Among the other feature highlights are an electric boot opening with gesture control if your hands are full, three-zone aircon, 30 interior light colour options, 2936db7fab6baf55bf816dd3b7e29556.

The standard Audi five-year warranty applies, and while the battery is covered for eight years it is restricted to 160,000km.

There are a couple of bonuses, with free servicing during the first six years and also complimentary access to the Chargefox network.

Owners can also strike a deal with Origin’s EV energy plan. Install a charger at home, and it can charge at a quick rate and enables those who have signed up to put power into the vehicle, as well as your entire house, for free between 10am-3pm.

Those that have three-phase power can use a 11kW AC home-charging kit which can fully recharge the battery in about eight hours.

At a public station, recharging at the maximum 270kW direct current (DC) capacity replenishes 100km in about five minutes. It can go from 5 per cent to 80 in just over 22 minutes.

Interior features of the Audi e-tron GT RS include carbon fibre across the dash, leather and suede finishes around the doors, flat-bottom sports steering wheel, nappa leather trim with honeycomb stitching on the front seats.

How was the drive?

Looking fast doesn’t cut it when you’re in grand tourer guise … using the same platform as the raucous Porsche Taycan, Audi’s RS GT is also no slouch in the performance realm.

While not quite as quick as its stablemate, the 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds remains ridiculously quick. And outstandly impressive for a 2420kg machine.

Carving through the bends with scalpel-like precision, all-wheel drive grips the bitumen to deliver cracking drive from corners while the big brakes do a brilliant job of slowing momentum.

Although it’s not all speed and limit testing. Dynamic mode keeps the boy-racers happy, yet dial back to comfort and the ride remains exemplary.

It’s all accompanied by synthetic sounds inside and out. They’re not to everyone’s tastes, but our family warmed to the sporty soundtrack emanating from the speakers.

Interestingly, the GT regularly displayed advice about keeping the battery at below 80 per cent to improve longevity of the power source. We’ve been told about the pitfalls of constantly trying to reach 100 per cent but Audi actively promotes avoiding full capacity.

Boot space is compact for a vehicle of this size, it lacks depth but still managed to house a bike with a wheel removed after dropping the back seats. Rear seat space is also compromised, especially with headroom due to that beautiful sculpted design.

The Audi's e-tron GT RS can rip from standstill to 100km/h in 3.3 seconds.

Would you buy one?

Kel: Typically I love everything about an Audi. While the GT looks and drives amazingly, the ride height and sports seats aren’t for me and my lifestyle.

I’m more of an SUV kinda woman these days, so if I was shopping for an EV with this kind of money I’d most likely go with one of the ‘Q’ versions to better suit my daily activities.

Grant: Spectacularly beautiful. The e-tron GT is a true driver’s car. That asking price ensures it’s in premium company, and it’s even harder to swallow the near-$40,000 you have to pay in luxury car tax and another $10k on stamp duty.

Only slightly slower than its cousin, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S that costs closer to $330k, look at it from that perspective and it starts to look like a bargain with a whole heap of bang for your buck.

Originally published as Audi RS e-tron GT review reveals insane grand tourer