Effortless Audi’s e-tron GT Rewrites the Electric Rulebook

Effortless. That’s the Real e-tron GT Catchword

That’s the big call word here. Effortless. If there’s one thing electric motoring at this level is, is effortless and e-tron GT stars at it. Steering is quick and honest if a touch leaden. Not unlike, say an A7. This electric GT’s most impressive driving manner however is its agility and obedience. It totally defies its 2.3-tonne bulk. Its center of gravity is lower than an R8  to help GT make a mockery of its heft.

Supporting a 93-kWh battery and 800V architecture, you can charge e-tron GT at up to 270 kW if you can find a point capable of delivering that. At peak speeds in optimum conditions, you can add 62 miles in five minutes. Or charge up 80 per cent just over 20 minutes. A full charge will give you 303 miles of range. If you can resist your urges to floor it and revel in those 522 horses, that is. So, range anxiety is still real and certainly takes a little getting used to.

In a world where the likes of the BMW iX will go 400 miles with a little discipline, and some Teslas even manage 500 on a charge, this Audi’s 300-mile range is limiting, whether you need travel far or not. It would be more complete with an extra 100 or so mile driving range, like those rivals now manage. Which means that the Audi it fails to ease range anxiety as well as say and iX does. You still need to plot your longer routes around rapid charging stations.

Perfect as an Everyday Driver Around Town

The GT is however perfect for the everyday short haul. You can adapt regeneration via the flappy paddles behind the steering wheelto  make it almost fully single paddle drivable. Initial regen retardration is up to 3Gs, so you only really need use the brake pedal in emergency. All of which, unless you are going to use it on a trackday, makes the carbon brake option futile. Driven diligently, you may never even use the clamps. We hardly did.

So, there you have it. The Audi e-tron GT is tech-leader as much as it is a hugely impressive car. Way beyond just a comfy daily driver, it’s a practical enough four-door but with sharp, long, and low good looks. So yes, it is exciting. But this e-tron GT’s real strength is that it’s not trying to be a car of the future. It’s simply a quick, efficient, and handsome electric four-door that plays so well to Audi’s peerless, and totally effortless strengths.

ROAD TESTED: Audi e-tron GT quattro
Motors: 2x electric, 522 HP 472 lb.-ft combined 
Drive: Direct AWD
Battery: 100 kWh lithium-ion
TESTED:
0-40 mph:           2.16 sec
0-60 mph:           3.91 sec 
0-80 mph:           5.18 sec
0-100 mph:          8.34 sec 
¼-mile:             11.9 sec @ 117 mph 
50-75 mph:          2.20 sec
75-100 mph:         3.15 sec 
CLAIMED:
VMax:               152 mph 
Energy Consumption: 37.2 kWh/100 miles 
CO2:                0 g/km local
LIST PRICE          $102,400 MSRP
RATED:              8

Photos: Michele Lupini