From the time that the E-Tron GT debuted as a concept car at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show to the time that it is slated to go on sale in the summer of 2021 has been relatively short. Most people got their first peek at the 2022 Audi E-Tron GT when Tony Stark pulled up to the Avengers headquarters driving one in the movie Avengers: End Game.
There’s no coincidence that the 2022 Audi E-Tron GT bears a striking resemblance to a Porsche. It’s built on the foundations of technology from the Porsche Taycan EV. Essentially, this is an Audi modded version of the Porsche Taycan EV. Anyone who thinks that means there’s a lack of vision or originality at play here would be mistaken.
There are three versions of the 2022 Audi E-Tron GT. There’s the base model E-Tron GT Quattro Premium Plus and a Prestige model trim. There’s also an RS E-Tron GT version. It’s hard to call the entry level Audi E-Tron GT a base model. It has a power output of 350 kW and 470 horsepower with a price tag that comes dangerously close to six figures. However, the bar for Audi’s electric grand turismo has been set extremely high.
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Performance Capabilities of the 2022 Audi E-Tron GT
The E-Tron GT has a dual motor set-up with all-wheel drive as standard equipment. The permanent electric motors provide the same quattro all-wheel drive experience of internal combustion engines by pushing power and torque to both the front and rear axles. The power output is a bit offset. The front axle power is 235 horsepower, and the rear puts out 429. This is optimized by the E-Tron GT to produce a combined output of about 469 horsepower and 464 pound feet of torque. Launch control and overboost will provide a 522 horsepower bump and 474 lb. ft. of torque for around 2.5 seconds.
Overboost Mode
The RS E-Tron GT has a power output of 440 kW and 590 horsepower. Its rear motor is more powerful. The overboost mode is key to Audi’s high-performance claims for the Audi E-Tron GT. The power output jumps to 522 for the base model and 637 horsepower for the RS. That overboost mode opens up a new stratosphere for the E-Tron GT. When drivers engage launch control, the electric sedan rockets from zero to 60 MPH in about 3.3 seconds with a maximum speed of 152 miles per hour.
All-Wheel Steering
The E-Tron GT has available all-wheel steering, as well. The rear differential lock on the rear axle and the multi-plate clutch allows this EV to brake each wheel individually and shift torque automatically to offset slippery conditions on the road and deliver the handling that drivers have come to expect from Audi Sport. It’s standard on the RS E-Tron. This will give the RS E-Tron GT some of the best handling of any EV on the market.
Driving Modes and Exhaust
Drivers can adjust the sonic output of the E-Tron GT by selecting through the different driving modes. Muscle cars have their own signature throaty rumbles and pops, but the new E-Tron GT matches their bravado with a specially designed futuristic acceleration sound. EVs are normally whisper quiet, but Audi chose to boost the acoustic feedback of the E-Tron GT to broadcast its performance chops.
Aerodynamics
Audi engineers put aerodynamics into driver’s hands with the new E-Tron GT. The ride height can be adjusted by lowering or raising the air suspension. It has a novel three chamber air suspension system that is governed by an electronic chassis platform. The ride height can be adjusted 22 millimeters (0.9 in) downward and 20 millimeters (0.8 in) upward. This can help reduce drag at high speeds or add comfort while cruising on the highway. There are also controls inside the cabin that can open and close the front air intakes or adjust the extension of the rear wing. Some drivers might travel thousands of miles and never toggle any of these settings, but savvy motorists will adjust these settings to choose energy efficiency on long drives and boosted performance for short bursts of exhilaration and speed.
Charging
The E-Tron GT offers fast charging to rival Tesla, Chevy, and other electric vehicle providers. The E-Tron GT has a 93kWh lithium-ion battery bank with 800 volts. This sets a benchmark in electric vehicle charging. It can recoup 60 miles of driving range in just five minutes of DC fast charging. The Audi E-Tron GT has a driving range of 238 on base models and 232 miles for the RS E-Tron GT version. The overall driving range isn’t the best on the market, but you can quickly top-up the power with fast charging.
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Style Points for the 2022 E-Tron GT
The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT has a curb weight of 5,100 lbs. with its stock 20-inch alloy wheels and huge floorboard battery bank. It also gives the E-Tron GT its wide stance and low center of gravity. The battery bank has integrated cooling and a separate aluminum frame. The Audi E-Tron GT has a glass roof, but you can outfit the RS with a carbon fiber reinforced roof.
Exterior Design
The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT has some of the most attractive lines of any Audi vehicle. It has a dominant, aggressive, performance-first appearance. There’s the high rear fenders, the sloping rear window and sharp body lines along the lower door sills to love. Those shoulder lines are the first thing that draws the eye because it’s a significant departure from Audi design architecture. For the E-Tron GT, the fenders are more pronounced, adding more Quattro muscle. The front fascia has an inverted honeycomb grille that further distinguishes this EV from other Audi vehicles.
In a company interview, Audi’s head of design Marc Lichte, gushed over the 2022 Audi E-Tron GT. “The Audi e-tron GT quattro is perfectly proportioned. My philosophy is that proportions are always the springboard to good design. That applies in equal measure to architecture and fashion as well as cars. In that respect, the GT’s design is built on a sound foundation—giant wheels, beautifully tight transitions and a seriously road-hugging silhouette.”
Headlights
The jewel-eyed headlights of Audi have undergone a significant tweak for the 2022 E-Tron GT. Matrix LED headlights are not standard on the 2022 Audi E-Tron GT Quattro. The LED headlamps that come standard on the RS have an X-shape that separates the E-Tron Gt from anything else in the field. Audi Laser Light doubles the range of the headlights, but it comes as an option on both vehicles. In the rear of the vehicle, there’s a continuous band of lights that travel across the width of the E-Tron GT. They have a prominent V-shaped pattern that can run through a series of different animations every time the driver enters or exits the vehicle.
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What’s the Interior of the Audi E-Tron GT Look Like?
The interior of the Audi E-Tron GT takes on the appearance of a true supercar. In true Grand Turismo fashion, everything is angled toward the driver. The seating position is rather low with all the dashboard controls sprawling out both horizontally and vertically.
There’s black leather-free upholstery with thickly bolstered sport seats, red contrast stitching, Alcantara headliner and red ambient lighting. There’s also carbon fiber accents placed around the interior space. The steering wheel has a flat-bottomed D-shape wrapped in Alcantara for enhanced grip with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in the dashboard.
The center stack is dominated by both touchscreens and manual push button controls. The central touchscreen is 10-inches. If you’re familiar with Audi tech, then there’s nothing really novel about the central console controls. It offers onboard Wi-Fi, satellite navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Why Choose the RS E-Tron GT?
The 2022 RS E-Tron is the first Audi Sport EV. The RS E-Tron comes with 21-inch alloy wheels and a lightweight carbon fiber top. It has boost mode and launch control. It’s capable of achieving 637 horsepower with all-wheel drive. The rear electric motor is even more powerful than the E-Tron GT Quattro. It produces 450 horsepower all by itself. The RS has a maximum output of 637 horsepower and 612 lb. ft. of torque. It can go from zero to 60 in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 miles per hour. The only thing this fast in the Audi stable is the R8 with V-10 engine. The main difference here is that the RS E-Tron is delivering that same level of performance with zero emissions.
At the Finish Line
This Gran Turismo EV is all about versatility in a segment that usually plays only one note. The E-Tron GT has high performance capabilities and the ability to just maneuver through suburban parking lots if you need a daily driver. That’s thanks largely to its two-speed transmission.
Options
Audi is notorious for parceling out its best tech features in pricey packages. A premium Bang & Olufsen sound system, all-wheel steering, a heads-up display, and matrix LED headlights are all options. It’s almost a sin to have a vehicle cost nearly six figures stock with missing equipment.
Price
So, the MSRP of the Audi E-Tron GT will almost certainly not be the final price that prospective buyers will pay. The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT Quattro has an MSRP of $99,900. The Prestige model costs $107,100 and the RS E-Tron GT has an MSRP of $139,900.
Competition
The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT is loaded up with enough style and electric tech to rival other luxury electric performance vehicles like the Tesla Model S, Mercedes-Benz EQC and Jaguar I-PACE. However, consumers will find that there’s little difference between the Audi E-Tron GT and the Porsche Taycan EV. That might be a disappointment for people who wanted something truly unique from Audi.
At the end of the race, Audi will have a hard sale with the E-Tron GT’s price tag. The novelty of the vehicle helps, but its power output is dependent on overboost, launch control and the right aerodynamic settings. Without them, the E-Tron GT is still middle of the pack.
The E-Tron GT is perfect for fanboys and auto enthusiasts who love the Audi brand and want the latest status symbol in electric vehicles. Yet, that’s the sales model for all performance EVs. Prospective buyers will hear the same pitch on the Tesla lot, too. The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT will most likely appeal to a niche crop of buyers who daydream about being Tony Stark.