The Audi e-tron GT serves because the poster automotive of Ingolstadt’s electrical automobile (EV) collection and was first revealed manner again in February 2021, earlier than ultimately reaching our shores in the course of 2023. Out there in three variants, the e-tron GT vary begins with the quattro and is adopted by the quattro with the Dynamic Package deal, whereas on the very prime sits the RS variant.
On the time of penning this assessment, Audi Malaysia lists the e-tron GT quattro Dynamic Package deal with a retail worth of RM677,790 OTR with out insurance coverage, or RM690,790 with the Audi Assurance Package deal (AAP). The latter extends the producer guarantee to 5 years (from two years) and provides a three-year, 45,000-km upkeep bundle. Step as much as the RS e-tron GT and the asking worth rises to RM804,790, or RM819,790 with AAP – the usual quattro seems to be lacking for now.
These figures are “engaging” due to ongoing EV incentives supplied by the federal government, so is the e-tron GT price contemplating? Effectively, Audi Malaysia introduced us the possibility to take the EV on a street journey to Ipoh and we have been even supplied the chance to drive it on the Sepang Worldwide Circuit (SIC) within the days after. Listed here are our ideas.
What’s the e-tron GT?
It’s what Iron Man drove in Avengers: Endgame! That’s already a reasonably good place to begin for a pitch however we will’t simply go along with that. As talked about initially, the e-tron GT is the halo mannequin of Audi’s e-tron vary, which initially began when the e-tron SUV first made its debut again in 2018 – this has since been renamed to the Q8 e-tron to make the line-up simpler to grasp for purchasers.
The e-tron GT shares the J1 platform with the Porsche Taycan, so it will get the identical goodies like a 2,900-mm wheelbase in addition to an 800-volt electrical structure to allow fast DC charging. On all variants, the e-tron GT helps DC charging at a max of 270 kW, which will get the 93.4-kWh lithium-ion battery (web determine; gross is 83.7 kWh) from a 5-80% state of cost in simply 22.5 minutes. There’s additionally AC charging at as much as 11 kW, however a full cost with that takes 9 hours – you may get 22 kW with the Dynamic Package deal that drops the cost time to 4 hours.
The battery powers a pair of electrical motors, with the common quattro variant serving up a complete system output of 476 PS (469 hp or 350 kW) and 630 Nm of torque. That is good for a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds and a prime pace of 245 km/h. There’s additionally an obtainable increase mode that quickly bumps the output to 530 PS (523 hp or 390 kW) and 640 Nm to additional scale back the century dash time to simply 4.1 seconds.
The RS model will get even greater outputs of 598 PS (590 hp or 440 kW) and 830 Nm. As with the quattro, there’s a lift mode that will increase peak energy briefly to 646 PS (637 hp or 475 kW) so you may get from 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. Vary takes successful in consequence, with the RS offering 447 km in comparison with the quattro with 458 km – each are following the WLTP commonplace.
What’s it like to love with as a every day?
As a begin, the e-tron GT attracts fairly a little bit of consideration from onlookers who’ve grow to be “accustomed” to seeing Taycans roaming round. After all, design is a subjective matter, however I want the look of the e-tron GT over the Taycan, and a few of my colleagues and buddies share this opinion as effectively.
It’s actually not “OTT” nor does it scream “I’m a sporty EV,” however the low-slung stance and comely profile do effectively to draw the eyeballs, with one standout cue for me being the chiseled sections above the rear wheel arches. With the Dynamic Package deal, there’s additionally a carbon-fibre roof, matrix LED headlamps and tungsten carbide-coated brake discs (with painted calipers) that add some glitz to a comparatively delicate design.
At simply 1,414 mm tall, getting out and in is usually a little bit of a problem for these with troubled knees/ankles, however fortunately the sills aren’t overly prolonged that you might want to “climb” over them. As for the opposite dimensions, the EV occupies a reasonably giant footprint with a size of 4,989 mm and width of 1,964 mm.
Nonetheless, if you’re inside, the e-tron GT feels “smaller” than the numbers recommend and is reasonably simple to manoeuvre and place – reward to Audi for preserving bodily buttons that present fast entry to the high-res 360-degree digicam, which was useful when navigating tighter automotive parks.
On that point out, the matter of preserving bodily controls is up for competition. Some could discover them archaic and like to have as many automobile capabilities nestled in a touchscreen to maintain the inside “clear,” which is the case with the Taycan.
Alternatively, there are some (me included) preferring having some buttons round for issues used usually, which is the case within the e-tron GT that retains bodily controls for the air-conditioning and different capabilities for straightforward entry – choose a aspect within the feedback beneath.
This strategy of not overloading a driver’s sensory enter additionally sees delicate ambient lighting being utilized and simply two shows contained in the cabin. Infotainment is supplied by the MMI Navigation plus with MMI contact system, the latter within the type of a ten.1-inch touchscreen with assist for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Audi’s 12.3-inch digital cockpit is the opposite show, and it continues to offer an honest degree of configurability with crisp graphics and textual content.
Legroom and headroom are considerable on the entrance, however tall folks (over 170 cm) within the rear may discover it a little bit of squeeze, which isn’t helped by the quick seat base and reasonably upright seatback. The fastback form additionally limits the peak of things that may go within the boot, however lengthy, flat-packed furnishings shouldn’t be a lot of a problem with the rear seat bench folded down.
What’s the e-tron GT wish to drive on public roads?
There’s greater than sufficient energy to pin unsuspecting passengers to their seats whatever the variant you go along with. This novelty does put on off after some time – there are restricted areas to do that safely – and when simply trudging round city, the e-tron GT delivers a pleasing driving expertise. Throttle response is clean, progressive and predictable that you just don’t unintentionally overdo issues and see excessive triple digits.
In contrast to some EVs, the e-tron GT supplies a extra pure really feel that’s extra easing for these coming from a petrol-powered automotive. There’s not even a one-pedal driving mode, with the regenerative braking approaching subtly and harking back to engine braking, even in the event you pull the left paddle to max out regen. Audi says the regen braking is as much as a restrict of 0.3 g, following which hydraulic braking takes over, including the brake pedal is what variates the quantity of regen strain utilized.
To go together with the well-calibrated electrical drivetrain, the e-tron GT additionally supplies a reasonably snug journey with good compliance over major bumps and decently over secondaries. The odd pothole does unsettle issues momentarily nevertheless it isn’t jarring and the EV with its well-tuned dampers maintains its composure nearly the entire time.
The RS model comes commonplace with adaptive three-chamber air suspension, which may increase the physique by 20 mm to assist clear greater bumps, or drop by 22 mm for higher effectivity. This technique additionally helps to handle physique lean higher, which is welcomed for such a heavy automotive, with out the overly pillowy really feel. It’s additionally price noting the RS will get rear-wheel steering that does assist scale back the turning radius, useful when navigating a automotive this lengthy.
Driving the usual quattro and RS again to again, there’s a discernible distinction with journey consolation, with the latter offering a extra supple journey because it soaks bumps simply that significantly better. Even so, the non-RS variants are nonetheless spectacular in their very own proper with metal springs, because the adaptive dampers are arrange good.
Heading up north in direction of Ipoh, the EV covers floor rapidly and is snug to be in (no matter variant), which makes it deserving of the ‘GT’ in its title. As a every day driver, the e-tron GT’s surprisingly cozy driving expertise betrays the sporty persona that many are led to imagine at first look.
On the matter of potential vary nervousness, the e-tron GT made all of it the best way to Ipoh with out requiring a recharge alongside the best way, arriving with slightly below 30% remaining. That is inclusive of a brief stint to reveal its acceleration prowess on a closed part of street close to Proton Metropolis in Tanjung Malim.
Following the convoy to and from Ipoh, I used to be assured in bringing an e-tron GT quattro tester up Genting Highlands after a fast cost on the Audi showroom in Glenmarie. With the 180 kW DC charger, I acquired the battery from 60% to 85% with 14 minutes of charging earlier than making the journey up. On the best way down, cautious use of the brakes to maximise power recuperation helped achieve again 5-8% and I used to be residence in Subang Jaya with slightly below 50% to spare.
What’s the e-tron GT wish to drive on a observe?
Our time with the e-tron GT at SIC was primarily spent with the RS variant, and one of many actions deliberate included an easy acceleration check. Unsurprisingly, the EV is extremely quick off the road, with the 0-100 km/h occasions being very near what was claimed.
Our solely different exercise was a half-track tour of SIC that serves to showcase the dynamic capabilities of the e-tron GT. On the straights, the EV was fast to achieve pace as we’ve already identified, however approaching and taking corners was met with a good bit of warning.
With a kerb weight effectively over two tonnes, there’s no defying physics in the case of slowing the e-tron GT down. It’s a heavy automotive, and the instructors readily available have been ever able to remind us to get on the brakes early for our security and to make sure we don’t overshoot a nook.
On the subject of the twisty bits, there’s some mechanical trickery within the type of a rear differential lock (RS solely) to make sure energy is distributed to wheels with traction, helped additional by the e-torque vectoring and rear-wheel steering (additionally RS solely). It’s a bit surreal but confidence-inspiring that one thing this huge can take corners at fairly some tempo, however there’s a restrict when the pronounced weight switch begins to really feel unsettling.
The air suspension does its greatest to handle physique roll, however there’s solely a lot heft it could possibly put up with earlier than issues begin to really feel a bit uncontrolled. So as to add, the steering is comparatively mild and missing in really feel, which makes small changes mid-corner a bit difficult. That is positively extra snug doing grand touring issues reasonably than the “sports activities automotive in disguise” factor.
Must you purchase the e-tron GT?
There’s no working away from the truth that these contemplating the e-tron GT will most likely cross-shop with the Taycan. Each supply formidable efficiency, however there’s a distinction in philosophy in the case of every thing else.
The e-tron GT expertise is extra about ease of use and familiarity. Should you’ve been in current Audi fashions, the inside retains to traditional controls reasonably than burying them underneath layers of menus on a display screen.
By comparability, the Taycan’s inside goals to be extra futuristic with a bevy of screens and much much less bodily controls, which does contribute to the showroom wow issue. Nonetheless, not everybody needs to dig via menus to get to a automobile perform; working example, adjusting the place the air vents are pointed is completed via the central touchscreen.
Moreover, the place the Taycan is geared extra in direction of being sharper to drive to fulfil the “electrical automobile turns into a sports activities automotive and a sports activities automotive turns into a Porsche.” advertising tagline, the Audi is extra comfort-oriented whereas offering a extra pure really feel behind the wheel.
If you need a cushty GT that can also be absolutely electrical, the e-tron GT is the one to have. The query then turns into whether or not to stay with the quattro, step as much as the Dynamic Package deal, or go all out and splurge on the RS. The RS prices RM127k (or RM129k with AAP) greater than the quattro Dynamic Package deal, which is a good bit of cash to commit – the equipment record is reasonably an identical between each.
The RS’ greater outputs are nice in a recreation of prime trumps, however in the true world, are you going to be utilizing all that efficiency the entire time, safely? The follow-up is whether or not you want the RS-exclusive rear diff lock, rear-wheel steering, air springs and bigger 21-inch wheels.
For me, the quattro with the Dynamic Package deal could be the one to go for. The efficiency is greater than enough and the center floor choice is succesful in phrases dynamics and journey consolation. You don’t get the carbon-heavy aesthetics of the RS, however there are welcomed enhancements such because the ‘carbid’ brakes, the nicer Nappa leather-based upholstery, the aurally-pleasing Bang & Olufsen sound system, and extra importantly, quicker AC charging at 22 kW (nice information in case you have a suitable residence charger). I’ll have one in both crimson or white.
GALLERY: Audi e-tron GT quattro with Dynamic Package deal
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