THE ELECTRIC GRAN TURISMO The 2022 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT Written by Andre James / Photos courtesy of Audi
Chiseled like a supermodel's cheekbones, the head-turning architecture of the 2022 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-Tron GT looks every bit like a concept car brought to reality. "The most beautiful car I have ever drawn," said Marc Lichte, Head of Audi Design, who chose these words in the fall of 2018, when the brand presented the Audi e-tron GT concept at a show car in Los Angeles. The Audi RS e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT are the first EVs from Audi Sport to be sold in the United States. They represent the third and fourth all-electric additions to Audi's US portfolio and contribute toward its goal of achieving a 30% electrified model portfolio by 2025. "The Audi RS e-tron GT is a milestone in the development of electrified high-performance models," said Lucas di Grassi, Formula E driver and entrepreneur, at the world premiere of the vehicle this past February. The e-tron's enviable aesthetics have all arisen from attention to efficiencies. A lightweight, high-strength, five-layer carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof —a first for an Audi vehicle and a segmentexclusive feature—comes standard. Permanently excited magnets are an exhilarating performance element that the Audi e-tron GT 56 slmag.net
shares with the world's most thrilling roller coasters. Found in both the front and rear axles of the e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT, permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM) produce 235 horsepower at its front motor and 429 horsepower at its rear. A net combined output of 469 horsepower (up to 522 horsepower for 2.5 seconds with overboost launch control) allows the e-tron GT to repeatedly accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds on its way to a top track speed of 152 mph. In the RS, a more robust rear motor enables a net 590 horsepower and up to 637 with overboost, which shaves .8 seconds off of the 0-60 mph sprint. These acceleration figures place the RS e-tron GT on par with the V10-powered Audi R8 supercar. Standard in the RS model is the e-tron sport sound, a high-quality and progressive sound that the driver can activate and modulate its amplitude via the Audi drive select system. Audi drive select, the driving dynamics system with four modes and controlled damping, comes as standard in every e-tron GT. Standard three-chamber air suspension in the Audi e-tron GT enables a wide variation in spring rates to provide cushioned comfort for daily driving or a more reflexive tightness for track workouts. A
