2022 Audi E-Tron GT and RS E-Tron GT join EV sedan race

Audi’s first step into the EV battlefield with the R8 e-tron was not that fruitful. They are on a stride to change this fate with the rebooted E-Tron lineup, starting with the decent E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback crossovers. Now they are adding a new body style to the lineup. The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT and sportier Audi RS E-Tron GT grows from their concept form into a reality. 

The exterior design of the E-Tron GT is quite a handsome blend of design elements from their existing petrol-engined sedans and the E-Tron GT. Optional Matrix LED headlamps give the front end a purposeful poise. But when you look at it from the sides though, some Taycan lines show up. Considering Porsche and Audi are branches in the same company, that’s not surprising.

Unlike the Taycan, the E-Tron GTs do not shine a plethora of screens at you inside the cabin. There is of course a large 12.3-inch screen that handles the infotainment duties but the climate control uses conventional knobs and buttons. Images of the standard E-Tron GT’s interior are not out yet but it should be similar to the RS’s interior sans the sport seats. There is a leather-free option on all models if you want your zero-emissions EV to be more eco-friendly. The interior design and layout add up to a very functional setup, unlike the flashy interior of the Taycan.

As expected, the E-Tron GT shares technology with its premium cousin, the Porsche Taycan. It gets a 93.4-kWh Li-ion battery with 800-volt architecture that allows very quick charging — so fast that it only takes 23 minutes to charge from 0 to 83 percent. Power outputs range from 469 hp in the base model to 590 hp in the fire-breathing — sorry, electrifying RS E-Tron GT. They get 630 Nm and 830 Nm of torque as well, respectively. Like the E-Tron crossover, the GTs get an Overboost function that can bump up the power to 522 hp in the GT and 637 hp in the RS, for a short amount of time.

With all this electric power underneath, the E-Tron GT will hit 100 kph from a standstill in just over 4 seconds while the RS E-Tron GT takes 3.2 seconds.

The estimated EPA range for the E-Tron GT is 383 km while the RS E-Tron GT is expected to cover 373 km. The Taycan 4S quotes 365 km, yet there have been instances of owners being able to eke out way more than that from it. Both cars come air suspension, while four-wheel steering is an optional extra on the E-Tron GT and standard fare on the RS.

The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT starts from US$ 99,900 (Dhs 366,952) in the U.S. and goes up to $139,900 (Dhs 513,880) for the RS variant. The prices are not far away from the Porsche Taycan’s but the E-Trons promise more tech for almost the same price. Expect them to cost more when they reach the Middle East.