Iconic EV performance car is fun to drive

The Audi e-tron GT presents a unique challenge. Given the moniker, it’s easy to tell it’s an EV. A motor on each axle delivers 350kW of power (390kW in boost mode) and 630Nm of torque to all four wheels, earning it the infamous Quattro badge.

Not as ferocious as its bigger brother, the RS GT, it can sprint to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds isn’t exactly “hanging about”. It has four doors, a boot and a frunk, but you wouldn’t call it a sedan, in its purest sense. It’s arguably the prettiest four door EV available today.

With a wheelbase longer than the outgoing Prado, a track that measures almost 15cm wider than the latest 911 Carrera and a roofline only a few centimetres taller than a Ford Mustang, it has stunning proportions. its low and wide stance is punctuated by a voluptuous body design that screams modern demure.

Tested in Mythos Black, one of eight colours to choose from, the sculpted front end wears the famous four rings flanked by excellent LED matrix headlights. They seem to shine a perfect rectangular beam, as if lighting up a constant imaginary mist, regardless of the conditions.

The sides meander to wide haunches at each axle, ending at the rear with its full-length animated matrix LED taillights. A rear three-quarter view of this car is truly a sight to behold. The optional 20-inch “black and diamond turned” wheels are part of a $7,500 Premium Plus Package.

Our test vehicle was also fitted with the Carbon and Black pack, which features blackouts and carbon fibre trims across the bodywork, including the entire roof panel. It comes with a staggering price tag of $17,500, but is worth every cent for the sinister visual it creates.

Adding function to this form is the resulting drag co-efficient of 0.24, a benefit for performance across all manner of metrics, including efficiency and wind noise. Climbing aboard reveals a typically Audi cabin that can only be described as logical but classy.

That low roofline requires care on entry despite frameless windows, but once inside, the body width becomes evident. Nowhere is it felt more than in the dash design, which exudes a classy modern lounge vibe and provides ample space for a 12.3-inch infotainment screen.

A separate screen sits behind a lovely flat bottom leather-covered, electrically adjustable steering wheel, which sits upright and falls pleasingly to hand. Between it and the 6-way electronically adjustable leather covered seat, is the perfect driving position.

It reminds this writer of an early R8, which came as no surprise when we discovered that the e-tron GT is built by the same technicians as that venerable sports car. What the electric Audi lacks in raucous soundtrack, it makes up for in the audio experience.

An excellent 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system that can take a feed from your phone through wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto delivers in spades. The focus on clean aesthetics continues with a clever hidden wireless charger too.

It sits in a small central storage bin between the front seats. That’s a hint at the fact there’s limited storage in the spartan but classy cabin. Vehicle interfaces are a pleasing mix of buttons to complement the central screen. Everything is logical and works well.

Much like the e-tron Sportback S we tested some time ago, back seat passengers are no poor cousin in this car either. Beautifully sculpted outboard seats, charging ports and a separate air-conditioning zone all feature.

The roofline means space can be a little challenging for taller occupants, but there was reasonable leg room. Bulk storage is handled by a combination of a 405-litre boot with a good-sized opening and a net to hold things down, and an 85-litre frunk.

The latter is really only suitable to store charging cables. Claimed range from the 93kWh battery is 448km, with the e-tron GT supporting up to 270kW fast charging. That translates to a 5-80 per cent charge in 23 minutes.

We found that battery power depletes quickly if you find yourself being super heavy with the right foot, but it can be difficult to contain yourself at times, such is the enjoyment this car can bring. A 50/50 weight distribution, combined with that super wide track, turns this slinky sedan into something very different

It takes time to become accustomed to how it drives, but linking a few corners successfully is immensely satisfying. In between said corners, power delivery is ferocious, using every ounce of grip afforded by the staggered 245 and 285 Pirelli rubber. Interestingly, the drivetrain deploys a two-speed gearbox.

It’s set up to allow for the lower setting to provide the punch we all know and enjoy, with the higher utilised for smoother highway driving. There are three driving modes, with Efficiency and Comfort providing the obvious tempering of the performance setup.

Sport mode firms things up, but the chassis design means the e-tron GT sits flat unless pushed seriously, defying its portly 2350kg kerb weight. Given the prodigious performance on offer though, it’s a good thing that safety is also well covered.

The list includes the requisite airbags, a seamless lane keep assist system, blind spot monitoring, AEB and attention assist. Its shear size as a vehicle meant we were thankful for the body sensors, but they were a little overzealous at times.

Ultimately, categorising the e-tron GT never got any easier across our testing period. Aside from its long-lost cousin in the form of the Porsche Taycan, there really isn’t anything else like it. It’s right at the top of the EV market, and it commands an appropriate price tag.

At $203,875 drive away, it’s a lot of coin, but a few things are certain; it’s beautiful, well-crafted and a hoot to drive, regardless of the occasion. It comes with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty. Audi backs the e-tron GT even further though, with 6-years of capped price servicing, a 6-year Chargefox subscription.

You can find out more by talking to your local dealership.

This story first published on Exhaust Notes Australia. Test vehicle supplied by Audi Australia for independent review purposes.

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