Audi has given its E-tron GT sports saloon a new look and a round of substantial technical updates to bring it into line with its recently upgraded Porsche Taycan sibling.
Many of the changes mirror those on the Porsche, with which the E-tron GT shares its J1 platform, and include significant upgrades to the battery capacity, motor power and DC rapid-charging speed.
Thanks to improved cell chemistry and a more compact cooling system, it has been possible to increase the capacity of the battery from a usable 84kWh to 97kWh while reducing the weight by 9kg. As before, the smaller battery that is available in the Taycan isn’t offered in the E-tron GT.
The same changes have allowed the maximum charging speed to rise from 270kW to a peak of 320kW. However, Audi says it is more significant that the car is able to maintain a charging speed of more than 280kW for much longer, until a roughly 70% state of charge, and in a wider range of temperatures.
For this latest update, Audi has also rejigged the E-tron GT’s model line-up. The entry-level dual-motor version, now with 671bhp, has been renamed the S E-tron GT.
But, more notably, the RS E-tron GT has been bumped to 845bhp and a new RS E-tron GT Performance tops the range with a huge 912bhp. That makes it Audi’s most powerful car yet and enables it to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 2.5sec.
Although the power outputs are very slightly different, these new E-tron GT models largely mirror the Taycan 4S, Turbo and Turbo S, respectively.
There are still no plans for a single-motor version, with Audi citing both a lack of demand and lack of capacity in the Böllinger Höfe factory, which built the R8 until recently.
While the standard E-tron GT and the RS version used to look largely identical, Audi has taken this opportunity to differentiate them further.
As a result, the S E-tron GT now has silver triangular inserts in the front air dam, similar to Audi’s combustion-powered S models.
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Most people who could afford to buy this car new will generally want a fast comfortable car that is not so heavy and won't depreciate like a stone. The current UK residuals for used etron GT cars tell their own story.
EV car makers need to focus less on power and performance and more on cost, range, charge time, and mitigation of technological obsolescence.
The problem with these is that while they are extremely good, the very closely related Taycan is generally regarded to be slightly better; slightly better handling, slightly better performance, slightly better looks, slightly better badge, yet inexplicably Audi have decided to charge a higher price for the GT than the equivalent Taycan.
You'd have to really, really not want a Porsche.