An electric drive in superlative form

For a long time, electromobility in Germany fell short of expectations and the possibilities of technological progress. It was not just industry experts who were aware of this. Over the last few years however, development has rapidly picked up speed. The result is a very different picture for 2021. With the e-tron GT, Audi is writing the next chapter in advances in German battery-electric vehicles.

Although the German automotive industry was slow to enter the field of alternative drives, it now at least has some progress to show – including in the luxury sports car segment. Porsche presented the Taycan in 2019, giving it a kind of monopoly for some time. Now not just one but two competitors are launching models that can keep pace with the Taycan at a minimum: While Mercedes-Benz will present the Vision EQS this year, Audi has come up trumps with the e-tron GT, based on Porsche’s trailblazer.

Looking at the models launched over the last few years is enough to confirm that the market entry of the e-tron GT is merely the logical consequence of the Ingolstadt production line. After some mid-size cars, including the classic A3 and A6, were made available as plug-in hybrids with the addition of TFSI in their names, the first purely battery-electric e-tron model followed in 2019. This trend is now taking on an entirely new dimension with the GT.

While the e-tron still has the look of an SUV, the GT adds a passionate and, above all, low gran turismo to the line-up – and one that is absolutely worthy of its name. With separate engines driving each axle and a battery in between, its design is similar to the Taycan. The Audi benefits from an 800-volt architecture and a two-speed gearbox, which make both fast acceleration – the e-tron GT can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.1 seconds – and high top speeds of up to 152 mph possible.

But it is not just the e-tron GT’s speed and sports pedigree that set it apart. Its range and touring capability are also impressive. It can travel 303 miles on a full charge, and 62 miles after just a five-minute charge. Plugging in the cable for as little as 23 minutes is enough to charge the 93.4 kWh battery to 80%. Combined with around 450 litres of storage space in the boot, this makes the e-tron GT ideal as a touring car. That should be enough to convert even former petrolheads to sustainable electromobility. And as an optional extra, customers can request a completely leather-free interior that does not use any other animal-based products, replacing them with materials from the recycling loop.

With the e-tron GT, Audi has demonstrated that electromobility is possible without any sacrifices in 2021. In terms of driving experience, comfort, range and acceleration, the flagship vehicle exceeds most of its competitors by far. Most importantly, it surpasses the majority of cars with an internal combustion engine. The latest models from the German automotive industry are a taster of where electric vehicles are headed in the next few years – and at what speeds.