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Audi’s all-new Tesla Model S rival, the e-tron GT, will be officially revealed at the beginning of next year. Prototypes have been spotted undergoing development testing at the Nurburgring ahead of its launch where it’s expected to cost in the region of £100,000.
The fully electric saloon has been described by the company’s boss Markus Duesmann as “the most important vehicle for Audi, it is our halo car.” The e-tron GT will be built at Audi's Böllinger Höfe facility in Neckarsulm, the same factory where the Audi R8 supercar is currently produced.
Audi has also confirmed development of a flagship RS version, which will be badged RS e-tron GT. The model will go on sale alongside the regular version in the middle of next year, but feature a unique look and chassis tuning as well as greater levels of performance.
2021 Audi e-tron GT: spy shots and prototypes
Prototypes of the e-tron GT are still clad in heavy camouflage – but we can make out some of its styling features. The finished product is expected to look almost identical to the concept from the 2018 Los Angeles Motor Show, with only a handful of tweaks to help it meet current safety regulations.
The front grille looks a little narrower than the concept’s, while its touch sensitive doors will be replaced by conventional handles. The show car’s centre locking wheels will also be ditched, but Audi has confirmed that the finished car will feature 22-inch alloys.
Audi e-tron GT concept - front static
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear static studio
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear seats
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show
Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - side
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear
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Audi e-tron GT concept - seats
Audi e-tron GT concept - front studio
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Audi e-tron GT concept - dash
Audi e-tron GT concept - front static studio
Audi e-tron GT concept - full front studio
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show rear
Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - rear 3/4
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Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - front 3/4
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Audi e-tron GT concept - rear studio
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Audi e-tron GT concept - rear static
Audi e-tron GT concept - side/rear
Audi e-tron GT concept - front
Audi e-tron GT concept - side studio
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This latest mule also shows the car’s retractable rear spoiler in its raised position – but this can be retracted to reduce drag when driving on the motorway. The active wing will work alongside a sleek underbody aero, which will be more efficient than any of Audi’s combustion cars due to the lack of an exhaust system.
2021 Audi e-tron GT: platform and specs
The production e-tron GT will be based on the same platform as the Porsche Taycan, with the pair sharing around 60 per cent of componentry. However, the e-tron GT will use a triple electric motor setup, whereas the Taycan only uses two.
Sending drive to all four wheels, Audi expects the e-tron GT to accelerate from 0–62mph in around 3.5 seconds. A unique software configuration – along with Porsche’s fastidious approach to reliability – will also allow it to achieve such figures repeatedly, even when the battery isn’t fully charged.
A 96kWh battery pack should also be available in the e-tron GT, meaning the saloon will have a range of upwards of 250 miles and be able to achieve an 80 per cent charge in 20 minutes, when plugged into a DC rapid-charger.
Audi e-tron GT concept - front static
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear static studio
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear seats
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show
Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - side
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear
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Audi e-tron GT concept - seats
Audi e-tron GT concept - front studio
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Audi e-tron GT concept - dash
Audi e-tron GT concept - front static studio
Audi e-tron GT concept - full front studio
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show rear
Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - rear 3/4
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Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - front 3/4
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show rear
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear studio
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Audi e-tron GT concept - rear static
Audi e-tron GT concept - side/rear
Audi e-tron GT concept - front
Audi e-tron GT concept - side studio
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An advanced torque vectoring system will allow Audi to control the e-tron GT’s bulk. Despite a kerb weight of around two tonnes, the EV’s low centre of gravity should ensure a handling balance akin to that of the Taycan.
This will be helped along by the location of battery pack and Audi’s decision to use carbon fibre for the e-tron GT’s roof and aluminium for its doors – keeping the weightier components lower in the car’s chassis and reducing the top-heavy pendulum effect that would have been created if the entire car was made from steel.
2021 Audi e-tron GT: concept car
Speaking about the e-tron GT concept at the 2018 LA Show, Marc Lichte, head of Audi design, was very excited to be involved with the project. “It’s a dream to design a car like this,” Lichte told us. “This is truly a design where the sketch becomes a reality.”
The electric design presents additional challenges, too. As Lichte explains: “Other noises like road and wind noise become much more obvious without an engine. For example, we’ve designed the side mirrors to channel the air along the door skins instead of the window glass, so wind noise is less.”
Like the outside, much of the concept’s interior design is likely to be carried over to the production e-tron GT. That includes a centre span of the dashboard that flows into the doors to emphasise the cabin’s width. Whether the concept’s fully vegan materials will be used is less likely.
Would you pick the Audi e-tron GT over a Porsche Taycan or Tesla Model S? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below...
Continue reading...
The fully electric saloon has been described by the company’s boss Markus Duesmann as “the most important vehicle for Audi, it is our halo car.” The e-tron GT will be built at Audi's Böllinger Höfe facility in Neckarsulm, the same factory where the Audi R8 supercar is currently produced.
Audi has also confirmed development of a flagship RS version, which will be badged RS e-tron GT. The model will go on sale alongside the regular version in the middle of next year, but feature a unique look and chassis tuning as well as greater levels of performance.
2021 Audi e-tron GT: spy shots and prototypes
Prototypes of the e-tron GT are still clad in heavy camouflage – but we can make out some of its styling features. The finished product is expected to look almost identical to the concept from the 2018 Los Angeles Motor Show, with only a handful of tweaks to help it meet current safety regulations.
The front grille looks a little narrower than the concept’s, while its touch sensitive doors will be replaced by conventional handles. The show car’s centre locking wheels will also be ditched, but Audi has confirmed that the finished car will feature 22-inch alloys.
Audi e-tron GT concept - front static
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear static studio
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear seats
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show
Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - side
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear
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Audi e-tron GT concept - seats
Audi e-tron GT concept - front studio
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Audi e-tron GT concept - dash
Audi e-tron GT concept - front static studio
Audi e-tron GT concept - full front studio
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show rear
Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - rear 3/4
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Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - front 3/4
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show rear
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear studio
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Audi e-tron GT concept - rear static
Audi e-tron GT concept - side/rear
Audi e-tron GT concept - front
Audi e-tron GT concept - side studio
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This latest mule also shows the car’s retractable rear spoiler in its raised position – but this can be retracted to reduce drag when driving on the motorway. The active wing will work alongside a sleek underbody aero, which will be more efficient than any of Audi’s combustion cars due to the lack of an exhaust system.
2021 Audi e-tron GT: platform and specs
The production e-tron GT will be based on the same platform as the Porsche Taycan, with the pair sharing around 60 per cent of componentry. However, the e-tron GT will use a triple electric motor setup, whereas the Taycan only uses two.
Sending drive to all four wheels, Audi expects the e-tron GT to accelerate from 0–62mph in around 3.5 seconds. A unique software configuration – along with Porsche’s fastidious approach to reliability – will also allow it to achieve such figures repeatedly, even when the battery isn’t fully charged.
A 96kWh battery pack should also be available in the e-tron GT, meaning the saloon will have a range of upwards of 250 miles and be able to achieve an 80 per cent charge in 20 minutes, when plugged into a DC rapid-charger.
Audi e-tron GT concept - front static
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear static studio
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear seats
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show
Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - side
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear
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Audi e-tron GT concept - seats
Audi e-tron GT concept - front studio
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Audi e-tron GT concept - dash
Audi e-tron GT concept - front static studio
Audi e-tron GT concept - full front studio
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show rear
Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - rear 3/4
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Audi e-tron GT -LA Motor Show - front 3/4
audi e-tron gt concept la motor show rear
Audi e-tron GT concept - rear studio
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Audi e-tron GT concept - rear static
Audi e-tron GT concept - side/rear
Audi e-tron GT concept - front
Audi e-tron GT concept - side studio
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An advanced torque vectoring system will allow Audi to control the e-tron GT’s bulk. Despite a kerb weight of around two tonnes, the EV’s low centre of gravity should ensure a handling balance akin to that of the Taycan.
This will be helped along by the location of battery pack and Audi’s decision to use carbon fibre for the e-tron GT’s roof and aluminium for its doors – keeping the weightier components lower in the car’s chassis and reducing the top-heavy pendulum effect that would have been created if the entire car was made from steel.
2021 Audi e-tron GT: concept car
Speaking about the e-tron GT concept at the 2018 LA Show, Marc Lichte, head of Audi design, was very excited to be involved with the project. “It’s a dream to design a car like this,” Lichte told us. “This is truly a design where the sketch becomes a reality.”
The electric design presents additional challenges, too. As Lichte explains: “Other noises like road and wind noise become much more obvious without an engine. For example, we’ve designed the side mirrors to channel the air along the door skins instead of the window glass, so wind noise is less.”
Like the outside, much of the concept’s interior design is likely to be carried over to the production e-tron GT. That includes a centre span of the dashboard that flows into the doors to emphasise the cabin’s width. Whether the concept’s fully vegan materials will be used is less likely.
Would you pick the Audi e-tron GT over a Porsche Taycan or Tesla Model S? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below...
Continue reading...