Fully electric e-tron GT: Audi’s new performance icon

PHOTO: Audi e-tron GT charges toward the era of electric-powered mobility with fascinating design and Audi’s legendary quattro drive system.

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Sporting model charges legendary quattro technology toward era of electromobility.

As Audi’s first fully electric high-performance model, the Audi e-tron GT becomes the brand’s new sporting icon. The dynamic, fascinatingly designed four-door coupe charges toward the era of electric-powered mobility with Audi’s legendary quattro drive system, making it synonymous with agile handling, supreme traction, and innovative technologies. 

That the Audi e-tron GT is built at the brand’s specialized Bollinger Hofe production facility in Neckarsulm, Germany, alongside the Audi R8 supercar, further underlines the high-performance credentials of the fully electric model.    

With the e-tron GT, Audi is reinterpreting the traditional Gran Turismo concept via a revolutionary drivetrain. Two powerful electric motors, each located on the front and rear axles, combine to create an electric quattro all-wheel drive system. The motors produce 530 hp and 630 Nm, which are comparable to the 620-hp and 580-Nm output of the naturally aspirated V10 engine in the Audi R8 Coupe. With these power ratings, the Audi e-tron GT is able to redefine supercar standards with a fully electric drive. 

Located on each front fender of the Audi e-tron GT are flaps containing charging points dedicated to either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) chargers. The Audi e-tron GT’s 800-volt system — double the usual specification for electric vehicles — means the car’s lithium-ion battery can be charged quickly. When fully charged, the Audi e-tron GT’s driving range is as much as 500 kilometers (according to WLTP tests), making the car exceptionally suitable for daily use and road trips.

The quattro system, which has been a defining technology for Audi for more than 40 years, covers a broad spectrum of applications in the brand’s model range, including in the high-performance Audi Sport RS models. In the Audi e-tron GT, the electric quattro continuously splits torque output, within milliseconds, between the two axles. It varies the distribution depending on requirements and conditions, and is able to send all the torque to one axle. Wheel-selective torque control further aids in ensuring maximum traction. The result is highly precise handling which can be adjusted over a wide range via the chassis control systems — from comfortable to sporty. 

When the Audi e-tron GT is in “comfort” mode, both the car’s electric motors work together in the most energy-saving way possible. When it is in “dynamic,” it handles more like a rear-wheel drive car. “Efficiency” mode prioritizes a front-wheel drive set-up, which is ideal in most driving conditions.

Complementing the Audi e-tron GT’s high level of performance are its luxurious features. The model’s cabin offers the ambiance of a classic gran turismo where the driver and front passenger sit low. The instrument panel is based on Audi’s “monoposto” design, canted toward the driver. Passengers in the rear are afforded ample space, with the panoramic glass roof making the space even more airy. The model’s rear compartment can accommodate 405 liters of luggage while the storage compartment beneath the hood provides another 81 liters of space.

Like all Audi models, the Audi e-tron GT is connected extensively with displays and controls operated via the digital Audi virtual cockpit plus. This, in turn, is controlled through the multifunction steering wheel and the central MMI touch display, as well as by natural language recognition. 

Further making the Audi e-tron GT suitable for real-world driving are the charging solutions provided by Audi Philippines. Like the rest of the Audi e-tron range, the e-tron GT comes with an Audi portable charging system that can be plugged into either a suitable household outlet or a three-phase industrial outlet. Along with this, Audi Philippines can also install an AC charging unit in the owner’s home (or any preferred location). Setting up a home charging system is as simple as installing an air-conditioning unit.