Audi RS e-tron GT. The first RS electric car
The Audi RS e-tron GT is not only the brand’s first production electric sedan, but also the first Audi electric car to be produced in Germany and the first green car in the RS family. It is a more powerful, “charged” Audi e-tron GT modification with more expensive standard equipment. In 2021, the first generation electric sedan is available on the market.
The first generation
The new Audi RS e-tron GT is built on the same J1 platform as the ‘regular’ e-tron GT (it is also used for the Porsche Taycan). In fact, the RS is a ‘charged’ GT modification with more expensive standard equipment (that is, you do not need to pay extra for it). The first ‘charged’ electric car has one electric motor on each axle, and the rear ones are especially powerful. The drag coefficient of 0.24 is one of the lowest in the model range. Such an indicator has been achieved due to the presence of a flat bottom, a special diffuser, active air dampers and a spoiler (recall that the new Mercedes EQS electric sedan has a coefficient of 0.20).
The corresponding nameplates will help to identify the RS-version on the road. The Audi RS e-tron GT has air suspension with three-chamber cylinders (the ground clearance is adjustable in the range of 42 mm) and an electronically controlled rear differential. For a surcharge, you can also order the carbon ceramic brakes and a fully controlled chassis. The rear wheels can deflect up to 2.8 degrees, whereas they turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels at speeds up to 70 km/h, which improves maneuverability, and they start turning in the same direction after 80 km/h, which increases stability. The wheels themselves are from 19- to 21-inch.
Powertrain
Both electric cars are equipped with a twin-engine powertrain, an all-wheel drive system and a 93 kWh battery. The e-tron GT and its RS-version feature a 238 hp electric motor at the front, but they have different engines at the rear. Thus, the RS e-tron GT has a more powerful rear engine, which produces 456 hp and 830 Nm. The total output is 598 hp, and for a short time you can get 646 hp (launch control briefly increases power without changing the torque).
The standard equipment includes a Bang & Olufsen sound system, Audi pre sense safety system, a pedestrian warning system, a ‘sports’ package with adjustable sound parameters, matrix LED headlights.
The declared acceleration to the first 100 km is 3.3 seconds, while the maximum speed is 250 km/h (electronically limited). For comparison, the ‘regular’ sedan Q4 e-tron accelerates in 4.1 seconds, and the top speed is limited at around 245 km/h. If we go further and compare it with the Porsche Taycan Turbo S (761 hp), not everything in the garden is rosy, as the powerful Taycan can accelerate to 100 km in 2.8 seconds and develops 260 km/h.
Both the regular and the ‘charged’ sedan are equipped with an 800-volt battery with a capacity of 93 kW/h, which provides 487 and 472 km within the WLTP cycle, respectively. It will take 25 minutes to quickly charge your car from a station with a capacity of 270 kW, restoring the drive range to 100 km in just five minutes. You can fully charge an electric car at a regular charging station in 60 minutes.
Interior and equipment
Audi is proud of using a large amount of recycled materials in the trim. The interior equipment of the 2021 Audi RS e-tron GT is the same as that of a simple GT: a 12.3-inch digital dashboard and a 10.1-inch multimedia display. The climate control unit is equipped with physical buttons (for comparison, the Audi e-tron has a fully touch-sensitive center console). Windshield projection is optional. The volume of the front trunk is 85 liters, the rear one holds 405 liters. The Bang & Olufsen sound system as standard on the RS version compresses the rear trunk space to 366 liters.
The new Audi e-tron GT RS is equipped with the entry-level Audi pre sense safety system that activates the emergency light, closes the windows and sunroof, tightens the seat belts if it thinks something has gone wrong. The software upgrade will add the ability to navigate around cars, detect pedestrians and cyclists. There is a pedestrian sound warning system, which is required by the laws of the European Union. There is a ‘sports’ package with the ability to customize the sound parameters of the car (for the RS-version it is included in the basic equipment, while you will have to pay extra for it if you have the standard version). It gives the electric vehicle a synthesized ‘voice’ similar to the sound of internal combustion engines.
The basic equipment of the 2021/2022 Audi RS e-tron GT includes adaptive cruise control and a remote park assist. Matrix LED headlights for the RS are standard equipment, for an additional charge, laser-phosphor high beam is available, which turns on at speeds over 70 km/h.
