Audi e-tron GT concept: the third electric car from Audi

Audi unveils the Audi e-tron GT concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show, a prototype that previews a 4-door electric Gran Turismo due to reach the market at the end of 2020.

The third fully electric car from Audi will be the Audi e-tron GT concept. This 4-door saloon with coupé styling is scheduled to reach the market at the end of 2020. By then, Audi will already have two fully electric cars on sale: the imminent Audi e-tron, and the Audi e-tron Sportback.

And unlike the latter, the e-tron GT concept steps away from the SUV format. Its proportions match those of a Gran Turismo, with a length of 4.96 metres, a width of 1.96 and a height of just 1.38.

The sleek four-door body is built, at least on the prototype, following the multi-material construction principle of Audi. High-strength steel and aluminium are combined with the carbon fibre used for the roof.

Futuristic design, but very close to production

Although it has a lot in common with the Porsche Taycan, the Audi e-tron GT concept has its own personality and can be recognised from a mile away as a Audi. Some of its most distinctive styling features include the side sill area, which contrasts with the rest of the bodywork to highlight the flat floor section where the battery is housed.

The Singleframe grille characteristic of Audi is more horizontal here. And the 22-inch wheels feature a five double-spoke design intended to reduce aerodynamic drag while cooling the brakes, with carbon-ceramic discs.

They run 285/30 tyres on all four wheels. There are also nods to other electric prototypes from the brand, such as the Audi Aicon and the PB18 e-tron, especially around the bonnet.

And there are plenty of matrix LED headlights with laser light. They feature a distinctive wave-shaped animation when switched on, which we will soon see on other production Audi models. Another feature of the Audi e-tron GT is the paint used on the bodywork. The brand calls it “kinetic dust”, and its peculiarity is that different parts of the bodywork stand out depending on how light falls on the car.

Two electric motors and quattro all-wheel drive

Clearly, no one can now claim that an electric car cannot be sporty. And although the Audi e-tron GT does not aim to be a benchmark in this area either; we will see the electric Audi models with the “RS” badge. But with two electric motors, one on each axle, and a total output of 434 kW (590 CV), the e-tron GT concept is certainly not a “slow” car.

Each motor delivers power to one axle with no mechanical connection between them. It therefore has electric quattro all-wheel drive. And it promises great things, as the traction at each wheel can be controlled independently.

Audi talks of figures that are surprising for a car of these proportions: 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, and just 12 seconds to reach 200 km/h from a standing start. That said, the top speed is limited to 240 km/h to protect the range.

As with its “siblings” in Audi’s electric range, the e-tron GT also promises more than 400 km of range under the new WLTP standard. To achieve this, it uses a lithium-ion battery with more than 90 kWh of capacity, flat in shape and mounted in the floor. According to the brand, this design achieves a centre of gravity as low as that of an Audi R8.

Its size, which could be a problem for agility, ceases to be a concern on winding roads thanks to the four-wheel steering.

The Audi e-tron GT concept also makes use of all the energy recovery and charging technologies debuted on the Audi e-tron. It can recover energy when coasting, and the driver chooses the level of recuperation using the steering wheel paddles.

The predictive efficiency assistant can also be left to work automatically. And the integrated electro-hydraulic brake control system recovers energy through the electric motors during braking of up to 0.3 g of deceleration.

To charge when plugged into the mains, the Audi e-tron GT can use any charging point. Thanks to the 800-volt charging system, using fast charging it can recover 80 per cent of the battery capacity in 20 minutes. It is also prepared for inductive charging, in this case at 11 kW, so the car can be charged more slowly overnight.

The Audi e-tron GT inside

The interior of the Audi e-tron GT concept also anticipates very realistically the design of the future production version. There are not many surprises compared with the latest high-end Audi models. A minimalist feel highlights the superb build quality, with few controls and a predominance of touchscreens.

The nod to sportiness comes from the seats, inspired by competition cars. And it boasts the use of sustainable materials such as synthetic leather, fabrics made from recycled fibres, and fibre made from used fishing nets for the floor carpet.

Occupants can travel in this Gran Turismo without luggage space constraints, as the Audi e-tron GT has a 450-litre boot at the rear, plus an additional 100 litres under the front bonnet.

Audi e-tron GT image gallery