We test the Audi RS e-tron GT performance: 925 CV with the soul of a Gran Turismo

It has 925 CV of pure engineering, wrapped in a body that blends elegance, aggressiveness and German precision. The Audi RS e-tron GT performance features an electric motor on each axle: 342 CV at the front and 564 CV at the rear. Brutal. And all of it with the most sophisticated engineering. In fact, this version already incorporates an evolution over the original version, including a new development that reduces weight and increases efficiency. Reducing weight really suits it well. On the scales it comes in at just under 2.4 tonnes.

The RS e-tron GT performance proves that electricity can also be thrilling.

Yes, we know, the batteries are very large and very heavy, and although performance fixes almost everything, the truth is that when you hit a winding section, the inertia caused by the extra kilos is a little scary.

There is no diet: more power

Together, both motors reach the chilling figure of 925 CV, including Launch Control, capable of catapulting this Gran Turismo in the blink of an eye, like the Millennium Falcon jumping into hyperspace. Few cars could leave a fool on a Japanese motorcycle with plenty of rrrs, who wanted to overtake the Audi RS e-tron GT performance, standing still. The “push-to-pass” function is not new and is inspired by competition; in Formula E, where Audi has a fine record. And also in Formula 1, where it has put all its technology to start measuring itself against the best in the world of the discipline from next year onwards, now in official form, with the four rings ahead of what is now Sauber, which is still a Audi in nappies.

“Push-to-pass” adds an extra 70 kW for 10 seconds… and you feel it. It is the perfect overdose for those overtakes that take your breath away and are felt on the back of your neck. Although we all know that insisting on the accelerator overheats not only the driver but also the mechanics. In this case, the sophistication of Audi’s overall cooling system is striking, or as they call it, the thermal management, which allows acceleration to be repeated almost as many times as necessary without the car giving up. In fact, we insisted several times and eventually gave in so as not to hurt our necks, and the e-tron remained as happy as ever…

The RS e-tron GT has four cooling circuits that work independently to keep the motors, battery and cabin always at the right temperature, even in RS performance mode, designed entirely for mountain roads and track days. Everything is always at optimum temperature, including the cabin. Undoubtedly another cooling circuit is needed, but for the driver.

The battery and its charging

The key is not how fast it goes, which is very fast or extremely fast, perhaps too fast. Enough to beat an R8, which is no Renault. I don’t know how long the tyres will last; at that pace, surely not long. The key is to replenish energy and keep going… The Audi engineers have tuned the battery to 105 kWh gross (97 usable), with a new cell chemistry that improves charging and discharging. The system accepts peaks of 320 kW during fast charging, which means going from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes at a supercharger. I still don’t feel completely at ease when such peaks are reached, but it is a pleasure. A coffee, a moment to visit the bathroom, and the Audi is ready to carry on with practically its full charge.

Audi signs off with this model its masterpiece of power, technology and design.

And note: the braking energy recovery reaches 400 kW, one of the highest on the market, achieving powerful deceleration without touching the brake pedal. In practice, the car offers a very simple “one-pedal” driving mode, which adds substantial energy regeneration and better range, although we are more used to using both pedals, the right for the accelerator and the left for the brake. We leave “one pedal” driving for city cars and utility vehicles. And to be completely honest, when we arrive at a charger in a hurry… Because let’s not kid ourselves: with such power and weight, consumption is very high, and although Audi declares between 18.7 and 20.8 kWh/100 km, which is fine, it is very easy for it to rise well above that when its potential is squeezed.

Active suspension and RS modes

One of the strong points of the RS e-tron GT performance lies in its chassis. The double-chamber air suspension is standard, but the optional jewel is the selective active suspension per wheel, which adjusts each damper individually. The result is a car that can be a comfortable Gran Turismo for devouring kilometres… or a precise beast on a winding stretch. In addition, the Audi drive select offers three basic profiles and two RS modes, RS1 and RS2, which the driver can customise to taste across different settings and steering and braking feels.

Added to these is the exclusive RS performance mode, which adjusts traction, torque vectoring, aerodynamics and cooling to take everything to the limit. The sensation is of driving a car with intelligent active suspension; you no longer know whether you are very good at the wheel or the car does it all. If you think clearly, the logical thing is to start reducing speed, because cornering can be hellish, the kind where, if you don’t warn them, passengers slam into the side windows. It happened to me.

Exclusive details

Audi has taken great care to give the RS e-tron GT performance a unique touch. The carbon camouflage on the bumpers, mirrors and diffuser sets it apart from the rest and gives it a very racing look. The seats are sensational, hold the body very well and can be adjusted in every possible way. And we love the nod to the brand’s history with the digital clocks with white dials recalling the legendary Audi RS2 Avant of 1994.

At the wheel, the RS e-tron GT performance impresses with the immediacy of its response and the authority with which it devours every kilometre. The steering is precise, the braking is powerful and the sense of control is absolute, with an almost unnatural precision. On mountain roads, RS performance mode turns every corner into an intense, almost risky experience, with a thrust that seems to have no end. The Audi RS e-tron GT performance is a technological and emotional showcase: fast, exclusive and designed to demonstrate that the electric future can also be thrilling.

It is a car that fascinates, that convinces with every acceleration and raises the bar for what we understand by an electric Gran Turismo. But it is not perfect: its consumption can be high and its price makes it a toy reserved for a few. It is worth remembering that we are talking about a car costing almost 167,000 euros, a high price even within the luxury electric segment, which puts it out of reach for most people. Still, for those few, it will be an unforgettable toy.

Audi RS e-tron GT performance | Image gallery