Audi’s foray into the luxury EV segment comes courtesy of the 2022 Audi e-tron GT, an all-new EV Sportback with much of the parts shared from its corporate cousin, the Porsche Taycan. Although largely a re-skinned Porsche, Audi has given the e-tron GT all that it needs to make it stand out. And we personally think Audi’s design team has nailed it.
This capable Audi EV is available in two versions; a regular GT with 522 horsepower and an RS model with 637 horsepower. Along with e-tron SUV and the e-tron Sportback, the performance-centric RS e-tron GT and its non-RS counterpart complete Audi’s e-tron lineup.
Both the Porsche and Audi are based on VW’s J1 platform, however, the e-tron is a bit longer. With a no-nonsense yet muscular design, three chamber air suspension, and Audi Sport’s ingenuity, the 2022 RS e-tron GT is definitely a worthy competitor to luxury EVs like the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air.
2022 Audi RS e-tron GT Has Beautiful Aesthetics
Audi has done a fabulous job in designing the e-tron GT. There is no visual fakery with vents and openings. Everything that you see is part of the design and proves to be a functional addition. It bears a close resemblance to the Audi A7’s fastback design and comes with a flat underbody. Dimensionally, the 2022 Audi RS e-tron GT sits much lower than its IC engine sibling and is a fair bit wider as well. Things are well presented with a totally proportionate design. Nothing feels out of place and the integration of Audi’s design ethos on Porsche’s underpinnings is flawlessly done.
Muscular haunches are a characteristic of the RS e-tron GT, much like the Porsche Taycan. The 2022 RS e-tron GT comes standard 20-inch 5-spoke AERO wheels or optional 21-inch wheels, both of which are beautifully designed. U.S. models come with standard 20-inch five-double-spoke alloy wheels with gray accents while vehicles equipped with the performance package have 20-inch wheels with black accents.
The interior design is a refined version of the e-tron SUV. One noticeable improvement over the SUV is the use of physical buttons instead of a secondary touchscreen. As an option, customers can choose to have vegan interiors versus leatherette items. The Interior is less futuristic as opposed to the Tesla Model S but seems far more luxurious and well put-together. There are two screens in total: a 12.3-inch digital dash cluster behind the wheel and a 10.1-inch infotainment system housing the latest MMI system. Much like the Taycan, the seating position is low with a more dynamically-inclined ergonomics.
2022 Audi RS e-tron GT Is Not Short Of Performance
Since the e-Tron GT is largely a Taycan underneath, much of the internals remain unchanged. The shared componentry includes two electric motors, a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack, a two-speed rear transmission, three-chamber air springs, rear-wheel steering, and a torque-vectoring rear differential. The RS shares its front motor with the base e-tron GT but gets a more powerful rear motor, capable of producing 450 horsepower versus the 429 horses from the regular e-tron GT. Together, the front and rear motors in the RS e-tron GT produce 590 horsepower that goes to 637 hp with overboost, while the regular e-tron GT makes 469 horsepower and 522 hp with overboost.
Since the RS puts out 612 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 happens in less than 3.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph in the 2022 Audi RS e-Tron GT. The RS comes with all that is standard with the e-tron GT but with a bit more oomph. Unlike the Tesla Model S, the VAG twins use a 2-step transmission whose operation can be felt under hard acceleration. In city speeds, however, things are far more sedate. Audi has also taken the effort to engineer artificial sounds emitted through the speakers, enhancing the overall driving experience.
2022 Audi RS e-tron GT Isn’t Perfect
All Audi e-tron GT models will benefit from a 93.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with a unique integrated cooling structure underneath. With an 800-volt electrical architecture, the e-tron GT comes standard with the ability to charge at an industry-benchmark 270 kW using DC fast-chargers.
This allows it to replenish its battery from 0 to 80% in just 22 minutes, the quickest charging rates currently available on any EV. Manufacturer estimated range based on EPA test cycles are 238 miles for the e-tron GT and 232 miles for the RS e-tron GT. That said, the new Tesla Model S offers better performance and a 405-mile range. Overall, if the onboard battery is not that big a concern, we'd recommend the beautifully-designed Audi RS e-tron GT as your next luxury EV.
Sources: Audi