Earlier this year, the Porsche Taycan received one helluva mid-cycle update. It gained more power, more range, and even faster charging. Now, the Taycan’s mechanical twin, the Audi E-Tron GT, is getting similar treatment. The new lineup features three model variants: the Audi S E-Tron GT, the RS E-Tron GT, and the RS E-Tron GT Performance. The latter is not only the first electric Audi RS Performance model, but also wears the crown as the most powerful production Audi ever made.
Visually, the new E-Tron GT family isn’t all that different than before. It has some updates to what Audi calls its signature “Singleframe grille,” like the body color strip above the “grille” and the 3D honeycomb effect on the RS models, designed to mimic its gas-powered RS cars. Its front air intakes are also now slightly sportier looking. However, the E-Tron GT still retains the aggressive headlights, arrow-like taillights, and low, muscular stance as before. I like the new wheel design for both RS models, too, as it looks like a hollow-spoke version of Audi’s classic “Avus” wheel design.
Inside, all models look pretty familiar, with an almost identical dashboard, center console, and infotainment screen design. The new digital gauge cluster has been updated to match Audi’s other new electric vehicles, and the steering wheel is new, too. In all models, the steering wheel is flat on both the top and bottom, but RS models get a red stripe at 12 o’clock and two red thumb buttons labeled “Boost” and “RS.” The former provides a 10-second, 94-horsepower boost, which deploys the sedan’s maximum power, while the latter button cycles through the car’s two customizable RS driving modes. However, big interior news is the optional sunroof, which goes from opaque to transparent with the push of a button.
The more significant updates happen under that handsome sheetmetal. Like the Taycan, all new E-Tron GT models have a higher-density 105-kWh (97 kWh usable) battery pack that weighs nearly 20 pounds less than the older, lower-density battery. That new pack allows the longest-range S E-Tron GT to travel up to 378 miles in between charges. When you do need to charge, though, all E-Tron GT models now support up to 320 kW charging, at which they’ll be able to go from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes.
Charging isn’t the only thing that’s faster, though. The top-spec Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance now makes a whopping 912 horsepower, which is more than any other Audi in history. The previous record holder was—you guessed it—the outgoing RS E-Tron GT, which this new one handily beats by 275 hp or, put another way, an entire ’90s JDM performance icon.
That massive power falls short of the Taycan Turbo S’ 938 horsepower peak output, but it’s still enough to rocket the RS E-Tron GT Performance from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds. As for the standard S E-Tron GT, that model tops out at 670 hp and gets from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Finally, the middle-man RS E-Tron GT has 844 hp and does the 0-60 sprint in 2.8 seconds.
Audi also raided Porsche’s suspension cabinet when updating the new E-Tron GTs. If you don’t want the standard two-chamber, two-valve suspension, you can option an active suspension, which can lift and lower each corner of the car independently, just as it can in the new Porsche Panamera. The idea is that it stays comfy while in a straight line and during normal driving, but can tilt one side of the car up through corners, to keep the body nice and flat. It can even lower itself for easier entry. Along with that active suspension, there’s an additional, and optional, four-wheel steering system that turns the rear wheels up to 2.8 degrees in the opposite direction as the fronts at low speed. That reduces the turning circle by almost two feet.
Ever since the Audi E-Tron GT first debuted, it’s always played second favorite to its older, more expensive, more powerful Porsche Taycan sibling. And while the Taycan is technically still quicker and wins the battle on paper, the gap has closed tighter than ever before.
Got tips? Send ’em to tips@thedrive.com