Who says EVs can't be sexy? Not Audi.

Friday, 30 November 2018

If you thought that Porsche had cornered the 'sexy performance sedan EV' segment with its forthcoming Taycan, then prepare for Audi to shatter that idea with its very own version based on the shared underpinnings it developed with Porsche.

The Audi e-tron GT was revealed at the Los Angeles motor show recently and drops a healthy dose of bullish muscle car aggression on top of the sleek styling of the Porsche.

Oh, and it is slated for production too.

The e-tron GT uses the underpinnings that Audi developed with Porsche, making it closely related to the Taycan.

Audi's third all-electric offering after the e-tron SUV and e-tron Sportback (due next year), the e-tron GT will be developed into a series-production model by Audi Sport before the end of 2020, with initial deliveries being made to customers in early 2021.

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The e-tron GT is the latest result of the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) platform co-development by Audi and Porsche that will be the foundation for 'multiple Audi model families with all-electric drive covering the high-volume B through D segments', according to the company.

It doesn't need a grille, but the Audi e-tron GT proudly sports one anyway. Just because.

But the e-tron GT is very much at the larger end of that range at 4,960mm long, 1,960mm wide and 1,380mm high, with a remarkable amount of space inside as well - the rear hatch opens onto a 450-litre boot, while there is also an addition 100 litres under the bonnet up front.

But while it may be a big boy, the e-tron GT is also powered by a serious amount of electricity - 434kW of total system power, to be precise - that will ensure searing performance.

Audi says the production version should accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in around 3.5 seconds before going on to 200km/h in just over 12 seconds. The top speed is regulated at 240km/h to maximise the range, which Audi claims will be around 400km measured under the new WLTP standard.

The energy comes from a lithium-ion battery with an energy content of more than 90 kWh, which takes up the entire underfloor area between the front and rear axle with its flat design. Audi says the 'decisive advantage' of this design is the car's extremely low centre of gravity, which is comparable with that of the Audi R8.

The recuperation system increases the range by up to 30 percent and involves both the two electric motors and the electrohydraulically integrated brake control system and the e-tron GT concept features high-performance ceramic discs.

The concept features Audi's wireless charging system (that requires a charging pad to be installed permanently on the floor where the car is to be parked), but can charge much faster when plugged in thanks to its 800-volt system that substantially reduces charging times compared with conventional systems currently in use.

Audi says it takes around 20 minutes to recharge the battery to 80 percent of its capacity using one of its high-capacity fast chargers, although the car can also be recharged at charging points with lower voltages, providing the driver with access to the entire charging network.

What do you reckon EV haters? Does this change your mind in any way? Sure makes us want an EV…