Audi e-tron GT

[OVERKILL]

Is it just a Taycan that says Audi on it? I'm not sure. Since I bought the e-tron, I've had all kinds of e-mail from Audi, so I receiving the following yesterday:

Good afternoon,

My name is *name redacted*, the New Car Manager at Audi *redacted*!

I wanted to send you an email today with some BIG NEWS! We are now able to put reservations in for the Audi e-tron GT! This car is a big deal, equal to the product launch of the R8 back in 2008 and the original Audi quattro back in the 1980’s. There is very limited supply and it is a first come first service ordering basis. So I am emailing you directly, as you are a VIP Client of Audi *redacted*, to offer you the opportunity to have one of the first Audi e-tron GT’s that land in the country.

Some key product highlights

• RS model to have equivalent of 600+ HP; 0-100 kms in 3.5 seconds
• Air suspension, rear wheel steering, Matrix LED laser headlights, carbon fibre roof
• 800V/270KW charging – 80% charge in 23 minutes
• Audi Care included
• $1,500 home charging credit is available
• 10 free “out of charge” tows per year

Reserve yours now with Audi *redacted*: *URL REDACTED*

Followed by this:

You're invited to the Audi e-tron GT's premiere on Feb 9th.​

Dear *redacted*,​

Audi *redacted* is inviting you to a Day of Progress ‑ the world premiere of the unparalleled Audi e‑tron GT. Sign up to make sure you don't miss this exciting live event on February 9th. You can anticipate a thrilling lineup of Audi visionaries, Formula E champion Lucas di Grassi, and surprise guests. Don’t miss out.

From the pictures it just kind of seems like it might be a Taycan in Audi drag, lol

It does however show VAG's commitment to bringing more and more EV's to market, but these are also not "Average Joe" affordable cars either, so we definitely aren't looking at Model 3 competitors here.

Thoughts?

 

[JeffKeryk]

The Audi people will love 'em. I believe Audi and Porsche built their EV tech together.
I wonder what the range is? Price? It's an Audi; it's gonna be fabulous inside and out.
Plus, you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. I'm sure Audi will deliver a great EV.

As more players get in the market, the consumer wins. Isn't Lexus about to jump in too?
All good.

 

[UncleDave]

Badge engineering - I'm interested.....

 

[ZeeOSix]

Nice looking for sure.

 

[Carmudgeon]

It, and the Taycan are based on the J1 platform developed by Porsche.

They're working together on a newer generation that will be more flexible, used by more models, and can be assembled on the same lines as their higher-end ICE counterparts.

 

[PimTac]

The Audi people will love 'em. I believe Audi and Porsche built their EV tech together.
I wonder what the range is? Price? It's an Audi; it's gonna be fabulous inside and out.
Plus, you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. I'm sure Audi will deliver a great EV.

As more players get in the market, the consumer wins. Isn't Lexus about to jump in too?
All good.

Lexus has introduced the UX electric but no plans yet to bring it to the US. Mazda is doing the same with their MX30 but scuttlebutt has it that the rotary engine range extender might be added for the US market. That would be interesting if it happens.

We should know more after the MTMUS plant opens.

 

[Cujet]

Wow, I like that. Very classy looking and, I'm sure, a great performer. I dislike SUV's/trucks and prefer conventional "cars". It's interesting that the EV world is producing the nicest looking 'cars' now. Quite simply, I absolutely love the look of this Audi, with the low wide stance, large tires, wheel-wells that trace the shape of the tire properly, swoopy bodywork and so on. I already know I can't afford it, but I do like it.

Now if they produce a sports car convertible, I'll be in heaven.

 

[IcarusLSC]

Love it, but will never be able to afford it :/ lol...

 

[E365]

e-tron GT RS: 232 mile range.
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 520 mile range

e-tron GT RS: 637 HP
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 1,100 HP

e-tron GT RS: 0-60 MPH, 3.1 sec.
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 0-60 MPH, 1.9 sec.

The regular Plaid model is 473lbs. lighter than the GT RS. The Plaid+ will use the new 4680 cells and could be even lighter.

Sure the Audi looks nice, but that’s a MASSIVELY inferior powertrain. Audi is 10-years behind in EV tech.

https://media.audiusa.com/en-us/releases/459

https://www.tesla.com/models

https://www.motortrend.com/news/202...316039&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram

 

[JeffKeryk]

I understand the Audi is selling well in Europe. It shows that luxury interior with lots of controls sells. The Tesla Model S kills it in terms of performance, range, and price, but there is definitly a market for the Audi EV.

 

[avacado11]

The E-Tron GT is in an odd position. The new Taycan base rwd starts at $80k. Porsche has always been priced higher than the Audi equivalent, but with the GT probably being offered with AWD(is it Audi if it doesn’t have Quattro?) this would definitely put it above the $80k mark and under the Taycan 4S $104k base price.

original speculation was a $75-80k for the GT. Highly unlikely considering the regular E-Tron already pushes that money in high trim. Wouldn’t be surprised if they eventually make a Bentley EV based off this platform. I think VAG is getting dangerously close to what GM was doing back in the day by re-engineering the same platform multiple times. Atleast they’re designing them right unlike GM.

 

[Cujet]

e-tron GT RS: 232 mile range.
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 520 mile range
e-tron GT RS: 637 HP
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 1,100 HP
e-tron GT RS: 0-60 MPH, 3.1 sec.
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 0-60 MPH, 1.9 sec.
The regular Plaid model is 473lbs. lighter than the GT RS. The Plaid+ will use the new 4680 cells and could be even lighter.
Sure the Audi looks nice, but that’s a MASSIVELY inferior powertrain. Audi is 10-years behind in EV tech.

As with all things EV, a direct comparison is in order. There are plenty of EV's here in South Florida. Just at the General Aviation airport where I keep my plane, the hangar next door has 3 Tesla's, the hangar next to that has one, and there are a good number of them down the line! Plus others too, Jags, Audi, Nissan, Volt, Bolt, etc. All are owned by friendly and intelligent people who love to talk about them.

My point: Tesla uses a different methodology to "rate" their cars. They are a lot closer in range (between brands) than the published specs would lead you to believe. Tesla's improvements have been due to ever larger battery packs. It's really that simple.

Maybe another way to look at is this: 59 to 61% of grid power that goes into an EV, ends up driving the wheels. That's a narrow range of efficiency differences between models and brands.

The specific energy of all the various types of cells is "within the noise". Tesla's 4680 cells promise to be epic with their fast charge/discharge, but remember they are not significantly more energy dense. They are simply being installed directly in the frame, to save on battery pack weight. This gives a possible 15% boost in specific energy "as installed" as there is no "battery pack" to remove. Clever, yes, earth shattering, nope.

Not unlike eliminating a "gas tank" and simply filling the frame of a motorcycle with fuel. It may save weight. Here is an example where that was done. Tesla is doing the same exact thing, and it's not a bad thing, until it's time to change the battery..... Then making the claim that their product is 15% more energy dense. Just a little bit of funny math there, comparing a conventional battery pack, to a frame and floorpan filled with cells.

 

[RooflessVW]

e-tron GT: built in a real factory to standards
Tesla Model S: built in a tent

You can sing the praises of Tesla all day, but they're just not built very well. Thin paint, missing paint, crappy panel fitment; it's not for me.

If you can overlook it all because "fast" then fine. I'd rather wait.

 

[Andrew1972]

I understand the Audi is selling well in Europe. It shows that luxury interior with lots of controls sells. The Tesla Model S kills it in terms of performance, range, and price, but there is definitly a market for the Audi EV.

I do too. Tesla is in unique position of little competition and sort of take it or leave it. The more EV introduced it will shift around slowly.

 

[E365]

My point: Tesla uses a different methodology to "rate" their cars. They are a lot closer in range (between brands) than the published specs would lead you to believe. Tesla's improvements have been due to ever larger battery packs. It's really that simple.

If it’s that simple, why wouldn’t the competition just add larger battery packs?

 

[Cujet]

If it’s that simple, why wouldn’t the competition just add larger battery packs?

Cost and packaging would be my first guesses. There is plenty of money flowing around behind the scenes and the cost a customer sees (as the price of a vehicle) is not the real cost.

We could speculate for years about the actual costs. But as of August 2020, Tesla’s total subsidy value according to the data is $2,441,582,590 ($2.44 billion), across 109 “awards” — 82 federal grants and tax credits as well as 27 state and local awards.

 

[MrPlow]

e-tron GT: built in a real factory to standards
Tesla Model S: built in a tent

You can sing the praises of Tesla all day, but they're just not built very well. Thin paint, missing paint, crappy panel fitment; it's not for me.

If you can overlook it all because "fast" then fine. I'd rather wait.

There may be something to that. Audi is no Lexus in terms of reliability, but I have a family member who daily drives an Audi sQ5 and had an All-Road for over a decade. Both are actually super reliable and well-built. The sQ5 is one of the best designed vehicles I have ever driven. Rips like a bat out of hell off the line with over 400hp and drives so smooth, you'll get speeding tickets not realizing how fast it is going on the highway, unless using cruise control. They also have a high-end Range Rover, and that thing handles like an elephant on stilts. One of the biggest POS I have driven, and incredibly uncomfortable factoring the ridiculous price.

 

[john_pifer]

e-tron GT RS: 232 mile range.
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 520 mile range

e-tron GT RS: 637 HP
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 1,100 HP

e-tron GT RS: 0-60 MPH, 3.1 sec.
Tesla Model S Plaid+: 0-60 MPH, 1.9 sec.

The regular Plaid model is 473lbs. lighter than the GT RS. The Plaid+ will use the new 4680 cells and could be even lighter.

Sure the Audi looks nice, but that’s a MASSIVELY inferior powertrain. Audi is 10-years behind in EV tech.

https://media.audiusa.com/en-us/releases/459

https://www.tesla.com/models

https://www.motortrend.com/news/202...316039&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram

My guess is that it won’t take them 10 years to catch up.

 

[atikovi]

Cool assembly line video

 

[JeffKeryk]

My guess is that it won’t take them 10 years to catch up.

My question is, why is their initial offering so bad in terms of range?
The mighty Porsche Audi team, with all it's storied history, comes out flat in the #1 EV measure.
They were promising 400 mile range and fast charging. Oops.
I don't get it.