Electric Audi E-Tron GT Ready For Production In 2020!
Audi Sport is taking another shot at the electric vehicle (EV) market, this time around they are developing a new sister model to the Porsche Taycan called the E-Tron GT.
Audi originally developed an all-electric R8 E-Tron in 2015. The company only produced 100 vehicles and production was halted after 16 months. The electric sports car had an extremely high price tag of around £850,000, so the demand was not there.
Audi Sport is under a new joint management team led by managing directors Oliver Hoffman and Julius Seebach. Speaking in October, in Los Angles, Seebach said that the company will begin production on the E-Tron in 2020 and has plans to add a Sportback model later in the year. He also stated that by 2025, the company wants to make at least 30% of its fleet electric. Offering more models will surely have a positive effect on lowering prices.
Performance
Audi’s superior engineering will be on display once again, as the E-Tron GT is said to offer 590hp. To stick with the companies Quattro design, the E-Tron GT will have separate electric motors fitted to the front and rear axles. The motors will operate fully synchronous to one another, without the need for a mechanical link. An electronic control system will coordinate the drive between the axles, and the left and right sides to provide optimal traction and handling.
The vehicle will accelerate from 0-60mph (0-100 km/h) in around 3.5 seconds, before rocketing to over 124 mph (200 km/h) in just 12 seconds. Audi will regulate the top speed to 149mph (240 km/h) to maximize the battery range and cut down on speeding tickets. One of the car’s features is the ability to fully utilize the ‘drive’s acceleration potential several times in succession.’ This will allow the driver to utilize the full potential of both motors, thanks to sophisticated cooling.
The car will be powered by a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery, with an expected range of 248 miles (400 kilometers). The battery will be stationed underneath the dropped floor between the front and rear axles providing passengers with increased comfort and legroom. The 800-volt charging system has the ability to refill to an 80% charge in just 20 minutes, and also has the technology for wireless charging.
Interior
Audi plans to produce the E-Tron GT with an all-vegan interior, no animal products will be used. Providing superior comfort and feel, the focus will be on the driver’s seat. Featuring horizontal architecture the instrument panels and the touchscreen above the center counsel will be in a black finish.
Future Models
The expansion of EVs is a priority for the new management team. They plan on producing the A6, S6, and RS6 models. Speaking at the LA motor show, Audi’s Exterior Design boss Andreas Mindt said his team is considering the RS branding for the E-Tron Sportback SUV for an ultra-fast variant to take on Tesla’s Model Y Performance.
