The Audi RS e-tron GT is so good that even traditional driving enthusiasts will forgive it for being electric
2 hours ago
Long before EVs hit the mainstream, car manufacturers had to spend millions to extract additional grunt from high-performance engines, redesigning internals and fitting improved forced induction systems. Things are a little easier with EVs. Case in point, the 2025 e-tron GT family.
In June, the sleek electric sedan received a mid-life facelift and rather than benefiting from a small boost in power, Audi went all out, turning it into a supercar destroyer. The new flagship RS e-tron GT Performance churns out a monumental 912 hp and can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.5 seconds.
Review: The 2024 Audi e-tron GT Is A Brilliant All-Rounder
As we wait for this new model to reach showroom floors, we jumped behind the wheel of the outgoing 2024 RS e-tron GT. While it has less power than the new entry-level 2025 S e-tron GT, it still offers extraordinary levels of performance. It’s also one of the finest sedans we’ve ever driven.
Quick Facts
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Mind-bending numbers
It’s been a few years since Audi launched the e-tron GT family, but it wasn’t until 2023 that it became available in Australia. Before driving the RS model, we lived with the e-tron GT. It proved to be an excellent warm-up for the flagship model, but not even it could prepare us for what we were in for.
First are the big numbers, and there’s a lot of them. For starters, the RS e-tron GT is mighty expensive. It starts locally at AU$246,875 (~$166,000) before delivery fees and on-road costs. That makes it roughly AU$70,000 (~$47,000) more than the base model.
While that’s a hefty price premium, it’s not unjustified. In the standard model, the dual electric motors top out at 350 kW (469 hp) and 630 Nm (456 lb-ft), while in the RS, they churn out 440 kW (590 hp) and 830 Nm (612 lb-ft) in normal driving. Enable boost mode, and peak power rises to 475 kW (637 hp).
Visually, there’s little to discern the RS model from the regular e-tron GT, which is a little disappointing. Yes, it does come equipped with unique 21-inch alloy wheels but the front and rear fascias are virtually identical. Not even the wheel arches have been flared, as they have been brilliantly done on other RS models.
While we think Audi could have done a little more with making the EV feel like a proper RS, that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is one of the most beautiful cars on sale. From every angle, this thing looks brilliant. The lines flow, the body sits low and wide, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best-looking Audis built this century.
The perfect Audi interior?
Audi has done a fine job of making the cabin of the RS e-tron GT feel special.
Compared to the regular e-tron GT, which before options feels a little basic and has some cheap-feeling materials, the RS is very different. Our press car was equipped with the AU$4,550 (~$3,000) RS design package in red. This adds an incredibly plush Alcantara steering wheel while the upper dashboard, center console, and armrests are trimmed in Nappa leather, which is much softer than the leather of the regular e-tron GT. This package also adds Audi’s Dinamica microfiber to the center console, door inserts, and instrument panel cover. Red contrast stitching is also found throughout, as are new floor mats with red accents.
Making the RS e-tron GT we tested all the more impressive was the AU$8,400 (~$5,650) Sensory package. This takes the cabin to the next level, adding massage functions to the front seats, heated outer rear seats, carbon fiber door sills with illuminated RS logos, and a headliner trimmed in black Dinamica.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The effect of these new materials cannot be understated, and they make the car feel fitting of the price tag. However, it would be nice if things like the microfiber and Nappa leather came standard on the RS, and were not sold exclusively as options. There’s plenty of carbon fiber too, including on the door panels and the dashboard. An intricate ambient lighting system adds to the premium feel of the cabin, as does the standard panoramic glass roof.
Read: Someone Was Brave Enough To Modify This Audi RS E-Tron GT
On the technology front, the RS e-tron GT is largely the same as the standard model. It sports the same 12.3-inch virtual cockpit display, 10.1-inch central screen, and a head-up display. The driving position is impossible to fault, and the massaging seats are among the strongest we’ve ever experienced. Whereas most massaging seats feel like a cat crawling up and down your back, these feel almost as good as a trained masseuse.
The RS e-tron GT may be a five-seater, but the center seat at the rear is tight, and there’s a big tunnel to contend with, limiting its practicality as a five-seater. As a four-seater, it’s brilliant. In addition to the front seats offering good bolstering and plenty of adjustment, the rear seats hold passengers just as tightly.
Forget what you thought sedans were capable of
While I had the standard e-tron GT to prepare myself for the RS, the way this thing moves along the tarmac is frightening. It’s something that has to be felt to fully appreciate.
First is the straight-line performance. Yes, we know, Audi’s 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 3.3 seconds in the 2024 model may not seem all that amazing when Tesla and Lucid have fast sedans that’ll hit the same mark in under 2 seconds. But make no mistake, the RS e-tron GT is seriously rapid.
Watch: Ken Block Goes Drifting In His All-White Audi RS e-tron GT
Getting the most out of it necessitates using launch control and watching the power meter rise to 125% before letting off the brakes. Without a hint of wheelspin, even in wet conditions and with the traction control turned off, the car lurches forward and builds speed at an alarming rate. Perhaps even more remarkable than the initial pace is the second kick in the back you get when the car changes into second gear at around 85 km/h (~53 mph). Using the car’s onboard timer, the best time I recorded was 3.1 seconds, and that was with two passengers.
Making the acceleration all the more impressive is the repeatability. As long as you have more than ~30% charge, the RS e-tron GT will hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in the low-3-second range time after time, a feat that can’t be replicated by other similarly-powerful EVs, like the Kia EV6.
If accelerating in the RS e-tron GT feels like riding on a bullet shot out of a gun, flinging it along a mountain road is akin to riding on the Ferrari rollercoaster in Abu Dhabi.
The first part of the impressive handling package comes in the form of Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tires, measuring 265/35 at the front and a huge 305/30 at the rear. It also features double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension with trick adaptive dampers. It is these dampers that are perhaps the most remarkable part of the whole car.
They feature three chambers at the front and rear axles. These chambers are activated or deactivated depending on the driving mode. For example, in standard model, all three work to soften the suspension, making the RS e-tron GT incredibly supple and smooth. During heavy braking and high acceleration, only one or two of the chambers are activated, reducing body movement and allowing the EV to sit flat through corners.
A rear-axle differential lock is also standard on the RS model, and optional on the regular e-tron GT. This diff can be actuated variably with a locking range that extends from zero to 100%. It also allows the use of targeted torque vectoring and can brake the inside rear wheel during cornering. All-wheel steering is also featured.
The result of these systems is incredible. The Audi will fly up a mountain pass, and getting anywhere close to the limits of adhesion is virtually impossible on the road. Try as I might, I could never get even the faintest hint of understeer, despite the car weighing 2,420 kg (5,335 lbs). Disable the traction control and hit the throttle with some steering lock, and the rear will quickly break free, but it can be easily managed.
Like the standard e-tron GT, the RS offers five different ride heights and feels just at home cruising as it does being hustled through corners. It’s one of the most comfortable cars I’ve ever had the pleasure of driving.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
A fake soundtrack adds to the thrill of the car. When switched into Dynamic mode, the RS e-tron GT emits a loud hum that can be heard from well over a hundred feet away, and while it’s synthetic, we liked it.
I consider myself a true driving enthusiast and love nothing more than a powerful internal combustion engine and a manual transmission. However, not once during my week with the Audi did I feel bored or let down by the fact it was electric and didn’t have a thumping V8 like the RS6. It’s that good.
Verdict
High-priced premium sedans don’t come much better than the RS e-tron GT. It may be expensive, but it is beautiful to look at, incredible to drive, and, most importantly, makes you feel special whenever you get behind the wheel.
The facelifted e-tron GT range promises even more extraordinary performance, but thanks to the launch of this new model, as well as cratering prices for existing RS e-tron GTs on the used market, now could be an excellent time to jump on the classifieds and score yourself an exceptional deal for an ex-demo or lightly used 2023 or 2024 example.