Electric Audi e-tron GT debuts with Tesla Model S in its sights – Previews

Audi is one of the most active German players in the race for electric vehicles. This was highlighted and highlighted by the unveiling of the new all-electric e-tron GT at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Now, before having invested too much in the GT, know that it is, strictly speaking, a concept car. But it is expected that these renderings will function as a fairly accurate precursor for an e-tron production GT that will land by 2020.

It is the first Audi EV developed by the Audi Sport division of the brand, with the help of common parts of the Porsche Taycan. It is therefore not surprising that the performance announced is rather impressive.

The e-tron GT uses a two-engine, 96 kWh battery configuration that generates approximately 433 kW of power, which is transmitted to all four wheels. Audi says it's good for a speed of less than three seconds between 0 and 100 km / h; place the GT squarely with the Tesla Model S. Specifically, the fastest version; the P100D.

The pace is not the only similarity here between the GT and the S. They also share a silhouette similar to that of a coupe. But while the Tesla remains true to the manufacturer's minimalist design language, the Audi is more aggressive – like a jazzy A7 Sportback. Aggressive square fangs frame each wheel, while a required number of vents and diffuser fins guarantee that anyone sitting next to the lighthouse will know that it is not not an ordinary luxury sedan.

Handling was also considered by the Audi crack engineering team. The GT would offer a vectorization of the torque facilitating the distribution of the power in the tight turns. A retractable spoiler will in the meantime help to provide a supporting force at higher speeds.

One of the main differences between this model and an S model however lies in the ability of the German model to be pushed several times without loss of performance. Audi claims that this is due to the GT's electrical control software, which will also guarantee that impressive straight-line performance can also be achieved when the car is not fully charged.

Speaking of charge, scope and all the other "boring" stuff that ultimately define the modern EV, it's a mixed bag. Audi has not yet confirmed its range, but they said that the e-tron GT could be loaded flat by 80% in 15 to 20 minutes via a 350 kW fast charger. There is also a single pedal driving mode, which will help expand the range of the Audi through regenerative braking.

"It's a dream to design a car like this," said Marc Lichte, head of design at Audi. "It's really a design where the sketch becomes a reality."

"Noise like road and wind noise becomes much more obvious without a motor. For example, we designed the side mirrors to channel the air along the door walls instead of the window panes, which reduces the wind noise.

The 400 L trunk cavity and the 100 L "Frunk" storage compartment mean that the look and performance of the Audi are also saved with the convenience side. But it's hard to ignore the "concept" status of this car. Let's wait to see how much this goes up to the production …