The 2025 Audi e-tron GT RS Efficiency has a particular means of welcoming you. As you strategy, it does the same old present of blinking headlights and tail lights, plus puddle lamps projecting pink RS logos on the bottom. That's nothing particular nowadays. However while you get to the door and attain for the deal with the automotive actually rises to fulfill you, bobbing up two full inches to ease your entry into this ultra-low, extraordinarily lengthy sport tourer.
Not less than, it’ll do this should you spend the additional $11,000 for the brand new lively suspension, a really worthy add-on to this $167,000 sports activities automotive and simply one of many dozens of upgrades Audi made to the large efficiency machine for 2025. And it's good that these upgrades are so substantial, as a result of from the skin, the automotive appears to be like barely totally different than what got here earlier than.
Audi barely massaged the entrance grille, whereas the diffuser projecting from beneath the rear bumper appears to be like far cleaner than earlier than. Nonetheless, you'd be hard-pressed to inform new from outdated from a distance — or up shut, for that matter. The most important exterior change might be the roof of the e-tron GT, which is now accessible in your alternative of shiny or matte carbon fiber. Or, should you're extra eager about sunshine than weight financial savings, you possibly can go for a brand new glass roof with 9 separate built-in liquid crystal panels that flip opaque on the contact of a button.
That makes for a enjoyable speaking level should you really feel the necessity to impress your pals, however the 912 horsepower on faucet will certainly handle that. Fireplace up launch management, and even essentially the most jaded motorheads will probably be left completely breathless. The e-tron GT RS Efficiency rockets from zero to 60 mph in simply 2.4 seconds, which is a world-class determine, however what's extra spectacular is the way it simply retains on going. I had an opportunity to run the automotive up previous 130 mph (on a closed monitor) and the sensation was proper on the border between thrilling and terrifying. The forces squeezing me into the (fortunately fairly supportive) sport seat made my animal mind scream for candy launch.
That wasn't the one mindjob occurring right here, although. That new lively suspension might be set to truly make the automotive lean into corners whereas additionally dipping the nostril below acceleration and reducing the tail while you hit the brakes. It's all in an effort to create a extra secure, predictable platform, enabling you to drive the automotive onerous with out your passengers dropping their endurance — or their lunches.
The capabilities of the RS e-tron GT Efficiency are positively exceptional in any situation. A fast twitch of your proper toe is sufficient to ship it leaping ahead, and for these particular moments, you will get about an additional 94 horsepower by urgent the large pink BOOST button on the steering wheel.
Sadly, that's about the one factor good concerning the wheel. For this new e-tron GT, Audi shifted to the kind of capacitive contact buttons that everyone hates on the Volkswagen ID.4, that are each difficult to make use of by contact and but simple to unintentionally set off. I stored elevating the amount on the stereo each time I made a left flip. That's no good.
The remainder of the interface is way the identical as earlier than, with the ten.1-inch touchscreen angled in the course of the dashboard. It's working Audi's MMI software program although, which is a bit sluggish at occasions. Nonetheless, between the touchscreen, the Digital Cockpit digital gauge cluster behind the wheel and the HUD projected on the windscreen, you haven’t any scarcity of shows to admire.
The remainder of the cabin is essentially unchanged as nicely, which isn't a foul factor. Seats up entrance are supportive but comfy, power-adjustable in all the proper methods, heated and ventilated, and sit low sufficient within the automotive to supply loads of headroom. Seating within the again isn't dangerous both, with a bit of additional legroom offered by a division within the battery pack, creating house for rear passenger ft.
That rear-seat format is similar as earlier than, however whereas the battery pack form is similar, crack it open and also you'll discover all kinds of newness. Audi modified the chemistry of the cells and that, plus some design revisions, has boosted vitality density, which implies extra capability in the identical house.
The battery now affords 105 kWh of whole capability (95 web), which is up from 93.4 earlier than, whereas different modifications have boosted charging pace. The utmost charging present is as much as 320 kW from 270 kW earlier than, and the battery can now keep that pace at a wider vary of temperatures. The result’s an 80 % cost in simply 18 minutes. That's about 240 miles price of vary within the time it'll take to make a pit cease your self.
All these battery upgrades present as much as 300 miles of vary on the 670 horsepower S e-tron GT or 278 miles of vary on the quicker RS e-tron GT Efficiency. These figures symbolize a acquire of between 29 and 51 miles over the outdated automotive, relying on which spec you select. That's a serious increase in longevity, and since that new suspension is equally good at being tender and cosseting as it’s sharp and thrilling, the GT makes for a remarkably good touring automotive. I spent most of a day idling my means out and in of Las Vegas in a single, and I might’ve gladly performed many extra miles with out grievance.
However with all that energy and dealing with, the GT is happiest when it’s pushed to its limits. The one problem is your finances will probably be pushed, too. The 2025 S e-tron GT prices $125,500, whereas the quicker RS e-tron GT Efficiency begins at $167,000. Which means all the brand new battery tech and brain-scrambling energy have added about $20,000 to the sticker costs of the earlier 12 months's automotive. And also you'll spend much more if you’d like all of the toys.
So, the RS e-tron GT Efficiency is costly, however spectacular too. We're nonetheless barely a decade into seeing what high-performance EVs can do, an engineering journey that can certainly take us to new heights within the years to return. However what this automotive can do at present is exceptional, with acceleration so sturdy that it's uncomfortable, suspension so superior it might dance, and but all of the consolation and poise befitting an Audi.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/audis-refreshed-rs-e-tron-gt-performance-brings-shocking-speed-for-a-premium-price-130154710.html?src=rss