The Porsche Taycan received a great mid-cycle update earlier this year. It got stronger, had a longer range, and charged faster. The Audi E-Tron GT, the Taycan’s mechanical twin, is currently receiving the same kind of care. The new line-up includes the Audi S E-Tron GT, the RS E-Tron GT, and the RS E-Tron GT Performance. This is not only the most powerful Audi ever, but it’s also the first RS Performance that runs on electricity. It doesn’t look like the new E-Tron GT family is very different from the old one. Audi’s unique “Singleframe grille” now has a body-color strip above it and a 3D honeycomb design on the RS models, which is meant to look like the company’s gas-powered RS cars. Intakes for air in the front look more sporty now, as well. The E-Tron GT has the same low, strong stance and bright headlights and taillights in the shape of an arrow as the previous model. I really like how the new wheels for the two RS types look. They look like Audi “Avus” wheels with hollow spokes. The center console, infotainment screen, and dashboard designs are the same across all types, making the insides easy to spot. Like the steering wheel, the new digital instrument panel goes well with Audi’s other new electric cars. In all versions, the steering wheel is flat on top and bottom. However, RS models have two red thumb buttons that say “Boost” and “RS,” as well as a red line at noon. The first one turns on the sedan’s full 94-horsepower power for 10 seconds, and the second one switches between two RS driving styles that can be changed. With the push of a button, the optional sunroof can change from opaque to clear. This is the big inside news, though. Behind that beautiful sheet metal is where the bigger changes happen. Like the Taycan, the new E-Tron GT models have a 105-kWh (97 kWh usable) higher-density battery pack that is over 20 pounds lighter than the cell in the previous model. With its better battery pack, the S E-Tron GT, with the best range, can go up to 378 miles without needing to be charged. All E-Tron GT types can now be charged at up to 320 kW, which means they can go from 10% to 80% charged in just 18 minutes. There are, however, faster things to do than charge. The top-of-the-line Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance has 912 horsepower, which is more than any other Audi ever made. The previous record holder was the old RS E-Tron GT. This new model easily beats it by 275 horsepower or by a whole generation of JDM performance stars from the 1990s. This huge amount of power isn’t as strong as the Taycan Turbo S’s 938 horsepower, but it’s still enough to get the RS E-Tron GT Performance from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. The base S E-Tron GT can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and has a maximum power output of 670 horsepower. The RS E-Tron GT is in the middle. It has 844 horsepower and takes 2.8 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. When Audi updated its new E-Tron GT models, it looked to Porsche’s suspension group for ideas. If you don’t like the standard two-chamber, two-valve layout of the 2017 Porsche Panamera, you can choose the active suspension, which lets you raise and lower each part of the car. As long as you stay at a steady speed and drive straight, the idea is that it will keep you comfortable. But when you turn a corner, it can lift one side of the car to keep your body level. Even better, it can lower itself so that it’s easy to get to. A four-wheel steering system is available as an extra and can turn the back wheels up to 2.8 degrees in the opposite way of the front wheels when the car is moving slowly. Because of this, the turning radius is cut down by about two feet. The bigger, more expensive, and more powerful Porsche Taycan has always been better than the Audi E-Tron GT since it came out. Also, the difference is now smaller than it has ever been, even if the Taycan is still faster in theory and wins the race.
