Mean and Green: Audi e-tron GT Reveal Set for February 9
The eagerly anticipated Audi e-tron GT is in production and will arrive at dealers later this year.
Late last year, the Audi e-tron GT made an exhibition run at the Spa 24 Hours, and the company has already released a video showcasing how the electric super sedan will sound. But in every shot we’ve seen so far, the car has been wearing its wild prototype livery. That’s set to change on February 9, when the production sheet metal will be finally be revealed.
First off? I don’t expect any surprises — and that’s a great thing. Because while the prototype’s digital-themed wrap is somewhat distracting, it’s not hard to see past it. Still, it’s clear this machine will be a stunner. Importantly, nothing — check out the visible door handles and mirrors — looks too bold for mass production, so I think we’ll simply see a sleek, luxurious sedan that just happens to be electric. In other words? It’ll be perfect.
As I’ve said previously, I don’t think that you have to be Nostradamus to predict that the e-tron is going to be more attractive than corporate cousin Porsche’s Taycan, as Stuttgart tried a little too hard with its car. After seeing it in the wild, I think it screams future — but in a way that makes me think of a baby crying in a movie theater.
While the e-tron GT shares all its running gear with the Porsche, as you’d expect, the performance specs are slightly different. In overboost mode, there will be 640 horsepower on tap, though the standard 590-horsepower setting shouldn’t feel anemic either. Distribution will be rear-biased, with a 449-horsepower unit at the back, and a 235-horsepower one up front. Like the Taycan, there will be a two-speed gearbox at the rear, while the front will be a single-speed setup.
While we’ll have to wait until the reveal to get all the specifics, with those power figures and the 83.7-kilowatt-hour battery onboard, the e-tron GT should be good for around 200 miles on a charge. That’s not a crazy spec, of course, but even if you cut it in half, it’ll be plenty for the vast majority of the driving public. Make no mistake: Cars like the e-tron and the Taycan are the vanguard of a new electric age.
Now, I’ve been saying for years that while Tesla has done a lot of groundbreaking stuff, it’s also done something which might not be great for its business model. By that, I mean that Elon Musk and company truly changed the perception of electric vehicles.
Because prior to Tesla entering the market, electric vehicles were seen largely as virtue-signaling penalty boxes, and cars like the Model S changed that. The danger to Tesla, of course, is that mainstream manufactures now know this too, and after a long ramp up, they’re coming into the segment with guns blazing. One key thing to remember? Some of the key players here have over a century of experience building cars and should be able to dodge a lot of the production snafus which have dogged the California company.
Look for the 2022 Audi e-tron GT to arrive at your local dealer sometime in the third quarter of the year, and if you happen to see one out and about before then, make sure to post some pics to the forum! Of course, if you happen to have one on order, let me know when you’re slated to take delivery, as I’d love to talk to you about your new ride!
Photos: Audi
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