Winter Fun: Audi RS e-tron GT Proves Its Mettle Against Avant RS6 On Ice
Engadget demonstrates how well the EV architecture of the RS e-tron GT performs on snowy terrain against the Avant RS6. The latter is equipped with Audi’s mechanical quattro all-wheel-drive system.
The Audi RS e-tron GT is the talk of the town these days. Earlier this month, professional rally driver Ken block added a custom flat white RS e-tron GT to his electric fleet. More recently, Roberto Baldwin from Engadget got behind the wheel of two exciting Audi models for a remarkable comparison. Baldwin traveled up to Canada to drive an Audi RS e-tron GT and an Avant RS6 wagon across snowy terrains as part of the Audi Driving Experience.
Here’s a quick overview for those unfamiliar with the RS e-tron GT. The all-electric offering is an amalgamation of state-of-the-art electric vehicle technology. Even in its battery-only avatar, RS e-tron GT stays true to Audi’s performance pedigree. Since it’s an electric model, high altitude does not impede RS e-tron GT’s performance, but the same is true for the Avant RS6. However, the frigid temperature can diminish the performance of the e-tron’s 93.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Nevertheless, the video offers some interesting insights into how these two drastically different machines handle on the ice. “So even though I’m sliding all over the place on this road, I have the traction control off, what’s nice is that the e-tron, and EVs in general if they are well, well built, every tire is getting information, every tire is being adjusted within milliseconds, so that’s pretty great,” explains Baldwin.
Electric vehicles like the RS e-tron GT have a very low center of gravity and are usually quite heavy.
As a result, the pressure from the extra weight offers a better grip on surfaces where achieving traction can be pretty challenging. Without the overboost, both e-tron and Avant RS6 produce roughly the same power output. Furthermore, with the help of Audi’s mechanical quattro all-wheel-drive system, the Avant RS6 was also able to get around tight corners with ease, but it wasn’t as composed as its electric counterpart.
“The e-tron, this EV architecture that added weight, it makes it a bit more stable on ice on snow, slick, rain, anything you’re looking for and that has to do a lot with those two motors that are able to finally adjust the wheel spin,” explains Baldwin.
Image Source: Engadget
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