Faster, pricier Audi E-Tron GT arrives in Aus

AUDI’S most powerful production vehicle to date has landed Down Under, the facelifted, technologically overhauled and all-electric E-Tron GT four-door coupe dishing out as much as 680kW and 1027Nm in its top trim level while still undercutting former four-ringed halo – the R8 Performance – by almost a hundred grand.

The three-variant range now opens at $209,900 before on-road costs and options, with the madcap range-topper priced exactly $100,000 north of that. Prices are up across the board, in return for some big performance upgrades courtesy of the latest tech.

Described by Audi Australia head of product Matthew Dale as “a significant update“ to the brand’s electric flagship, the revised E-Tron GT features a technological step-change more often associated with a new generation than a mid-life refresh.

Mr Dale said Audi has sold more than 35,000 E-Tron GTs across 90 markets, with around 550 delivered in Australia to date.

For context, the V8- and V10-powered R8 mid-engined supercar found 687 buyers in Australia between local introduction in 2007 and discontinuation in 2022, when it passed the brand flagship baton to Audi’s less expensive and more practical E-Tron GT.

The newly S-badged entry-level E-Tron GT variant now matches the outgoing RS flagship’s outputs, in return for a cool $28,116 price increase over its predecessor.

Starting at $209,900 + ORC, the S produces 435kW (500kW in boost mode) with 740Nm of torque, delivering a 0-100km/h claim of 3.4 seconds (previous equivalent: 350kW/390kW boost and 4.1s).

The mid-range RS E-Tron GT is $264,900 + ORC (up $10,185) and generates 500kW standard output, rising to 630kW in boost mode with 865Nm of torque for a claimed 2.8-second 0-100km/h sprint (previously 440kW/475kW boost and 3.3s). Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.

Crowning the range is the RS E-Tron GT Performance at $309,900 + ORC, delivering 550kW standard and 680kW in boost mode.

With 1027Nm of torque channelled through all four wheels, it demolishes the 0-100km/h benchmark in just 2.5 seconds – just a tenth shy of (whisper it) the mechanically related Porsche Taycan Turbo S.

All three variants sold in Australia have a new 105kWh lithium-ion battery pack featuring 396 cells arranged in 33 modules.

Despite the 12 per cent capacity increase over the previous 93.4kWh unit, the new battery weighs nine kilograms less at 625kg and is physically similar in size due to a 13 per cent energy density improvement.

“We’ve increased the density by 13 per cent overall. We’ve reduced the weight as well, and that’s mainly due to a new wafer profile in terms of the cells,” Mr Dale explained during the Australian E-Tron GT media launch in South East Queensland.

The battery upgrade delivers Australian-homologated WLTP ranges of up to 559km for the S E-Tron GT, 522km for the RS E-Tron GT and 528km for the RS E-Tron GT Performance.

Charging speed increases from 270kW to 320kW DC, enabling 10-80 per cent charging in as little as 18 minutes due to advancements in thermal management that mean the battery pack and related electronics can sustain higher energy inputs for longer, across a broader temperature range than previously.

“Every 10 minutes, we can get almost 280 kilometres of charge,” Mr Dale said.

A new display in the digital dash reports on battery temperature and what this means for charging capacity in kW.

Battery temperature is also automatically optimised when a charging stop is programmed into the native sat-nav to enable the quickest-possible charge – even taking into account the ambient temperature at the charging station’s location.

The sophisticated new thermal management system uses cooling jackets on top and bottom of the battery pack to maintain optimal charging temperatures, pumping 22 litres of coolant throughout the system.

It is also part of the reason regenerative braking can now harvest up to 400kW of kinetic energy compared to 290kW previously, adjustable using paddle-shifters.

“It is quite abrupt. If you really put on the recuperation to level three, very similar to engine braking. You can use it to go into corners without actually pushing or activating the mechanical brake,” Mr Dale said.

RS models gain a button-operated boost function providing an additional 70kW for overtaking, similar to that fitted to Porsche models with the Sport Chrono package.

“The Germans like to call it Push to Pass, but it gives you an additional boost in terms of power and output and acceleration,” Mr Dale said. Like Porsche’s version, a 10-second countdown timer appears in the instrument panel when activated.

The E-Tron GT debuts Audi’s new two-chamber hydraulic suspension system, standard on the RS Performance and optional ($15,900) on the RS E-Tron GT (a carryover air suspension setup is standard on the S and RS) featuring adaptive wheel-selective electrohydraulic actuators.

“What this tries to do is level the body off as quickly as possible and try to reduce that swaying moment in the vehicle, especially with 1000Nm of torque and almost 700kW,” Mr Dale explained.

Body pitch and roll are limited to two degrees, while the system quickly raises the vehicle up to 55mm upon door opening for easier entry, exit and luggage loading.

Standard wheel sizes start at 20 inches for the S model, with RS variants riding on 21-inch alloys wrapped in new Italian-made Bridgestone Potenza Sport rubber said to be the brand’s first mass-produced tyre to use 55 per cent recycled and renewable materials.

The S features 390mm front and 358mm rear brake discs with six-piston calipers, while RS models upgrade to tungsten carbide-coated units measuring 410mm front and 365mm rear with 10-piston front calipers.

Mr Dale said the advantage of the tungsten carbide rotors on electric vehicles is corrosion resistance, given friction braking is used much less than with internal combustion vehicles, along with reduced brake dust.

Carbon-ceramic brakes are optional on RS variants at $13,000, featuring massive 420mm front and 410mm rear discs in a package claimed to save 5kg per corner and “one of the biggest braking systems on an EV in Australia,” Mr Dale claimed.

Inside, all E-Tron GTs feature 18-way electric adjustable tombstone style sports front seats with heating, ventilation and memory functions.

Nappa leather upholstery with honeycomb stitching is standard, while RS variants add massage function and specific design elements.

A new flat-bottom steering wheel incorporates RS mode buttons so the driver can toggle between preconfigured custom settings.

The standard 12.3-inch digital instrument panel plus features RS-specific displays on the top two variants.

Standard technology highlights include matrix LED headlights with laser light function, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 710-watt Bang & Olufsen 3D sound with 16 speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a suite of more than 30 driver assistance systems.

The panoramic glass roof features Audi’s new switchable transparency technology on the two RS grades.

“You can have full opaque, full transparency, but also have sections or predefined areas where you can block off front half, rear half, for occupants,” Mr Dale explained.

Audi Australia has consolidated options into packages of the most-popular configurations fitted to pre-facelift E-Tron GTs.

These include a Sensory package ($6000) for the S grade which adds an air ioniser, massage seats, rear-seat heating and Dinamica headlining.

RS models can be specified with gloss carbon exterior ($10,000) or matte carbon camouflage ($10,000) packages.

Interior design packages ($3800-$4500) offer contrasting stitching in Express Red, Grey Or Serpentine Green, with an exclusive Bedford Green exterior finish option for the RS Performance.

All E-Tron GT variants include six years of scheduled servicing, six years roadside assistance, one-year Chargefox network subscription, five-year warranty and eight-year/160,000km battery warranty.

Visit GoAuto again on July 24 for our first drive review of the new Audi RS E-Tron GT.

2025 Audi E-Tron GT pricing*

*excludes on-road costs