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It takes a very special car to be worthy of Audi's coveted RS badge. It is a symbol of sporting prowess, power and luxury, and Audi RS models have traditionally been renowned for their meaty petrol engines. It's, therefore, a brave choice for Audi to lend the badge to an all-electric car for the first time, in the shape of the RS e-tron GT. It certainly appears to tick all the boxes; the RS e-tron GT has road presence, looks assertive and goes like a rocket. All that's missing is the raucous exhaust note from the highly tuned engine.
Performance should rightly be at the very top of the list for any review of the Audi RS e-tron GT - and it certainly delivers performance in spades. The GT has twin electric motors, which qualifies it as a Quattro four wheel drive. These provide a combined power output of 590bhp, which is definitely in RS territory. The GT will launch from 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds, with all that power delivered immediately as electric motors do so well. There is also a launch mode that can shave 0.3 seconds off that, if you happen to find yourself in a race.
If you're convinced that there is something of the Porsche Taycan in the design, you would be right. They share the same underpinnings, but Audi has also done its own thing. The GT sits low and wide, with huge wheels filling the arches, and a sloping roofline which almost hides the fact that this is a four-door GT car. It looks athletic, assertive and powerful, just like an Audi RS should. Expect to be noticed when you drive around in your RS e-tron GT.
The interior of the Audi RS e-tron GT is beautifully designed and made with high quality materials. There is gratuitous use of alcantara and leather to make it feel both sporty and luxurious inside. You will immediately notice two large screens in your eyeline; one of which is the virtual cockpit and the other controlling the infotainment system. Audi has thankfully retained some of the buttons though, allowing you to control the climate control and some other features without having to scroll through electronic menus.
Considering its sporting credentials, the GT is surprisingly practical. It is low, long and wide, which allows for a fairly roomy cabin and decent boot space, although the coupe boot lid will prevent access for huge items. There is also a small storage space under the bonnet for your charging cables. There is easily room inside for a driver and three passengers, although headroom will be tight in the back for taller passengers, thanks to the roofline design. Considering the sheer size of the 93kWh battery pack, Audi has cleverly packaged the batteries under the car to minimise cabin intrusion. If you need a really practical Audi RS then look to the RS6, but that isn't electric... yet. But for real world motoring, the e-tron should be perfectly suitable.
