Latest news with #RSE-TronGTPerformance
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tested: 2025 Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance
The 2025 Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance, the brand's flagship EV, looks mighty similar to what's been on sale from the beginning, but this sleek sedan has been heavily revised underneath the surface. It is the quickest Audi road car ever produced, features one of the most technologically complex suspension systems in existence, and is just as at home on a canyon road as it is on a road trip. Yes, the Porsche Taycan was treated to virtually every upgrade this Audi gets, but being able to choose between two different, if closely related, extraordinary performance cars is not a bad thing. Our expert editors test every vehicle we review. Read more about how we test and review cars here. Two versions of the E-Tron GT are available for 2025, the entry-level S E-Tron GT and the one tested here, the RS E-Tron GT Performance. The regular RS E-Tron GT (sans Performance moniker) is dead, replaced by this more potent version. Just like before, the Audi models take after their Porsche Taycan J1 platform-mates, with the S E-Tron equivalent to the Taycan GTS and the RS Performance to the Turbo S. Just like the Taycan, the E-Tron GT models are thoroughly revamped for 2025. A new electric motor in the rear is credited for much of this Audi's huge increase in output by 275 ponies to a grand total of 912 hp peak from the dual-motor powertrain. That full power is on tap when using launch control, but you can also get 10-second increments of an extra 94 hp by tapping the new Boost button on the steering wheel. On Audi's numbers, the RS Performance is one-tenth slower than the Taycan Turbo S to 60 mph with a 2.4-second claimed time, and the top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. Thanks to revised cell chemistry and increased energy density, the battery pack takes up the same physical space as before but offers more capacity. That means the Performance model has 29 miles more range, putting the final EPA estimate at 278 miles. Similar to the Porsche, charging performance is greatly increased with the max rate now at 320 kW (previously 270 kW) if the car is hooked up to a sufficiently potent DC charger. Audi claims a 10-to-80 percent charge only takes 18 minutes now, chopping 3.5 minutes from the previous time. Vehicle Tested: 2025 Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance Base Price: $168,295 Price as tested: $190,190 Location: Las Vegas, NV Powertrain: Dual-motor, all-wheel drive Power: 912 hp (combined) 0-60 mph: 2.4 seconds Battery Capacity: 105 kWh (97 kWh usable) Weight: 5137 pounds EPA Range: 278 miles Many of the above updates sound like game changers on their own, but the biggest treat of all is Audi adopting Porsche's mind-warping Active Ride suspension system. The system is only available as an option on the RS E-Tron GT Performance, the active dampers (paired with air springs) eliminate the need for anti-roll bars and take suspension technology to a new dimension by working to practically cancel roll and pitch. This works exactly like it does on Porsche products—each damper gets its own dedicated hydraulic pump to tweak pressure in real time—only with some minor Audi calibration tweaks. For example, the Taycan's Active Ride is tuned to keep the car perfectly flat in a corner even as you exceed the grip level afforded by the tire. Chief technical engineer of the E-Tron GT, Stephan Reil, said that Audi doesn't abide by that philosophy and instead tuned the suspension to allow for minor body roll as you approach the limits of grip, giving the driver the natural sensation they're accustomed to at the edge. Comfort is as much a feature of this suspension system as ultimate cornering performance. You can also have the car compensate for lateral acceleration with a lean function, which gives it the behavior of a motorcycle as it leans into corners. The same can be done for acceleration or braking, so wave goodbye to squat on launches and dive under braking. It goes against your natural expectations. Instead of seeing the nose pitch down under braking, I was met with the sensation of the front end rising. Even getting in and out is made easier by the suspension instantly raising the car by two inches every time I opened a door, providing a more crossover-like entry height. The roads around Las Vegas are far too smooth to really put the Audi's bumpy-road chops to the test, but the open desert landscape sure makes for a tempting place to unleash full fury. Acceleration is effortless, and the two-speed transmission on the rear motor continues to offer up the odd sensation of a detectable shift as speeds climb. Reil told me Audi made one change with the transmission for 2025, with Comfort mode essentially locking the car into second gear during steady-state cruising. Before, a full-throttle application would trigger a downshift, but the new calibration favors smooth acceleration. A couple of launch-control starts (up to 133 mph) at Speed Vegas proved that calm and easy is not what the new Performance model is all about, however. Despite its 5137-pound weight, it felt as if it wanted to head straight to its 155-mph limiter every time I opened the taps. Fortunately, carbon-ceramic brakes on my tester proved well able to yank it down in a hurry. I would have preferred a more robust brake-pedal feel on track, but the progressive response is well suited to smoothness on the road. Steering is weighty but not annoyingly so, and another 2025 change is a quicker rack and a revised rear-wheel steering tune for a crisper turn-in. The active suspension treats you to a car that virtually never feels flustered on the road and keeps it on rails when pushed on a racetrack. Porsche might take the same basic package to a greater level, but this RS E-Tron GT Performance is a gobsmackingly good sports-sedan experience. One place Audi barely touched for the 2025 update is the interior. The new squircle-style steering wheel unfortunately feels like a downgrade, with the haptic-touch buttons on it just as annoying as on every other VW Group product they're applied to. The one plus to the new wheel is the addition of the Boost button, as well as an RS drive switch for easy swapping between the different dynamic modes. The rest of the interior looks generally the same as before, although buyers can now spec massive forged carbon inlays to really spice things up. Unlike the Taycan's array of screens for primary controls, Audi has kept hard buttons for the climate functions. Porsche's infotainment system is faster, offers more features, and behaves a generation ahead, but there's charm to be found in the Audi's simplicity. The only true head scratcher is the awkward iPod Nano–like volume scroll wheel that should just be replaced with a small knob. The relatively scrawny rear seat is still a problem too. This sedan might be longer than an A6, but it has much less utility. The wide and tall sill combines with a tight door aperture to make getting in and out of the rear seat a hassle. And then, once you're back there, things aren't much more comfortable. The sleek looks do no favors to cargo space either, but the solution to these problems already exists with the Taycan Cross Turismo. As it stands, the RS E-Tron GT Performance is more a personal luxury supersedan than a family hauler. Buying any EV as expensive as this Audi has proven to be a great lesson in severe depreciation. The as-tested sticker of $190,190 is hard to stomach, but the Porsche-equivalent Taycan Turbo S starts $20,000 higher than the max-spec Audi. That kind of logic might be the only thing that works in making the E-Tron GT look like a deal. The value over pre-refresh RS E-Tron GTs is definitely there with the notable performance, range, and charging upgrades. And if you're going for the new Performance model, you'd be negligent not to spec the trick Active Ride suspension that comes in the $11,000 Dynamic Plus package (which also nets you carbon-ceramic brakes). Even the appearance is vastly improved, with an Audi Sport–like honeycomb grille and the ability to throw $8400 worth of forged carbon parts at it. That sort of appearance package is typically one I'd advise skipping, but the added presence of the carbon around the entire car is enough to warrant a double take. Spectacular acceleration barely lets up as speed rises. Active Ride suspension combines ride comfort and magically flat cornering. Keeps physical buttons for key interior controls. Massively expensive, with a nearly $200,000 sticker when fully loaded. New touch steering-wheel buttons are a usability downgrade. Tight rear seat and poor luggage space limit practicality. The RS E-Tron GT Performance offers a carbon roof option. Guess what car doesn't? That's right, the Porsche Taycan. Even the Turbo GT version with the lightweight Weissach package doesn't have the Audi's exposed carbon roof as an option. And sure, the Taycan is more extreme in other ways, but you can only get that carbon roof with the Audi. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 2025 Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance Will Change the Way You Think About the Marque
Unless you're a rally racing fan, the Audi name isn't one that necessarily sets your heart racing. The German marque has built some great sports cars over the years—the R8 and TT immediately leap to mind—but it's still more associated with tasteful luxury than visceral thrills. The 2025 RS E-Tron GT Performance is the kind of car that can change that. Introduced in 2021, three years after it was first teased as a concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the E-Tron GT is unlike anything the brand has ever built. Like the Lucid Air and Porsche Taycan, the latter of which it shares a platform with, the EV is an all-electric super sedan. It pairs aggressive styling with a potent dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain that allows it to post the kind of numbers that were out of reach of cars that have worn the four rings in the past. More from Robb Report The Macallan Teamed Up One of the World's Best Restaurants for Its New Limited-Edition Whisky This Solar-Powered EV Just Finished a 300-Mile Road Trip to California This $45 Million South Florida Estate Has a Secret Cigar Lounge, a Safe Room, and a Massage Suite The E-Tron GT is Audi's electric performance flagship but has spent most of its time on the market overshadowed by its relative, the Taycan. But now, thanks to a revised design and updated powertrain, it's ready to spend some well-earned time in the spotlight. Here's what we thought after spending time behind the wheel of the car in Vegas last week. As it enters its fourth year, Audi has narrowed the E-Tron GT range from three cars to two. The S is now the entry-level model, while the RS E-Tron Performance, which is our focus, is the range-topper. The EV's design has received subtle updates, both inside and out. The bigger changes are those you can't see. The E-Tron's powertrain has been updated with new electric motors that provide a significant power bump. A new battery is also present, which is larger but lighter than its predecessor. It's likely due to the last two upgrades, that the starting price of the sedan has risen by nearly $20,000 to $168,295 (including destination and delivery fees). The athletic E-Tron GT has been the better-looking sedan you could buy since making its debut, so Audi has chosen, wisely, to leave well enough alone for 2025. The rakish four-door still sports the most sculpted shape in the brand's lineup and a sloping roofline that almost gives it the look of a shooting brake. The front fascia has also been revised, with a new faux grille design, a 2-D version of the marque's four-ring logo, and even more prominent side air ducts. Those tweaks, along with a larger rear diffusor and vertical reflector, help differentiate the RS E-Tron GT from the S. Also newly available are new color options, including the sparkling Bedford Green, more 20- and 21-inch wheel styles, and forged carbon trim. The interior has been treated with a similarly soft hand. The layout is much the same, but there's a new squared-off steering wheel with satellite buttons that make it easier to trigger the Push-to-Pass boost and cycle through the different driving modes, standard Nappa Leather seats, and an optional giant gorged carbon inlay. The front is still equipped with two displays, but they don't take up nearly as much real estate as those found in the E-Tron GT's peers, though it should be noted that Audi's MMI infotainment system is starting to feel a bit dated. An array of physical buttons on the center console help make up for this, though. The big story here is the RS E-Tron GT Performance's new powertrain. The EV still has a dual-motor setup—one in the front, one in the back—but the individual units are new for 2025. The pair, which are lighter than those they are replacing, combine to produce a ferocious 912 hp (94 of which is accessible via the 10-second Push-to-Pass boost) and 757 ft lbs of torque that is split between all four wheels in classic Quattro fashion. That's an increase of 275 horses, making the model the most powerful Audi in history. It's also its fastest accelerating, able to go from zero to 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155 mph. The battery has also been updated for the new model year. The new pack has a capacity of 105 kWh, which is 12 percent more than before. You'd think this would add to the vehicle's weight, but Audi says the new power unit weighs 25 pounds less. The battery isn't just lighter, though. It also can charge at up to 320 kW, which is 50 kW more than before, and holds that input for longer, allowing the battery to be charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. Audi says you'll be able to drive the car for 278 miles between charges, which is an improvement of 29 miles. All that may look enticing on paper, but what really matters is how the car drives. And in its current guise, the RS E-Tron GT Performance delivers. On the highways east of Sin City, I could feel the car's power as soon as my foot to the accelerator, even without the tactile feedback that comes from an ICE vehicle. It's not the quickest (the Air Sapphire) or fastest (Taycan Turbo GT) EV in its class, but the sedan still moves like a rocket, especially when I used Push-to-Pass to overtake the vehicle in front of me, but there's enough weight that you still feel in control, unlike the video game-like acceleration of some EVs. You'll still want to pay careful attention to the speedometer, though, as it's easy to travel much faster than you thought. As fun as the car is on the open road, you'll find yourself hoping for a curve or two up ahead. The available active suspension and a more direct front axle steering ratio made tackling southern Nevada's winding mountain roads a breeze. This is especially true when RS performance mode is engaged. The mode, which is exclusive to the model, makes a slalom as easy (and comfortable) to navigate as a straight away. The R E-Tron GT Performance is about as thrilling of a daily driver as you could ask for, but to really appreciate what it can do, you'll want to spend some time on the track with it. Using the EV's launch control is something else. The punch you feel in your stomach the first time you hit 60 mph in under three seconds is a little terrifying, but by the third time I was laughing. What more could you want from a sedan? The new RS E-Tron GT Performance is the kind of car you should be excited about driving. The car delivers everything Audi—a smooth drive, a tastefully appointed interior, and an overall solid feel—and adds bold style and ridiculous acceleration to the mix. It's the kind of car that people will stretch their necks to see, before you zoom off into the distance. With a starting price of $168,295, the updated RS E-Tron GT Performance is by far the most expensive model in the brand's current lineup. There's a good reason for that, though. And, when you consider how much more comparable versions of the Air and Taycan cost, it might even be the best value in the super sedan class. Electric Sedan 2020 Two permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors Combined Output: 912 hp and 757 ft lbs of torque Liquid-cooled lithium ion, 105 kWh capacity Range: 278 miles DC fast charging: Up to 320 kW 10- to 80-percent charge time: 18 minutes Zero to 60 mph: 2.4 seconds Top Speed: 155 mph $190,190 Click for more photos of the 2025 Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance. 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