Audi e-tron GT: How to watch the launch of Audi's electric sports car

Audi first unveiled the Audi e-tron GT Concept at the LA Auto Show 2018 and now it's time for that Concept to graduate to a production model in 2021.

It's a four-seat sports coupé, aiming to give you performance and luxury - and we're not expeting huge changes from the Concept that was unveiled 2 years ago.

When will the Audi e-tron GT launch take place? 

Audi will be hosting an online event called Sprint of Progress on 9 February 2021. That event will take place 12:00 GMT. International times are below and we have embedded the livestream above.

San Francisco - 04:00 PST
New York - 07:00 EST
London - 12:00 GMT
Berlin - 13:00 CET
Mumbai - 17:30 IST
Tokyo - 21:00 JST
Sydney - 23:00 AEDT

Audi e-tron GT design 

The Audi e-tron GT is the child of Marc Lichte, who has been responsible for a number of changes to Audi design in recent years. The e-tron GT is muscular and sporty, riding low - a full 2 inches lower than the Audi's executive A7 model - and prototype models have been very close to the e-tron GT Concept that we originally saw in 2018.

At first glance we see a lot of the Audi A5 in it - both in terms of overall design, but also in size. As this is technically the concept car, there's a lot that could change on this model, but that said, it's fitted with proper mirrors and the interior isn't an abstract reimagining of the future car (as you'll find on the BMW Vision iNext for example), instead it's current and conceivable so we think the production model will be essentially the same.

With sports car aims, there's the hint of R8 design dotted around, but the front end moves on from Audi's big grille into a something slightly different. It's not a blunt nose like you'll find on the Tesla Model S, it's detailed, but divided. It looks like a sports car, but Lichte told us at the launch that one of the things it was doing was hiding all the front-facing sensors within the design.

There will be too versions of the car, the e-tron GT and the RS e-tron GT - the first electric Audi to pick up the RS badge. That broadly aligns it with the strategy that Porsche took with the Taycan.

What's all this about a vegan interior?

Taking ethical responsibility to the next level, Audi has declared that this is a vegan interior. That should grab the attention of Hollywood A listers, but in reality it means synthetic leathers. Some of the details are interesting, like the floor mats which are sourced from recycled fishing nets.

The interior isn't that whacky, in fact it's likely to be the next evolution in Audi interior design. It's dominated by the digital displays for the driver and in the centre - which most Audis already feature. Even the way that the trim from the doors curves and blends into the dash we've seen before on models like the A7 - so we wouldn't be surprised if things didn't change that much when the production car arrives.

Audi e-tron GT battery and range

Moving on to the technical specifications of the e-tron GT we know a fair amount. The figures given at the announcement of the concept were a 0-62 time of 3.5 seconds, with a pair of motors combining for 434kW and producing 590PS - with permanent Quattro four wheel drive. The front and rear wheels have separate motors, electronically controlled to give the right traction and driving dynamics. There's all-wheel steering too.

Audi is keen to stress that you'll be at 124mph in 12 seconds, while the top speed is restricted to 149mph. 

The battery range is given as 248 miles and one of the reasons the speed is restricted, it seems, is to preserve that range. However, Audi says that you'll be able to repeat this performance, so it's not limited to a single fast acceleration - thanks to the battery's cooling system - a swipe at the restrictions that Tesla puts on its car when using Ludicrous mode. That's the same script that Porsche used for the Taycan.

We've heard all this before from the launch of the first Audi e-tron and the confirmation that the battery takes the entire floor space front to rear, with a "more than" 90kWh capacity, suggests it's the same battery as Audi's other e-tron model. It's expected to be a 93kWh battery.

Audi also confirmed that the car has been developed in collaboration with Porsche and some of the early specs reported sound similar to those for the Porsche Taycan and we suspect there will be plenty of commonalities between the two.

Charging is via an 800V system, allowing you to get to 80 per cent in 20 minutes, from a rapid charger, but the wireless charging is more interesting. Via inductive charging, you'll be able to charge the Audi e-tron GT overnight without having to plug it in, but you'll need the 11kW wireless charging pad to be permanently installed in your garage floor.

How much will the Audi e-tron GT cost?

We're expecting the RS e-tron GT to come in at about £130,000 - but it's likely that we'll see number of models offered, including rear-wheel drive only, to bring that price down, just as we've seen with the Porsche Taycan. 

from Pocket-lint