First Drive: Audi’s RS e-tron GT is a powerhouse EV

While the exterior hasn’t been changed much, it’s underneath where the bulk of the edits have been made. We’ve been driving it to see what has changed.

Audi has equipped the new e-tron GT with a larger battery than before, too, which at 97kWh should help it to deliver more range than on earlier models. There’s more power across the board, too, courtesy of revised electric motors.

Unlock that full output and you’ll go from 0-60mph in just under three seconds and onwards to a top speed of 155mph. Audi claims that because of that larger battery, you should see up to 365 miles from a single charge, too

However, nothing can prepare you for the extremes of acceleration unlocked when you first give the throttle a decent press. The RS is astoundingly fast, zipping up to speed in an instant. It’s enough to take your breath away and quite addictive, even after a couple of goes. Traction-wise it does well, too, though our testing period during near-zero temperatures meant that the RS e-tron GT would scrabble around searching for grip on the frigid surface. Given that it has close to 900Nm of torque, this is to be expected.

It’s a similar story at the rear of the car, too, with slightly redesigned lights. All in, it’s still a very smart-looking vehicle and one which does play into Audi’s usually understated sense of style.

Rear-seat passengers fare better space-wise than you’d expect them to in a sports car like this, though headroom may be an issue for taller riders due to the sloping roofline. The seat is more bench-like than you might expect, too, while the 350-litre boot isn’t a bad size and provides more than enough space for a weekend away.

As well as its increased performance, the RS e-tron GT gets 21-inch forged aluminium wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof and an active rear spoiler alongside 18-way adjustable sport seats, a heated leather steering and a full interior lighting system. The main infotainment screen – which measures 10.1 inches – sits alongside Audi’s now de-facto virtual cockpit display and both are clear and easy to use.

The changes that have been made to this latest generation of e-tron GT help to make it more accomplished than ever, An increase in range means that this model now feels more the ‘full grand tourer’ than before and with its cosseting driving environment makes for a car that’ll genuinely be able to tackle long distances easily.

The performance of this RS model is quite impressive, too, though we’d reckon that for most people the standard e-tron GT S will bring more than enough acceleration away from the line for a far lower cost.