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Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
2/10/21 8:23 a.m.
feature_image

The press release from Audi talks a lot about design and styling, but we’ll cut to the numbers I’m sure you really want to hear: The high-performance RS e-tron GT is rated for 637 horsepower and 612 lb.-ft. of torque, with the more pedestrian e-tron GT good for 522 horsepower and 472 lb.-ft. of torque when using overboost. (For reference, …

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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
2/10/21 9:52 a.m.

The Taycan impressed me. This has my attention as well. (And it looks stunning.)

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter)
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/10/21 10:08 a.m.

That is VERY pretty.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
2/10/21 10:11 a.m.

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

The creases at the top of the fenders are the *chef's kiss.*

Vajingo
Vajingo Reader
2/10/21 10:16 a.m.

Those 2.5 seconds are just them taking the soft take off feature out and allowing the peak current to happen. After that it's back to sustained current levels. Not a bad way to market a "feature" of an electric motor. 

yupididit
yupididit PowerDork
2/10/21 10:34 a.m.

I want a Taycan so badly. But damn if this isn't one of the most beautiful cars Audi has made. Guess I'll take both. 

NickD
NickD MegaDork
2/10/21 10:43 a.m.

It doesn't have to even be faster than a Taycan. I would choose it over the Taycan just on looks alone. 

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/10/21 11:23 a.m.

We're at the point with fast EVs where any increase in performance is basically just academic anyhow. I mean, a 3.1s 0-60 might be the same as an R8, but it's also the same as a Model 3 Performance that costs half as much. Basically, it can be summed up with "all you really need".

What's more interesting is "able to charge 93.4 kWh in 23 minutes using a fast charger", but without details that's just handwaving. What kind of charger, and are there any in the wild? Electrify America will be the "home" network for these, as it's a VAG product. It's also interesting that Audi and Porsche are cool with range numbers in the mid-200s. The market is still suffering from range anxiety ("but what if I have to do the Cannonball Run to save my family from terrorists?"), but I suspect that if you pull data on what people are actually doing with modern EVs that's a pretty good number to aim for.

Also interesting - how to make aerodynamic wheels that look good. Definitely a better looking car overall than the Taycan or any other EV currently for sale.

STM317
STM317 UberDork
2/10/21 12:09 p.m.
Keith Tanner said:

What's more interesting is "able to charge 93.4 kWh in 23 minutes using a fast charger", but without details that's just handwaving. What kind of charger, and are there any in the wild? Electrify America will be the "home" network for these, as it's a VAG product. It's also interesting that Audi and Porsche are cool with range numbers in the mid-200s. The market is still suffering from range anxiety ("but what if I have to do the Cannonball Run to save my family from terrorists?"), but I suspect that if you pull data on what people are actually doing with modern EVs that's a pretty good number to. aim for.

Also interesting - how to make aerodynamic wheels that look good. Definitely a better looking car overall than the Taycan or any other EV currently for sale.

This Audi and the Taycan are both capable of charging at a rate up to 270kw with EA's latest and greatest fast chargers.

In general, the Taycan on EA's fastest outcharges the Model S on Tesla's fastest chargers

 

As for range, the Taycan seems to be very competitive to the Model S in the real world, even though the Model S has the much better rating on paper.

These guys got a Taycan S rated for 203miles to drive 278 miles on the highway without any crazy tricks

aircooled
aircooled MegaDork
2/10/21 12:15 p.m.

Looks like Tesla may be making this a competition.  This is from Tesla I believe, so no confirmation that I know of.  Under 2s 0-60, 9 sec 1/4 mile, seems like there would be some traction issues, even with 4WD.  Maybe they come with sticky tires?

Either way, performance wise, the M3 has a very clear price / performance edge on the Audi.  I am sure the Audi has a much nicer interior though... +$80,000 though?

mazdeuce - Seth
mazdeuce - Seth Mod Squad
2/10/21 1:07 p.m.

I find it interesting that Tesla started out building high-ish end electric cars with the S and have only recently moved to the lower end. Seems that Porsche and Audi are following this trend. 

nderwater
nderwater UltimaDork
2/10/21 1:42 p.m.

I think that Tesla has proved that people with money are more likely to be early adopters of electrification, and man is it easier to make a tidy profit selling cars that are on the expensive end of the scale.

350z247
350z247 New Reader
2/10/21 2:08 p.m.

That has to be the best looking Audi since the original R8. I have no interest in electric cars, but at least these will be nice to look at out in the wild.

fanfoy
fanfoy SuperDork
2/10/21 2:09 p.m.

Pretty....still called a turd.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/10/21 3:03 p.m.
nderwater said:

I think that Tesla has proved that people with money are more likely to be early adopters of electrification, and man is it easier to make a tidy profit selling cars that are on the expensive end of the scale.

They also realized that it was better to make the EV an aspirational object and show what it can truly do instead of trying to make the cheapest car possible. That's what every other EV maker had been doing and it just wasn't working. It wasn't until Tesla showed what the true potential (har har) of an EV was that people started to think of them as real cars. Tesla didn't make a lot of money on the S. 

And yeah, they're still more expensive to build than ICE, especially when you can't rely on any already-depreciated R&D costs. Tesla has done that R&D and paid for it with the S and X, now they can more easily attack the lower end of the market. Porsche/Audi are still in the first stage. 

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/10/21 3:11 p.m.
STM317 said:
Keith Tanner said:

What's more interesting is "able to charge 93.4 kWh in 23 minutes using a fast charger", but without details that's just handwaving. What kind of charger, and are there any in the wild? Electrify America will be the "home" network for these, as it's a VAG product. It's also interesting that Audi and Porsche are cool with range numbers in the mid-200s. The market is still suffering from range anxiety ("but what if I have to do the Cannonball Run to save my family from terrorists?"), but I suspect that if you pull data on what people are actually doing with modern EVs that's a pretty good number to. aim for.

Also interesting - how to make aerodynamic wheels that look good. Definitely a better looking car overall than the Taycan or any other EV currently for sale.

This Audi and the Taycan are both capable of charging at a rate up to 270kw with EA's latest and greatest fast chargers.

In general, the Taycan on EA's fastest outcharges the Model S on Tesla's fastest chargers

 

As for range, the Taycan seems to be very competitive to the Model S in the real world, even though the Model S has the much better rating on paper.

These guys got a Taycan S rated for 203miles to drive 278 miles on the highway without any crazy tricks

So how widespread are those 270 kW chargers? That's what I was wondering. Is it a legitimate real-world stat or a "someday" thing, like 5G network speeds. I expect charging rates will keep climbing for everyone, but it's really only useful info if you can actually do it. In reality, the vast majority of charging will be done at home overnight.

As for rated range, I just go with the EPA because nobody else has a standard. Kinda like fuel economy. If the public will accept a published range of mid-200s regardless of what random YouTubers have done, that's actually progress.

codrus (Forum Supporter)
codrus (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/10/21 3:15 p.m.
Keith Tanner said:
nderwater said:

I think that Tesla has proved that people with money are more likely to be early adopters of electrification, and man is it easier to make a tidy profit selling cars that are on the expensive end of the scale.

They also realized that it was better to make the EV an aspirational object and show what it can truly do instead of trying to make the cheapest car possible. That's what every other EV maker had been doing and it just wasn't working. It wasn't until Tesla showed what the true potential (har har) of an EV was that people started to think of them as real cars. Tesla didn't make a lot of money on the S. 

I think it's a bit more than that.  Until the Model S, nobody knew how to build an EV that was a real car -- Tesla had some real technological innovations that made it possible.

As for the Audi, I really wish the Germans would get over the "let's make a big 4 door car with a swoopy tail that ruins the rear head space" thing.  People buy big 4-door cars so that they can put adults in the back.  Make it look like the RS6 instead...

 

Vajingo
Vajingo Reader
2/10/21 3:52 p.m.
Keith Tanner 
("but what if I have to do the Cannonball Run to save my family from terrorists?")

Lmao man. Honestly, lmao. Thanks. 

Vajingo
Vajingo Reader
2/10/21 3:53 p.m.

In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :

On that note- why are they still making them shaped like everything else on the road? It's electric for crying out loud. Make it look like a 50-60's classic! Just imagine if GM was like "hey, we made a '59 caddy again. It's electric. Hauls ass. Looks great. Modern brakes. Hauls ass."

preach (fs)
preach (fs) GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
2/10/21 4:03 p.m.

I read that the E-tron has Taycan underpinnings, but the Audi instagram did not clarify how much.

Styling of both > Tesla.

AaronT
AaronT Reader
2/10/21 4:06 p.m.

Fastback Is a good shape for moving E36 M3 through the air in a way that doesn't make the air mad. We're likely to see a lot of swoopy tail e-cars until battery density is 2-3x what it is now for the sake of range.

350z247
350z247 New Reader
2/10/21 8:29 p.m.

In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :

Who buys a sedan to put adults in the back? I haven't sat in the back of a sedan or driven adults in the back of a sedan in probably four years.

Plus, if my friends or family are that worried about fitting in the back of my sedan to survive the 10 minute drive to dinner, they can drive themselves.

codrus (Forum Supporter)
codrus (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/10/21 10:23 p.m.
AaronT said:

Fastback Is a good shape for moving E36 M3 through the air in a way that doesn't make the air mad. We're likely to see a lot of swoopy tail e-cars until battery density is 2-3x what it is now for the sake of range.

At least the case of the Audi A6/A7 that isn't borne out in mpg.  They're the same car from the B pillar forwards, A6 is a normal sedan, A7 is swoopy.  A6 milage is noticably better than the A7, probably because it weighs less.  All that glass is heavy.

yupididit
yupididit PowerDork
2/11/21 12:25 a.m.
350z247 said:

In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :

Who buys a sedan to put adults in the back? I haven't sat in the back of a sedan or driven adults in the back of a sedan in probably four years.

Plus, if my friends or family are that worried about fitting in the back of my sedan to survive the 10 minute drive to dinner, they can drive themselves.

I agree.  

STM317
STM317 UberDork
2/11/21 6:49 a.m.
Keith Tanner said:
STM317 said:
Keith Tanner said:

What's more interesting is "able to charge 93.4 kWh in 23 minutes using a fast charger", but without details that's just handwaving. What kind of charger, and are there any in the wild? Electrify America will be the "home" network for these, as it's a VAG product. It's also interesting that Audi and Porsche are cool with range numbers in the mid-200s. The market is still suffering from range anxiety ("but what if I have to do the Cannonball Run to save my family from terrorists?"), but I suspect that if you pull data on what people are actually doing with modern EVs that's a pretty good number to. aim for.

Also interesting - how to make aerodynamic wheels that look good. Definitely a better looking car overall than the Taycan or any other EV currently for sale.

This Audi and the Taycan are both capable of charging at a rate up to 270kw with EA's latest and greatest fast chargers.

In general, the Taycan on EA's fastest outcharges the Model S on Tesla's fastest chargers

As for range, the Taycan seems to be very competitive to the Model S in the real world, even though the Model S has the much better rating on paper.

These guys got a Taycan S rated for 203miles to drive 278 miles on the highway without any crazy tricks

So how widespread are those 270 kW chargers? That's what I was wondering. Is it a legitimate real-world stat or a "someday" thing, like 5G network speeds. I expect charging rates will keep climbing for everyone, but it's really only useful info if you can actually do it. In reality, the vast majority of charging will be done at home overnight.

As for rated range, I just go with the EPA because nobody else has a standard. Kinda like fuel economy. If the public will accept a published range of mid-200s regardless of what random YouTubers have done, that's actually progress.

The first article indicates that the fastest chargers from both EA and Tesla may be equally hard to come by in the real world:

"we visited each model's quickest charger, which is easier said than done, as both are extremely rare today. Even in the greater Los Angeles area, where we conducted our test, which has more EV density than most American cities, there are only one of each: an Electrify America unit in Burbank, and a V3 Supercharger at Space X's Hawthorne, headquarters." Obviously that's likely to change in the coming years, but right now it's hard to do on either charging network.

Agreed on the single standard thing. It makes things easier. But the whole point is to have a tool for comparison, and when the real world range is vastly different from rated range for different models, it might indicate that the test isn't indicative of the real world, or that certain models may be optimized for the test (in order to gain market advantage) while others are not. Either way, with range (on paper) being a huge point of focus for EV buyers and detractors alike it seems like having some real world data might be helpful for consumers. And there's a lot of real world data that indicates the Taycan (and presumably it's Audi counterpart) frequently see more than their rated range in situations where range is important, like highway driving. That's worth mentioning when lots of detractors will proclaim disappointment with "only" 200-250 miles of rated range.

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