new-audi-rs-e-tron-gt-prototype-first-drive-–-electric-car-facelifted-for-2024

new-audi-rs-e-tron-gt-prototype-first-drive-–-flagship-electric-car-facelifted-for-2024

Hatchback

Tesla

Model S

Saloon

Porsche

TAYCAN

The concept of "known unknowns" was first floated by former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He was talking about international politics, but he could have been referring to this heavily updated <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/e-tron-gt/saloon/review/n22728">Audi e-tron GT</a>. That’s because when we tested the car, Audi’s engineers were incredibly tight-lipped and wouldn’t talk about many of the technical details – even though we know quite a bit about it from the outgoing version of the e-tron GT, and the upgrades recently made to the closely-related <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a>. So there are things we know about the new e-tron GT, things we think we know, and then things we know we don’t know.

Here’s what we know for sure: the e-tron GT is a sleek grand tourer that serves as a flagship model for Audi’s range of bespoke electric cars and the new version is due on sale in the UK in mid-2024. It shares a platform with the Taycan, but it’s slightly softer than that machine, with a slightly more all-rounder, real-world focus. Audi offers the e-tron GT in two versions: the standard form is really fast, while the ultra-spicy RS e-tron GT is crazily fast.It’s proved popular so far: Audi has sold more than 35,000 since it launched back in 2021. It looks pretty cool, too, and you might remember Tony Stark drives one when he’s not busy being Iron Man. But just as Stark was always tinkering with his superhero suit, Audi has kept on tinkering with the e-tron GT. And that’s resulted in this mid-life facelift – although it’s not really much of a facelift. Our test car had camouflage livery, but that couldn't hide that Audi hasn’t really messed with the styling.

Plenty has changed under the sleek bodywork though. We know there are new, more powerful and efficient electric motors, and new batteries with more capacity and new cell chemistry. We also know it’s faster, has more range and can charge faster. But Audi won’t tell us exactly how powerful the motors are, how big the new batteries are, how fast the car will go, or how many miles it will go between charging.<h2 dir="ltr">What’s the Audi e-tron GT facelift like to drive? </h2>Audi wouldn’t even tell us for certain which version of the car we were driving, although from the hints and performance it was pretty obvious that it was the more powerful RS e-tron GT, and like in a new Performance variant. How powerful is it? Well, this is educated guesswork, but with the more hardcore Taycan now offering 764bhp, we’d expect the RS e-tron GT to offer about 700bhp in top spec.It certainly felt like plenty of power from behind the wheel, and you wouldn’t want or need for more acceleration or pace from an electric grand tourer. There’s boundless acceleration from the off (enough to create a bit of warp-speed blur as you charge forward if you really want).

The Taycan is now available with 82kWh and 97kWh batteries, and they use a new chemistry that allows them to discharge energy more quickly and be charged up faster. That allows the Taycan to charge at speed of up to 320kW, and we’d expect the e-tron GT to do the same.As for how far it will go, the outgoing RS e-tron GT has an official range of 283 miles, and given the range increase for the Taycan we’d expect that to be well past 300 miles now.There are some aspects of the updated e-tron GT that we do know a bit more about. Audi’s engineers were much happier to talk about the advanced new active suspension set-up. It’s a very complex system, which uses hydraulic actuators to adjust each wheel to smooth out the ride. It uses the car’s sensors to read the road ahead to automatically adjust the suspension in preparation for bumps and dips, which is designed to make the ride smoother. It also can tilt the car and pitch forwards or backwards when turning into corners.

The system is subtle but effective, and you can feel it working as you drive - especially on a bumpier road. It helps ease out the worst of the lumps, while also helping you maintain speed round corners. It actually feels quite natural too.Audi has also tuned the system to work differently in the various drive modes, in an effort to broaden the e-tron GT’s performance. So in a standard mode it will focus on smoothing out the ride, while in sportier mode it will stiffen up to make for sharper turn in and handling. There’s another party gimmick too: touch the door handle and the suspension will raise the car up to make it even easier to get in.

<h2 dir="ltr">What’s the Audi e-tron GT facelift like inside?</h2>Inside, the dashboard of our prototype test car was covered up, but we wouldn’t expect too many changes from the outgoing e-tron GT given how popular the previous model has proven.<h2 dir="ltr">Audi e-tron GT facelift verdict and specs</h2>Without knowing full technical details of the e-tron GT it’s hard to form really firm conclusions about it. But from this early taste it feels like an effective update that makes the e-tron GT both more comfortable if you drive it in relaxing fashion, and more sporty if you decide to push on. That could be a tempting formula that could win over even more buyers looking for a stylish electric GT. That said, a final verdict must wait until we know for sure about many of the details that currently remain unknown.<h2>2024 Audi RS e-tron GT price and specs</h2>Price £130,000 (est) Engine Two electric motors Power 700bhp (est) Torque 750lb ft (est) Gearbox 1-spd automatic 0-62mph 3.0sec (est) Top speed 155mph (est) Official range 340 miles (est) CO2/tax 0g/km, 2%<h2 dir="ltr">Key rivals:</h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Tesla Model S</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">Read more: The best electric cars</a><hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

New Audi RS e-tron GT prototype first drive – electric car facelifted for 2024

New Audi RS E-tron GT prototype first drive – flagship electric car facelifted for 2024

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

new-audi-s3-prototype-first-drive-–-hot-hatch-facelifted-for-2024

2024-audi-s3-prototype-review

Audi

M135i

On sale: Mid-2024 | Price: From £45,000 (est)This might sound like an odd thing to say about a four-wheel-drive hot hatchback with a potent turbocharged engine, but the Audi S3 has always been a little understated.The S3 doesn’t feature the wild styling elements or extravagant handling some of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">best hot hatches</a> do, but instead comes with plenty of the premium sheen you’d expect of an Audi.It's a similar story when it comes to the S3's performance. There's plenty of power available, but the main focus has been on making an excellent upmarket all-rounder that’s easy to live with. As a result, the S3 is a compelling package – although it's one that Audi Sport’s engineers clearly think can be improved.The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n17152">current Audi S3</a> was launched in 2021, and Audi is now putting the finishing touches to a major revamp, which it says goes far beyond a midlife facelift. In order to showcase how much work has been done, they’ve let us have a go in a camouflaged prototype version a few months ahead of its official launch.As before, the model will be offered as the S3 Sportback (i.e. hatchback) and the S3 Saloon. We've driven the Sportback, although the two versions are mechanically identical. We can’t go into detail about the exterior or interior styling, and we also don’t have full technical or pricing details. We'd expect the 2024 S3 to attract a small premium over the current model's price, which currently starts at £44,090.

<h2>What is the Audi S3 prototype like to drive?</h2>The S3 keeps the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine as before, but it has been retuned to offer an increase of 25bhp, taking the power output to 329bhp.As well as dialling up the power, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audi</a> has done a lot of detailed work on how the engine and gearbox work. The turbocharger responds more quickly to help the engine produce its power sooner, while the seven-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">dual-clutch automatic gearbox</a> has been reworked to speed up shift times at faster speeds.Given the S3 already had plenty of poke, you probably won’t notice it pushing you harder into your seat, but the car definitely feels more eager to accelerate. It sounds great inside too.

The 2024 S3 also get the more sophisticated four-wheel-drive system from the wilder and more powerful <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs3/hatchback/review/n175">Audi RS3</a>. This adds a torque splitter and a pair of clutches to the S3’s rear axle, which means it can send different amounts of power to each of the rear wheels. When you’re cornering fast, it will send power to the outside wheel to maximise traction.You can feel all that tech working under spirited driving, enabling you to corner faster than you might otherwise have expected. However, what makes the S3 even more fun than before is that if you're on a private track, it's possible to encourage it to drift a little sideways. Audi’s assistance systems will quickly gather things together for you to keep things in check.

The S3’s sports suspension has also been revised, with stiffer wishbones and new adaptive dampers to improve the ride. It’s firm, but thankfully, it’s not so stiff that the S3 is uncomfortable to drive around town.Meanwhile, the S3’s progressive steering system makes it light and easy to turn around town, but firms up when you’re going faster out in the countryside. We’d still like it to be a bit more engaging, though.

<h2 dir="ltr">What’s the Audi S3 prototype like inside?</h2>Audi has yet to reveal the 2024 S3, so our prototype car featured a covered-up interior, and we couldn’t see anything beyond the digital instrument panel and central touchscreen. We’ll have to wait to judge it properly, although Audi has often won praise for its quality car interiors.<h2 dir="ltr">2024 Audi S3 prototype verdict</h2>Our experience of this prototype gives a positive impression of the replacement for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n17152">current Audi S3</a>.The S3 probably still won't match, say, a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17162">VW Golf R</a> for fun, but this update has added a welcome dose of performance without compromising on the car’s all-round usability. That should help it remain a strong choice for people who want an upmarket hatch that offers good performance that can be used every day.<h2>Price and specs</h2>Price £45,000 (est) Engine 4cyl, 1984cc, turbocharged, petrol Power 329bhp Torque 310lb ft at 2100 to 5500rpm Gearbox 7-spd automatic Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 4.7sec Fuel economy tbc CO2/tax tbc<h2 dir="ltr">Key rivals:</h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n18801">Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">Read more: The best hot hatches</a><hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

New Audi S3 prototype first drive – hot hatch facelifted for 2024

2024 Audi S3 prototype review

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Engaging handling </li> <li>Thrilling performance </li> <li>A characterful engine with an enticing soundtrack </li> <li>Reasonable running costs </li> <li>Not hard to live with day to day</li></ul>

A popular choice with UK buyers since the days of the original Volkswagen Golf GTI, the hot hatchback mixes everyday practicality with higher performance and the sort of handling and agility that’s ideally suited to British roads. A good hot hatch should be fun and, since it’s likely to be your daily drive, it should also deliver respectable running costs.

James Attwood

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New Audi RS e-tron GT prototype first drive – electric car facelifted for 2024

New Audi S3 prototype first drive – hot hatch facelifted for 2024

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