Long-term test introduction: 2023 Audi RS E-tron GT

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It is with great pleasure that I get to introduce you to our latest long term tester: the 2023 Audi RS E-tron GT in a spectacular Tactical Green Metallic. I’ll admit, this colour completely shocked me when I first turned the corner and saw it. There is something absolutely unexpected and surprising about this colour on this car. I confess I fully expected a menacing black-on-black Vader-esque combination or Audi RS’s signature Tango Red, but Audi’s PR department hit a home run picking this colour. About the only way to avoid conversation and compliments about this car and its colour is to drive my own car instead. Yes, this is Audi’s halo electric car, but I was not expecting the number of drivers and pedestrians whipping their heads around to stare and phones out to record, but essentially every trip draws admiring looks, approving thumbs up, or paparazzi-like pursuit.

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With the glory days of the R8 winding down, there was no better time for Audi to launch another vehicle that could pick up the torch of glorious extrovert and brand ambassador. The RS E-tron GT has grabbed that torch and is sprinting to the promised land of electrification with some impressive credentials. We are going to test all of its myriad charms and capabilities over the course of an entire summer, but we also have room to answer any questions or attempt any (reasonable) missions you ask of us. Over the next three months, we will keep track of our charging and range to let you know about the RS e-tron GT’s real world performance, plus we’re planning a couple of road trips and a comparison to see how it stacks up in this high-profile segment.

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But in order to kick things off, let’s start with the basics.

2023 Audi RS E-tron GT Canadian price

No matter which level of E-tron GT you want, it is going to cost you a hefty sum. The 2023 Audi E-tron GT Quattro starts at $138,900 in Canada and it’s not hard to spruce it up with another $20K in option packages. It’s no slouch either, with 496 horsepower, 464 lb-ft of torque (522 hp & 472 lb-ft with boost mode engaged) and a sprint to 100 km/h achieved in 4.1 seconds. Freight & PDI is $2,850 but it can vary from dealer to dealer.

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For maxed out performance the 590-hp, 612 lb-ft 2023 Audi RS E-tron GT starts at $188,350, but it’s already so well equipped that there are limited options, either the $4,500 Fine Nappa Leather package or $6,500 RS Design Package, ceramic brakes, some wheel options and some other cool colour options. Tactical Green, Suzuka Grey, Ascari Blue, Tango Red are all eye-catching paint jobs for $890, but for $7,900 you can get the Audi Exclusive options: Vegas Yellow, Coral Orange, Sepang Blue, Nardo Grey, or an even more exclusive Individual finish. Our tester has that Fine Nappa Leather package with full leather and honeycomb stitched seats, ventilated and massaging front seats, and three-spoke, flat-bottom heated leather steering wheel (perforated) with paddles, plus a $1,500 wheel option, $350 black badges, plus carbide brakes and orange calipers for another $500, totalling $195,740 before the Freight & PDI and taxes.

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How fast is the 2023 Audi RS E-tron GT?

It’s stupid fast, but it’s not ludicrous fast. EV acceleration has turned into quite the pissing contest, and the RS E-tron GT keeps up with anything sane, clocking 3.3 seconds to 100 km/h according to Audi. If numbers are what you’re after, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and Tesla Model S Plaid are faster at 2.8 and 2.1 seconds to 100 km/h, respectively. Hopefully nobody who owns those cars drives that fast anywhere but a drag strip, because even without the full launch control, the RS E-tron GT flattens you in your seat and makes you dizzy with its otherworldly acceleration.

What does it take to launch a 2,331-kg (5,139-lb) vehicle to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds? The RS E-tron GT has two electric motors: a 335 kW electric motor on the rear axle and another 175 kW motor on the front axle, combining for a peak output of 440 kW, which translates into 590 hp and 612 lb-ft of torque. If you do summon Launch Control, you get a couple brief seconds of 637-hp boost mode to really smash your face if you need to accelerate that fast for any reason. 

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If it’s charging speed you’re more concerned about, the RS E-tron GT features a 9.6-kW onboard charger and an 800-volt electrical system that can handle up to 270-kW charging speeds if you can find a charging station that delivers that kind of wattage. If you do, the RS E-tron GT can charge from 5 to 80 per cent in as little as 22 minutes.

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Audi RS E-tron GT range and efficiency

So it charges fast, but how far can it go between charges? The official NR Can range estimate for the RS E-tron GT is 373 km thanks to a 93 kWh battery, of which about 84 kWh is the usable portion. My real-world range during the first few weeks has actually been very close to that and even over. This past week, I specifically avoided charging it in order to see how many kilometres we could cover before needing to plug it in. With a 90 per cent charge, the RS E-tron GT showed 420 km in the trip computer, and we did not quite hit that but we put 343 km on it and were still showing 41 km of range, meaning we might have eked out over 380 km from a not even full battery. This week’s driving included a lot of short trips in hot weather with the A/C in Eco mode, so it was not as taxing as winter with its cold starts, but we also did not baby it and drive it for fun as often as for efficiency. Later this summer we will try to set up a longer highway range test to see if it can deliver that range at higher speeds.

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As for its efficiency, NR Can rates the 2023 RS E-tron GT at 26.4 kWh/100 km in the city, 25.5 highway and 26.0 combined, but the trip computer is showing 21.7 kWh after our first few weeks and we also saw 18.6 kWh/100 km during one extended highway drive.

Audi E-tron GT practicality

While the RS e-tron GT is quite the spectacular performance car and impressively efficient, it’s also a reasonably practical sedan. The trunk measures 350L, which doesn’t sound like much, especially compared to an SUV or a wagon, but we were able to slide a large plastic bin into the deeper part and still had room for a hockey bag, and we managed to squeeze in three smaller hockey bags. The E-tron GT also has a pass-through for skis or hockey sticks or other long items, and an auto opening feature that detects the fob and opens with a nudge of your leg. That being said, the trunk lid top is oddly shaped and often runs into larger items like hockey bags, meaning you have to give it an extra shove to get it closed sometimes.

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The E-tron GT is also a very long car at almost five metres, but it’s not terribly spacious in the passenger compartment, especially in the rear seats. The rear outboard seats are well supported, but the middle seat is just a perch and should be avoided if possible. The front seats are spectacular, with 18-way adjustability, heated and ventilated with a strong massage function (this gets the nod for my wife’s favourite feature). Some other modern conveniences that I really appreciate are the 360º parking camera and radar, the superb Bang & Olufsen sound system, multiple USB charing ports and a wireless charging pad, although cabin storage is a bit lacking and the wireless charging pad is awkwardly positioned inside the armrest cubby and difficult to access.

It seems like there is something for everyone in the Audi RS E-tron GT, which should be expected since you pay for all of those privileges and perks. We’re looking forward to the next few months in order to flex its range and enjoy even more of its performance potential.