RS e-tron: 590 HP, Audi Sport-Built e-tron GT Concept Finally Unveiled in LA

The wraps have finally come off, and here it is, the 590 hp, all electric e-tron GT. Better yet, the concept previews Audi’s vision for performance EVs since (like the R8 and all of its RS cars) the production car it previews will be made by Audi Sport.

Performance for the concept is suitably extreme. Its 590 hp and full-time all-wheel-drive allow it to get to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, to 124 mph in just a shade over 12 seconds, and all the way up to 150 mph.

Better yet, this won’t be a one-and-done EV. Thanks to its advanced liquid-cooling system, Audi says the concept is capable of accelerating hard multiple times without the need for a cool-down period.

All the performance comes from a pair of motors (one between the front wheels and another between the rear wheels) and 90 kWh lithium-ion batteries.

Good for a range of up to 400 km (250-ish miles), Audi claims that the range has been extended 30% by its sophisticated regenerative braking system, which can create up to 0.3 G of deceleration.

The automaker claims it has created a number of slowing modes that cover 90% of deceleration. These include: “manual coasting recuperation using the shift paddles, automatic coasting recuperation via the predictive efficiency assist, and brake recuperation with a smooth transition between electric and hydraulic deceleration.”

You will still have to plug it into a wall at some point, though. And you can do that through a normal wall plug, but if you’re in a hurry, Audi’s 800-volt system can charge the car to 80% in just 20 minutes. Meaning that in the time it takes your kids to use the restrooms and pick a vending machine snack, you can get your e-tron GT back up to nearly 200 miles of range.

It’s not all performance, though, there’s practicality, too. The shape and the lack of a big engine, the e-tron GT offers 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space in the trunk and 3.5 cubic feet in the frunk.

And it wouldn’t be a newfangled EV if it didn’t also come with a vegan interior.

Synthetic leather is used on the seats and trim surfaces says Audi. But that’s just the beginning.

“Fabrics made from recycled fibers are used on the seat cushions as well as the armrests and on the center console. Microfiber material adorns the headlining and the trim of the window pillars. Even the deep-pile floor carpet is made from sustainable Econyl yarn, a recycled fiber made from used fishing nets.”

Although this is a concept (and not actually a production model) Audi promises that this isn’t just vaporware. A production model of the e-tron GT is expected to go into production by the end of 2020, with models hitting the streets in 2021.

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