2023 Audi RS e-tron GT

As the world switches to EVs, manufacturers are going out of their way to prove that electric cars can be practical, luxurious, and, most importantly, fun. The Audi RS e-tron GT is the most potent EV in the Audi stable, and we can safely say that it offers heaps of fun. Sharing a platform with the excellent Porsche Taycan, Porsche's first-ever EV, the RS e-tron GT delivers a knockout blow of electric performance while still maintaining the levels of comfort and refinement that Audi is known for. With a power output of 637 horsepower, this car is no joke, and it's no wonder that Ken Block parks one of these in his personal garage. The interior features recycled materials, and the battery packs get ultra-fast DC charging capabilities, but unfortunately, the RS e-tron GT's range is a slight letdown. Competitors such as the Tesla Model S Plaid make more sense if you want the extended range, but other than that, this electric Audi ticks all the boxes.

The price of the Audi RS e-tron GT starts at $143,900, excluding the $1,495 destination charge in the USA. The price does increase quite dramatically once you add the available optional packages, though, as you'll see lower down. By comparison, the Tesla Model S Plaid begins at an MSRP of $135,990 and the Porsche Taycan Turbo starts at $153,300.

This car might have all the power in the world and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.1 seconds, but it is no track car: the new Audi RS e-tron GT is more of a grand tourer than an all-out sports car. In and around the city, this car's optional rear-wheel drive steering and air suspension make it a pleasure to drive, and out on the highway, it's more of the same. The cabin is well insulated, and the quiet electric motors emit an oddly soothing thrum. Audi allows the driver to control the effectiveness of the regenerative braking via the steering wheel paddles. Steering is very light, becoming almost too light when the optional Power Steering Plus feature is added. The braking is devastatingly effective and brings this somewhat weighty car to an abrupt halt with good feel. Around sharp corners, the RS e-tron GT remains composed and flat, but it can't hide its weight and will slip into understeer when the throttle is lightly applied in sharp bends at speed.

The new 2023 Audi RS e-tron GT is a bonkers car with the style, luxury, and pace to make it a great car, but unfortunately, it's not as good as it could be. See, this Audi's wings have been clipped in order not to fly higher than the Porsche Taycan. The RS e-tron GT slots in between the entry-level Taycans and the full-blooded Turbo models. On top of this, the RS e-tron GT is more expensive than the Tesla Model S Plaid, a car that offers more range and performance. It's not all doom and gloom, though. The Audi RS e-tron GT rides better than most competitors in the USA, has a stylish interior, and boasts a high standard of build quality that the Tesla can't live up to. The RS e-tron GT is a great extension of the e-tron brand and has the performance to back up its stature as a true RS model, even if it's not the quickest car of its kind.

There is only one model and not a lot of options to work with. We'd have ours in Daytona Gray Pearl with the Carbon Performance Package, Ceramic brake package, and the Full Leather Interior.