Anything over £100,000 you should get a sunroof, 360 camera & heads-up display. Not getting all the toys is simply taking the piss. If an EV6 GT can give you 500bhp & 4 seats for £60k then Audi should up their game.
@@BAC_Mono Does the exact bhp really matter? It is good value for money. Gives you a 360 camera, heated seats good bhp. For half the cost of the Audi... OK maybe not so good looking... Not a GT in the real terms... But still it is Audi that needs to up its game not KIA
Remember when $100,000 for a car was big money? Remember that one song when Will Smith was singing about Miami and he was like "$100,000 cars everybody got 'em", now it would be like $300,000 cars.
If I'm honest, whilst this still the best looking EV, I'll still have an RS6 over this anyday, it has huge performance whilst still room in the boot for a double pram!
As a tall and large person (6’5”, 240lbs) the Audi and Porsche have a very small interior for there size. When I push the seat all the way back my hips are almost behind the center pillar, making side visibility horrible, and making getting out very difficult. No one will be able to sit behind me making it a three person car. Compared to a Panamerica or Audi 7 it’s a compact car interior. Your charging costs in the UK are scary compared to USA.
i think its not good lookin anyway, lightyear one looks lkind of like like audi s7 but its prius levels of sporty for bently levels of money lol, but they said it was becoming cheaper down to 33k usd. theres aptera if going 2 seater, nimbus if going 1 seater
@@kalmmonke5037if you think that, then you need to get your eyes checked stat. This is easily one of the most beautiful car shapes on the road and one of Audis alltime best designs.
What I like about it is that it doesn't have the Taycan's unattractive front-end and is more discreet. A number of non-car-enthusiasts thought I'd bought a new A5, so maybe it's less likely to be keyed. Regarding phone storage, I wondered how people on the e-Tron forums could say that their phones fitted in the armrest compartment, when my modest OnePlus 6 was too long to fit vertically or horizontally. Checking it out in daylight from the passenger seat, there's a slot at the front of the compartment next to the vertical charging pad. So you can slot your phone in, front first; and poke the top through that slot. It will fit, even if it's connected to a charging cable... But you'll need to slug it out if the Mrs wants to put her phone in there at the same time as yours, there's only one slot.
Excellent video, well balanced and informative. Have test driven both the RS and non-RS versions, both astonishing cars and the RS performance is other worldly. Very fortunate to have a non-RS GT Quattro on its way to me (build week was mid-June but parts delays means it's probably now going to be here mid November at the earliest). As a heads up, the 360 camera comes with the Comfort and Sound pack on the non-RS, but I agree, it's bonkers that you have to spec the Parking Assistance package on the RS to get the camera at nearly £1800. Hifi wise, that's useful (and worrying) info... The B&O system on my current B9 S4 has done the same thing from new, rattles everywhere, EQ set neutral and volume at less than the mid position and several trips back to the workshop for fixes under warranty... Only reason I spec'd the C&S pack was for the matrix LED and Park Assistance (due to that crap visibility) so I guess I'll find out for myself just how bad the B&O is in this thing soon. Sunroof wise, weirdly it is standard on the 'basic' RS, only when you switch to the Carbon and above does it then become unavailable. If I was spec'ing an RS personally I'd stick with the non Carbon model for a less intrusively dark cabin and take the hit on it costing maybe a bit more to add the options than in a Vorpsrung package (which currently, as you say due to Audi UK's inflexibility, is only available as a Carbon Vorsprung). Great work again, would be interested to see how you get along with the non-RS version in a video in the future.
@ ben williams. For that price, I'd expect a second story and a pool. Impressive and nice as it may be, it still won't do long distances like my diesel Skoda Superb, which cost less than half of one of those extra's packs...so for regular people on a normal budget, pretty much all EV's are still an unaffordable extravagance that are consigned to "maybe sometime in the future", if I live long enough. Cheers!
Audi are not fussed about varients in UK as most by Audi's for status reasons. And many would buy poverty spec so long as they got the badge it is all good to them. .
My brother has just started to lease one of these. Carbon version. Looks stunning in the flesh. Performance is as expected. The most surprising things were: level of suspension comfort, in comfort, was E-Class like and traction was Impreza like. Too much money for my liking though..
100% agree with you James. You are the only online reviewer to have mentioned my frustration with Audi and their culling of options for the UK buyer. Audi must realise this will cost them customers in the long run.
It would, but it won't be enough for them to really care. The UK is a relatively small market that expects to be treated like the rest of the EU despite driving on the opposite side of the road compared to them and after voting themselves out of EU trade agreements. And to be frank, I live in the UK.
I tend to both agree and disagree about the power on EVs. I disagree about the safety. The "danger" in traditional fast cars comes in 2 parts: The power overwhelming the grip and spitting the car off the road, and the car simply arriving at corners/hazards/etc faster than the driver expects. I would posit that the first is the cause of most accidents, and it is totally eradicated with EV traction and stability control and smooth (non peaky) power delivery. So a 400-600HP EV in the hands of a toyota driver is actually not so dangerous. I agree about the power being unnecessary. The novelty of 0-60mph in 4 secs might not wear off so fast on the driver, but it does wear off very fast on your family cos they all get sick. I drive my Model 3 in "Chill" mode almost all the time cos it's smoother, and it still picks up more than fast enough from 60 mph to easily overtake slower traffic. I would be perfectly happy to have the car with 250HP rather than 400.
I can speak from personal experience that the traction control on the Model 3 steps in very keenly to keep things under control. Electric motors can respond faster than ABS or any combusion engine, you have to try really hard to unsettle it. IMO, I can see why people wouldn't want or need the extra power, but I don't think it causes problems _having_ that extra power available. With combustion engines, you have to worry about power curves, especially if the power has been achieved by slapping a couple huge turbochargers onto the engine, so it's either sluggish or a rocket with little in between. With an EV, power delivery can be totally linear and easily controlled.
I was tempted by the Audi. Being in the US we have, I think, better charging but often longer distances between chargers. We also have higher speed limits and higher actual traffic speed on major roads. In the end I bought a Lucid Air GT. The incredible range sealed the deal, but the extra 200hp didn't hurt. The Lucid will be coming to the UK, should start showing up in Germany before the end of the year. I look forward to you getting a crack at one. The handling is amazing for a vehicle of that weight. It has been thrilling to attack twisty mountain roads with that car.
In regards to the trim levels I often wonder if it’s a product of PCP and lease deals. People going for very few if any options. The fact the options most people like a lumped in with others that most wouldn’t usually go for in these trim levels now helps sell them as well.
@@pangolin83 I’m not being confrontational here I’m genuinely interested, why would having three trim levels help during the recent finical situation? Wouldn’t giving customers more flexibility/individuality be more likely encourage them to go ahead with a purchase? Why is Brexit also a factor in lumping options within the two trim levels?
I agree about having to press start in an EV I often forget get in and try to go then realise it’s not switched on. The Renault Zoe is the worst as it gives some chime noise as you get in confusing you that it’s powered up 😂
There's an anecdote in F1 that Bernie Ecclestone changed Brabham's name from MRD (Motor Racing Development) back to Brabham because it sounded like "merde" in French. Audi will face a similar issue selling this car/color combo in francophone countries.
Great review. I have had the RS e-tron GT Carbon Vorsprung on order since mid Feb, still no sign of it (was due September) hence you see very few if any on the road (only seen 2 in 10 months). Agree with a lot of your thoughts after test driving most EV’s available at the top end, apart from the new EQS. Heads up display and 360 camera is standard on the edition I have ordered.
Love it, Love it, LOve it. James another great review...Audi have done it this time...great use of vintage wing mirrors, vintage fit and finish and that Austin Allegro paint job....sooo 1970's!!!
Been waiting for this review, glad Audi loaned you one in the end. You can get an RS ETron GT with a panoramic roof in base spec i.e. not carbon / carbon black or Vorsprung trim. The black badging, it may just have been my dealer but my car came with silver badges from factory, I asked for the black badges and got them FOC and retrofitted them when I had it PPF'ed. Also specced mine with interior carbon inlays, extended leather pack and HUD so all I'm missing over a Vorsprung is different wheel design, massage front seats and heated rear seats, contrast stitching, night vision, some assistance systems, exterior and door sill carbon (which makes no weight difference on a 2.3 ton car) and 360 cameras, the cameras being the only thing I feel I missed out on. But I did get the pan roof which significantly lifts the rear and front interior. I chose mine over a Taycan Turbo as whilst options are good and you are right in saying Audi shouldn't limit them to 3 or 4 pre selected trim levels, to spec an equivalent eTron GT is way less than a Porsche [cheapest Taycan is a 2S (RWD), eTron GT's are all AWD]. Also I like buttons, Taycan have a crap second screen to control not only temperature but you have to use the touch screen to point the direction the vents blow air! Pretty sure when driving, focus should be on the road, not on a screen... Looks are subjective, I am biased of course in saying the Audi looks better in GT form. Whilst Efficiency mode does limit your speed to 85mph it does also disengage the front motor and means the car only uses the highest of the 2 gears on the rear motor, it'll never use 1st gear which comfort and dynamic will. Downsides, Audi Pre-Sense is too eager, having come from an RS7 I too struggle without not having 360 cameras now and I purposely specced HUD on mine which does also show you nav information, directions and warnings as you commented on. One thing I wish I had specced was the ceramics, had them on my RS7, got carbid discs now and they're OK but not always the most reassuring. Build quality has ben good and it hasn't suffered from the issues your press car had in terms of fit and rattles but I understand it is a mixed bag in the owners forums. I didn't buy it as a Tesla rival, I bought it as a replacement for an RS7 and in most respects it is equal if not better, certainly better in ride; only at Autobahn speeds is the RS7 quicker. It isn't the future, its an interesting alternative and I am one of those that has one as a company car so the cost of this vs. an RS6/7, its less than half the cost on a monthly lease. And then there is fuelling, yes it won't go as far on a charge (probably about half the range) however its costs a lot less. Last fill on the RS7 in February 2022 was £130, to charge the RS eTron GT even now from 10% to 100% on Ionity 250kWh rapid chargers is around £33. Plus I don't have oil/ filter/ plug changes to contend with anymore, no £500+ VED once a year. It's a shame that Audi press didn't give you the ETron Charging Service card, so via an RFID card or App you can access somewhere in the region of 80% of UK public chargers at a discounted rate. I agree that as of October pricing has become ridiculous, on 50kWh fast chargers you can pay anything between 28p and £1 per kilowatt depending on which you use which is scandalous. It's a great Audi, arguably one of their best daily driving and handling and monstrously quick at any time, no need to be in the right mode / gear / rev range, just depress the right pedal and it goes. Great that you enjoyed it.
The Porsche owner anecdote is so... True. Lots of people cling to those 'universal truths' and repeat them verbatim as a justification for the purchase option. But, in the end, its far from the case. I chuckled when you made that face, James. I see myself doing the same... 😂
Very interesting and detailed review. I really love the "JayEmm" Sounds for the car. Maybe one day you can change the EV Cars Soundfiles with a hack :-D
I know two Company Directors driving two of these. These are their second electric Audis after a series of diesel. They went EV because of undeniable tax advantages. The driving costs are not important for them. Their view: nice looking, great performance, real range about 210 miles but not worth the price at well over £1000/month on lease. They both believe their previous diesels were a better package.
Here in South Africa we pay 25% Import tax on EVs and 18% on ICE vehicles. That brings the price of a fully specced RS GT to just over £150k. The car itself is just fantastic and I prefer it over the Taycan. Great review as always James.
No no no good sir, I do agree with you indeed when it comes to Audi and their specs. I was looking a year ago for an A1, for the wife and it absolutely shocked me.
The RS6 distances itself from much cheaper I.C.E. Products with ease. I think that equally expensive E.V.s such as this E-Tron GT doesn’t. It seems to me pretty obvious where the cost of an RS6 goes. Not so with really expensive E.V.s
It's not just Audi,Jay,the U.K. version of the late model 5.0Ford Mustang GT is lower specification,has less power and even worse,is considerably cheaper in the USA.
Still have an RS6, miles better looking. Also like you said seems like Audi is ripping off the UK market, its not value for money at all compared to an RS6
Audi like using "Tactical Green" for their press cars, perhaps they reason that theft will be less of an issue 😉 Last summer there was an identical one but for a 21 plate parked outside my in laws house in the Cotswolds, I then saw the reg No in a few online videos and mag articles.
great car. that fact it's an EV automatically would make it my choice over any RS6. not sure about eh army green colour on this e-tron though. thanks James. great review as always
Here in Germany these are super popular and there is not a Day i don't see one on the Autobahn or in the City of Frankfurt when i drive there. I always wonder why People pick it over other EVs, it's a beautiful Car but the Price is why i wonder. I guess it's Audi Customers just sticking to their Brand of Choice, Brand Loyalty is really big here, which is also why you see a ton of Mercedes, BMW and VW EVs here and less Teslas by the Day
I saw an e-Tron GT in Tactical Green during my visit to Singapore 3 weeks ago. I don't like Tactical Green. If you see this colour in your baby crib you should contact your pediatrician immediately. The design itself, however, I really like. Kinda hard to choose between e-Tron GT and Taycan.
Man I was pretty impressed by the looks and my enthusiasm was dashed against the rocky shore when I looked at that interior. Boring Germanic black everywhere. No sort of color accents to bring color. Boring deisgn. Plastic buttons, glossy black. Its a very cheap looking let down. Even if the materials are nice it's very meh to look at. I've noticed other Audi models having pretty bad build quality like you show in this one by other reviewers.
nailed it! best looking car i have seen in long time. It was a no brainer for me. In phoeniz, az, I have owned mine for 4 months and only seen two in that span. Love having an unique car, especially in this town....of course the price tag is part of the reason, but i still see plenty of the more expensive Taycans.
Fascinating how car prices have increased exponentially in recent years - most people buy new cars on a monthly budget and therefore, the ticket price has little or no bearing on the matter.
I like the colour, but don’t love it! It’s not a practical proposition for me though, as I have no drive and don’t have time to muck about charging during the day. I’ll keep my RS6 thanks, which has the HUD, 360 cakes and panroof and also eats miles like a GT car should. I recently drove 700 miles in a day going on holiday to France and stopped twice for a break and a fill up, arrived feeling pretty good!
Plaid has over 1,020hp, in model x(!) and s form, makes this an option for those who don't like Tesla or their design and for the super rich too etc...
Imo Audi have allways been overpriced. …I loved the Audi ttrs. But there basic models are so over priced …today if you offered someone a Porsche , or a Audi most would pick a Porsche .. infact I’ll pick a Merc , or a bmw before Audi
basiclly Audi should be a car brand one day where there are no trim lvls or options , u just go in, ask a model of the car and u get EVERYTHING there possible is to put in on the car, u do get an option of not having something u dislike for example the color of stichings or what ever.
In first world countries i can see how EVs can work . Here in South Africa , i do not see it working any time soon . First off in the UK there are almost 35000 charging stations , here in South Africa there are 80 (I do not mean 80k but eight zero.) that in a country roughly 5 times the size of the UK. More than that , the power currently generated in this country is not enough to supply power to the whole country 24/7 so we have something called Loadshedding there our power is cut off for a few hours a day (at the moment we are in stage 2 witch means we are without electricity for 4 hours a day) and i do not see that changing any time soon !
I loved the review, the witty remarks, and of course the shirt - right up to the part where you mentioned 'wing' mirrors.... I thought motoring journalists would have realised by now that they were extinct from around 1975 - almost half a century ago !!
erm...ok....135000 pounds....right...ok, could someone remind me when was the last time a super-model climbed out of a six-figure sports car, sighed and said "This glossy red sports car would be so much more exciting in dog-shit brown..." jesus Audi, who came up with that colour, Stevie Wonder??
Seems the UA-camrs are all pushing the EV’s of stratospheric cost and operation, nice car but there must be a line where the additional options, specs, etc., doesn’t justify that cost… How about a series to compare “normal” EV’s or even used ones?….
Really great review. The technical challenges of chargers is surprisingly intricate. The reason Tesla chargers just work, and the reason why their rollout to other mfrs is piecemeal is one and the same: whether the same people have oversight of both sides of the system... or not.
I think the 2 best looking EVs to date are this, and that new Kia one. yea I said a kia is good looking, man I must be old. But..... Id never part with my hard earnt cash for an EV unless it actually paid me lol
Jay - have been watching since your genesis. At around 16:25 you do something entirely unheard of: You laugh. It is a MARVELOUS laugh. You made my day.
Audi GB and their dealers are the main reason I’ve only ever owned one Audi. Great cars let down by very poor before and after-market experience. Not being able to spec the pan roof is terrible…
A benefit of being in my mid-70s is that I'll die before having to buy an electric vehicle. On the other hand knowing I'll be dead in 15 years dampens my enthusiasm just a bit.
efficiency mode de-couples the rear motor to become FWD and contactless payment for charging has become law, all chargers must be compliant by Nov 2024
Whatever you do, don't hope that if it goes wrong, that Audi will have the parts to fix them. My boss's has no heating in his car. Audi said did he want the car back, its going to be a long time before we can get the parts, there is no eta for these. So, at work, we have said the best way forward would be to go to Ikea and get some tea lights to defrost his windscreen now Autumn is here and Winter is approaching , but not to brake with his big brakes as he would get wax on the dash. Audi have now kept the car on realising what they said ! . So, he is getting a 'long term hire car' to be able to go to work. Not from Audi, oh no, that's a 5 week wait for 'anything' from them. So, Audi UK, if you read this, then Newbury has the car , which cost upwards of £150k !! and is no use as you cant support the product you so well advertise on TV. Pirelli P7's on this one James. Oh my.................. Its seems a nice place to site, but I think it looks a bit rough round the edges with exterior trim. But its a nice place to be driven in. Dont try and get car seats for kids in the back. Its a pain and my boss has now ordered a VW Buzz for this job.
Tactical Green and 2.5t...would make an ideal Russian tank flattener if dropped from an enormous drone, but unfortunately costs twice as much as a Javelin shoulder launched missile! Nice looking car, and good to get a longer term view of an EV, but I'm still not sold.
As someone who has an EV in their household, is a gimmick more than anything. Nothing useful and 10x worse for the climate than a diesel. Yes the instantaneous speed climb and quietness whilst doing so is something else but thats about it.
Ehh I don't agree on the volume swirling thing. I like to tinker with my volume and you can't tell how much you'll change the volume by like you can with a knob.
‘Favourite Audi’ is a valid moniker if one enjoys an EV more than a car with an engine. The ‘favourite EV’ moniker makes less sense, without a comparison with other EVs beyond the obviously similar Porsche. Tesla is obviously still, objectively, king of EV. They sell several times as many cars in the UK and their charging network is significantly better.
Anything over £100,000 you should get a sunroof, 360 camera & heads-up display. Not getting all the toys is simply taking the piss. If an EV6 GT can give you 500bhp & 4 seats for £60k then Audi should up their game.
if u buy an ev ur probly vaccinated
The more you pay for a car, the less spec you get . A £130k Taycan doesn't even get heated front seats.
Motoring journalists losing the plot when a £130k is value for money. In the real world £30k is a lot of money.
The EV6 GT has 577 bhp for £60k
@@BAC_Mono Does the exact bhp really matter? It is good value for money. Gives you a 360 camera, heated seats good bhp. For half the cost of the Audi... OK maybe not so good looking... Not a GT in the real terms... But still it is Audi that needs to up its game not KIA
£135,000.
Im getting old - in my head thats Ferrari money but in reality it hasnt been for many, many years...
Indeed. In 2022 £135k is a well specced BMW M5. You'll need to find another £100k for a prancing horse.
Man I said this exact thing yesterday to a guy who's just bought a brand new X7
What’s crazy is to see these SUVs that go up to 150k plus
Remember when $100,000 for a car was big money? Remember that one song when Will Smith was singing about Miami and he was like "$100,000 cars everybody got 'em", now it would be like $300,000 cars.
@@venom5809 guys welcome to the economical term called: "Inflation" let me put a wikipedia for you guys so you learn: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation
If I'm honest, whilst this still the best looking EV, I'll still have an RS6 over this anyday, it has huge performance whilst still room in the boot for a double pram!
It's ugly and useless
My first car (an Allegro) was that colour. I still need counselling from time to time
As a tall and large person (6’5”, 240lbs) the Audi and Porsche have a very small interior for there size. When I push the seat all the way back my hips are almost behind the center pillar, making side visibility horrible, and making getting out very difficult. No one will be able to sit behind me making it a three person car. Compared to a Panamerica or Audi 7 it’s a compact car interior. Your charging costs in the UK are scary compared to USA.
16:26 the sounds of JayEmm getting his knob polished
😂😭😈
I think it's the most beautiful Audi in 15 years. As always James, a very nice review and video.
i think its not good lookin anyway, lightyear one looks lkind of like like audi s7 but its prius levels of sporty for bently levels of money lol, but they said it was becoming cheaper down to 33k usd. theres aptera if going 2 seater, nimbus if going 1 seater
@@kalmmonke5037if you think that, then you need to get your eyes checked stat. This is easily one of the most beautiful car shapes on the road and one of Audis alltime best designs.
What I like about it is that it doesn't have the Taycan's unattractive front-end and is more discreet. A number of non-car-enthusiasts thought I'd bought a new A5, so maybe it's less likely to be keyed.
Regarding phone storage, I wondered how people on the e-Tron forums could say that their phones fitted in the armrest compartment, when my modest OnePlus 6 was too long to fit vertically or horizontally.
Checking it out in daylight from the passenger seat, there's a slot at the front of the compartment next to the vertical charging pad. So you can slot your phone in, front first; and poke the top through that slot. It will fit, even if it's connected to a charging cable... But you'll need to slug it out if the Mrs wants to put her phone in there at the same time as yours, there's only one slot.
Yes - he clearly had no idea how to use the phone charger.
Excellent video, well balanced and informative. Have test driven both the RS and non-RS versions, both astonishing cars and the RS performance is other worldly. Very fortunate to have a non-RS GT Quattro on its way to me (build week was mid-June but parts delays means it's probably now going to be here mid November at the earliest). As a heads up, the 360 camera comes with the Comfort and Sound pack on the non-RS, but I agree, it's bonkers that you have to spec the Parking Assistance package on the RS to get the camera at nearly £1800. Hifi wise, that's useful (and worrying) info... The B&O system on my current B9 S4 has done the same thing from new, rattles everywhere, EQ set neutral and volume at less than the mid position and several trips back to the workshop for fixes under warranty... Only reason I spec'd the C&S pack was for the matrix LED and Park Assistance (due to that crap visibility) so I guess I'll find out for myself just how bad the B&O is in this thing soon.
Sunroof wise, weirdly it is standard on the 'basic' RS, only when you switch to the Carbon and above does it then become unavailable. If I was spec'ing an RS personally I'd stick with the non Carbon model for a less intrusively dark cabin and take the hit on it costing maybe a bit more to add the options than in a Vorpsrung package (which currently, as you say due to Audi UK's inflexibility, is only available as a Carbon Vorsprung).
Great work again, would be interested to see how you get along with the non-RS version in a video in the future.
Colour looks a bit 70's British Leyland
For that price I'd expect a sunroof personally!
@ ben williams. For that price, I'd expect a second story and a pool. Impressive and nice as it may be, it still won't do long distances like my diesel Skoda Superb, which cost less than half of one of those extra's packs...so for regular people on a normal budget, pretty much all EV's are still an unaffordable extravagance that are consigned to "maybe sometime in the future", if I live long enough. Cheers!
Not when you realise how much all VW group sunroofs rattle, creak and squeek.
@@aidencoder dont forget the leaks! At least on the golfs
@@phillipevans9414 Fully agree, far too expensive and the infrastructure doesn't seem up to scratch yet either!
@@aidencoder I have one in my A7 Vorsprung and it doesnt rattle, squeak, creak, or leak thanx.
Audi are not fussed about varients in UK as most by Audi's for status reasons. And many would buy poverty spec so long as they got the badge it is all good to them.
.
My brother has just started to lease one of these. Carbon version. Looks stunning in the flesh. Performance is as expected. The most surprising things were: level of suspension comfort, in comfort, was E-Class like and traction was Impreza like. Too much money for my liking though..
The other James Martin (Chef) has one of these and loves it too. Been in it as a passenger with him, the performance is mind boggling.
@Richard Harrold If he wasn’t such a workaholic he probably would !
@Richard Harrold i can’t discuss that but his car collection is incredible and all paid for by hard work rather than exploiting love interests.
100% agree with you James. You are the only online reviewer to have mentioned my frustration with Audi and their culling of options for the UK buyer. Audi must realise this will cost them customers in the long run.
It would, but it won't be enough for them to really care. The UK is a relatively small market that expects to be treated like the rest of the EU despite driving on the opposite side of the road compared to them and after voting themselves out of EU trade agreements. And to be frank, I live in the UK.
@@pangolin83 Small market, but a profitable one, bit like icing on a cake? Maybe....
Subjective I know but that colour looks like something from British Leylands 1970s catalogue
I tend to both agree and disagree about the power on EVs. I disagree about the safety. The "danger" in traditional fast cars comes in 2 parts: The power overwhelming the grip and spitting the car off the road, and the car simply arriving at corners/hazards/etc faster than the driver expects. I would posit that the first is the cause of most accidents, and it is totally eradicated with EV traction and stability control and smooth (non peaky) power delivery. So a 400-600HP EV in the hands of a toyota driver is actually not so dangerous.
I agree about the power being unnecessary. The novelty of 0-60mph in 4 secs might not wear off so fast on the driver, but it does wear off very fast on your family cos they all get sick. I drive my Model 3 in "Chill" mode almost all the time cos it's smoother, and it still picks up more than fast enough from 60 mph to easily overtake slower traffic. I would be perfectly happy to have the car with 250HP rather than 400.
I can speak from personal experience that the traction control on the Model 3 steps in very keenly to keep things under control. Electric motors can respond faster than ABS or any combusion engine, you have to try really hard to unsettle it.
IMO, I can see why people wouldn't want or need the extra power, but I don't think it causes problems _having_ that extra power available. With combustion engines, you have to worry about power curves, especially if the power has been achieved by slapping a couple huge turbochargers onto the engine, so it's either sluggish or a rocket with little in between. With an EV, power delivery can be totally linear and easily controlled.
I was tempted by the Audi. Being in the US we have, I think, better charging but often longer distances between chargers. We also have higher speed limits and higher actual traffic speed on major roads. In the end I bought a Lucid Air GT. The incredible range sealed the deal, but the extra 200hp didn't hurt.
The Lucid will be coming to the UK, should start showing up in Germany before the end of the year. I look forward to you getting a crack at one. The handling is amazing for a vehicle of that weight. It has been thrilling to attack twisty mountain roads with that car.
In regards to the trim levels I often wonder if it’s a product of PCP and lease deals. People going for very few if any options. The fact the options most people like a lumped in with others that most wouldn’t usually go for in these trim levels now helps sell them as well.
That or perhaps because its RHD and they want to streamline the assembly.
Cost savings most likely influenced by recent financial happenings and Brexit
@@pangolin83 I’m not being confrontational here I’m genuinely interested, why would having three trim levels help during the recent finical situation? Wouldn’t giving customers more flexibility/individuality be more likely encourage them to go ahead with a purchase? Why is Brexit also a factor in lumping options within the two trim levels?
@@MrManBuzz I could believe that. I guess all the RHD markets combined are a fraction of the LHD. Is it not UK only that’s effected?
@@Mac_F87 It's a lot quicker (and thus cheaper) to build a bunch of cars to the same spec than it is to build them each with their own unique spec.
🤣🤣 You even made that truck move over on your test drive! Love it👍🏻
I agree about having to press start in an EV I often forget get in and try to go then realise it’s not switched on. The Renault Zoe is the worst as it gives some chime noise as you get in confusing you that it’s powered up 😂
There's an anecdote in F1 that Bernie Ecclestone changed Brabham's name from MRD (Motor Racing Development) back to Brabham because it sounded like "merde" in French.
Audi will face a similar issue selling this car/color combo in francophone countries.
Great review. I have had the RS e-tron GT Carbon Vorsprung on order since mid Feb, still no sign of it (was due September) hence you see very few if any on the road (only seen 2 in 10 months). Agree with a lot of your thoughts after test driving most EV’s available at the top end, apart from the new EQS. Heads up display and 360 camera is standard on the edition I have ordered.
Love it, Love it, LOve it. James another great review...Audi have done it this time...great use of vintage wing mirrors, vintage fit and finish and that Austin Allegro paint job....sooo 1970's!!!
Been waiting for this review, glad Audi loaned you one in the end. You can get an RS ETron GT with a panoramic roof in base spec i.e. not carbon / carbon black or Vorsprung trim. The black badging, it may just have been my dealer but my car came with silver badges from factory, I asked for the black badges and got them FOC and retrofitted them when I had it PPF'ed. Also specced mine with interior carbon inlays, extended leather pack and HUD so all I'm missing over a Vorsprung is different wheel design, massage front seats and heated rear seats, contrast stitching, night vision, some assistance systems, exterior and door sill carbon (which makes no weight difference on a 2.3 ton car) and 360 cameras, the cameras being the only thing I feel I missed out on. But I did get the pan roof which significantly lifts the rear and front interior.
I chose mine over a Taycan Turbo as whilst options are good and you are right in saying Audi shouldn't limit them to 3 or 4 pre selected trim levels, to spec an equivalent eTron GT is way less than a Porsche [cheapest Taycan is a 2S (RWD), eTron GT's are all AWD]. Also I like buttons, Taycan have a crap second screen to control not only temperature but you have to use the touch screen to point the direction the vents blow air! Pretty sure when driving, focus should be on the road, not on a screen...
Looks are subjective, I am biased of course in saying the Audi looks better in GT form.
Whilst Efficiency mode does limit your speed to 85mph it does also disengage the front motor and means the car only uses the highest of the 2 gears on the rear motor, it'll never use 1st gear which comfort and dynamic will.
Downsides, Audi Pre-Sense is too eager, having come from an RS7 I too struggle without not having 360 cameras now and I purposely specced HUD on mine which does also show you nav information, directions and warnings as you commented on. One thing I wish I had specced was the ceramics, had them on my RS7, got carbid discs now and they're OK but not always the most reassuring. Build quality has ben good and it hasn't suffered from the issues your press car had in terms of fit and rattles but I understand it is a mixed bag in the owners forums.
I didn't buy it as a Tesla rival, I bought it as a replacement for an RS7 and in most respects it is equal if not better, certainly better in ride; only at Autobahn speeds is the RS7 quicker. It isn't the future, its an interesting alternative and I am one of those that has one as a company car so the cost of this vs. an RS6/7, its less than half the cost on a monthly lease. And then there is fuelling, yes it won't go as far on a charge (probably about half the range) however its costs a lot less. Last fill on the RS7 in February 2022 was £130, to charge the RS eTron GT even now from 10% to 100% on Ionity 250kWh rapid chargers is around £33. Plus I don't have oil/ filter/ plug changes to contend with anymore, no £500+ VED once a year.
It's a shame that Audi press didn't give you the ETron Charging Service card, so via an RFID card or App you can access somewhere in the region of 80% of UK public chargers at a discounted rate.
I agree that as of October pricing has become ridiculous, on 50kWh fast chargers you can pay anything between 28p and £1 per kilowatt depending on which you use which is scandalous.
It's a great Audi, arguably one of their best daily driving and handling and monstrously quick at any time, no need to be in the right mode / gear / rev range, just depress the right pedal and it goes. Great that you enjoyed it.
7:10
Jay's music taste matches his fashion taste...aka fucking abysmal 🤣
I guess Audi's marketing department didn't look in the dictionary for what étron means in French.
How about this : The car is an E-Tron, and the colour is étron.
The Porsche owner anecdote is so... True. Lots of people cling to those 'universal truths' and repeat them verbatim as a justification for the purchase option. But, in the end, its far from the case. I chuckled when you made that face, James. I see myself doing the same... 😂
I see it's wearing the appropriate colour for the French market.
Very interesting and detailed review. I really love the "JayEmm" Sounds for the car. Maybe one day you can change the EV Cars Soundfiles with a hack :-D
I know two Company Directors driving two of these. These are their second electric Audis after a series of diesel. They went EV because of undeniable tax advantages. The driving costs are not important for them. Their view: nice looking, great performance, real range about 210 miles but not worth the price at well over £1000/month on lease. They both believe their previous diesels were a better package.
Here in South Africa we pay 25% Import tax on EVs and 18% on ICE vehicles. That brings the price of a fully specced RS GT to just over £150k. The car itself is just fantastic and I prefer it over the Taycan. Great review as always James.
These were exposed on the audi launch event in North Scotland, poor range and nowhere to charge them except back at the hotel base.
Yes finally been waiting for this, love this car such road presence without being flash!
You know that a car has a good design when it looks good even in poop color.
When you were in primary school and you first tried to mix colours and you used ALL of them? that's the color you got!
It is isn't it!
No no no good sir, I do agree with you indeed when it comes to Audi and their specs. I was looking a year ago for an A1, for the wife and it absolutely shocked me.
The RS6 distances itself from much cheaper I.C.E. Products with ease. I think that equally expensive E.V.s such as this E-Tron GT doesn’t. It seems to me pretty obvious where the cost of an RS6 goes. Not so with really expensive E.V.s
It's not just Audi,Jay,the U.K. version of the late model 5.0Ford Mustang GT is lower specification,has less power and even worse,is considerably cheaper in the USA.
Still have an RS6, miles better looking. Also like you said seems like Audi is ripping off the UK market, its not value for money at all compared to an RS6
Audi like using "Tactical Green" for their press cars, perhaps they reason that theft will be less of an issue 😉
Last summer there was an identical one but for a 21 plate parked outside my in laws house in the Cotswolds, I then saw the reg No in a few online videos and mag articles.
Surely no one will pay that sort of money for an Audi?
great car. that fact it's an EV automatically would make it my choice over any RS6. not sure about eh army green colour on this e-tron though. thanks James. great review as always
Here in Germany these are super popular and there is not a Day i don't see one on the Autobahn or in the City of Frankfurt when i drive there.
I always wonder why People pick it over other EVs, it's a beautiful Car but the Price is why i wonder.
I guess it's Audi Customers just sticking to their Brand of Choice, Brand Loyalty is really big here, which is also why you see a ton of Mercedes, BMW and VW EVs here and less Teslas by the Day
Bought by companies, not individuals.
I love the E-Tron, but the Porsche Taycan is my go to EV supercar, at the moment.
I don’t get why manufacturers leave money on the table in the U.K., by denying us access to the full options list.
That's the German way. Charge for every option
That Midlands ‘cause it’s carbon fibre’ pronunciation had me in stitches😂
Thought it sounded more Yorkshire...
He'd recently moved
Totally crazy prices.. I don't think they'll sell many, even including those well heeled persons who could afford to buy one
Just checked out the Sebastian Bohm version of Blue Monday, it's bloody awful !!!
Try the version from Dance Cult, featuring Stahsi
I saw an e-Tron GT in Tactical Green during my visit to Singapore 3 weeks ago.
I don't like Tactical Green. If you see this colour in your baby crib you should contact your pediatrician immediately.
The design itself, however, I really like. Kinda hard to choose between e-Tron GT and Taycan.
Always though the same about tactical green until I saw one of these in the flesh. I thought it looked epic..
"Tactical Green" , the sort of colour we used to see on Allegros etc !!
My 70-year old Italian car is an exact colour match for this Audi - the Italians called it Marronne, or Brown!
Man I was pretty impressed by the looks and my enthusiasm was dashed against the rocky shore when I looked at that interior.
Boring Germanic black everywhere. No sort of color accents to bring color. Boring deisgn. Plastic buttons, glossy black. Its a very cheap looking let down. Even if the materials are nice it's very meh to look at.
I've noticed other Audi models having pretty bad build quality like you show in this one by other reviewers.
One of the coolest looking Audi's they ever did. I hate to say this, but I'd take it ahead of Taycan, because of its looks.
nailed it! best looking car i have seen in long time. It was a no brainer for me. In phoeniz, az, I have owned mine for 4 months and only seen two in that span. Love having an unique car, especially in this town....of course the price tag is part of the reason, but i still see plenty of the more expensive Taycans.
Fascinating how car prices have increased exponentially in recent years - most people buy new cars on a monthly budget and therefore, the ticket price has little or no bearing on the matter.
I like the colour, but don’t love it! It’s not a practical proposition for me though, as I have no drive and don’t have time to muck about charging during the day. I’ll keep my RS6 thanks, which has the HUD, 360 cakes and panroof and also eats miles like a GT car should. I recently drove 700 miles in a day going on holiday to France and stopped twice for a break and a fill up, arrived feeling pretty good!
You chose the 360 cakes, yummy! 🎂🎂🎂
Saw the same model car, same colour, in Germany last July. Looked stunning. Great review, particularly in dealing with the Model S Plaid issue.
Plaid has over 1,020hp, in model x(!) and s form, makes this an option for those who don't like Tesla or their design and for the super rich too etc...
@@bloodstockvip2176 hp isn't everything
@@raffefly2148 I know but it's significantly less than a Plaid you can't argue that
Imo Audi have allways been overpriced. …I loved the Audi ttrs. But there basic models are so over priced …today if you offered someone a Porsche , or a Audi most would pick a Porsche .. infact I’ll pick a Merc , or a bmw before Audi
Love the styling like the color hate the wheels. Thanks James!
I often see a silver one of these driving around. Great precense
Why oh why did Audi think this would be a good colour to sell their car?
basiclly Audi should be a car brand one day where there are no trim lvls or options , u just go in, ask a model of the car and u get EVERYTHING there possible is to put in on the car, u do get an option of not having something u dislike for example the color of stichings or what ever.
In first world countries i can see how EVs can work . Here in South Africa , i do not see it working any time soon . First off in the UK there are almost 35000 charging stations , here in South Africa there are 80 (I do not mean 80k but eight zero.) that in a country roughly 5 times the size of the UK. More than that , the power currently generated in this country is not enough to supply power to the whole country 24/7 so we have something called Loadshedding there our power is cut off for a few hours a day (at the moment we are in stage 2 witch means we are without electricity for 4 hours a day) and i do not see that changing any time soon !
I loved the review, the witty remarks, and of course the shirt - right up to the part where you mentioned 'wing' mirrors.... I thought motoring journalists would have realised by now that they were extinct from around 1975 - almost half a century ago !!
I know, it's an anachronism but what people here still call em
Dijon Mustard coloured Audi, Lovely car & great tech , Love the Shirt James !
Topixal uploading as just been on a morning walk & seen only my 3rd e-tron GT!
erm...ok....135000 pounds....right...ok, could someone remind me when was the last time a super-model climbed out of a six-figure sports car, sighed and said "This glossy red sports car would be so much more exciting in dog-shit brown..." jesus Audi, who came up with that colour, Stevie Wonder??
Seems the UA-camrs are all pushing the EV’s of stratospheric cost and operation, nice car but there must be a line where the additional options, specs, etc., doesn’t justify that cost… How about a series to compare “normal” EV’s or even used ones?….
You didn't see my recent EV piece did you?
I also have featured a number of cheaper EVs - FIAT 500, KIA E Niro, Soul etc
ionity is very reasonable when you have the porsche charge card for instance.
Tactical Green? In WW2 they called it Olive Drab if I'm not mistaken.
Wonderful video. Potentially your best yet.
Really great review. The technical challenges of chargers is surprisingly intricate. The reason Tesla chargers just work, and the reason why their rollout to other mfrs is piecemeal is one and the same: whether the same people have oversight of both sides of the system... or not.
Thankyou for an exceptional review.
Should it not come as RS6 version as well, people NEED wagons. We're just not allowed to have EV ones.
I think the 2 best looking EVs to date are this, and that new Kia one. yea I said a kia is good looking, man I must be old. But..... Id never part with my hard earnt cash for an EV unless it actually paid me lol
Kia and Hyundai are making some really nice looking cars these days
Jay - have been watching since your genesis. At around 16:25 you do something entirely unheard of: You laugh. It is a MARVELOUS laugh. You made my day.
It has been known to happen
I have a real prejudice against EV's, guilty as charged.
Audi GB and their dealers are the main reason I’ve only ever owned one Audi. Great cars let down by very poor before and after-market experience. Not being able to spec the pan roof is terrible…
Now compare that AC controls to 2017 A5, you would think that A5 is double the price. Audi is going backwards
A benefit of being in my mid-70s is that I'll die before having to buy an electric vehicle. On the other hand knowing I'll be dead in 15 years dampens my enthusiasm just a bit.
I swapped my RS7 for a GT. Don't regret it at all.
efficiency mode de-couples the rear motor to become FWD and contactless payment for charging has become law, all chargers must be compliant by Nov 2024
I think when it comes to spec everyone here is so worried about resale value that they don't want to take risks
Whatever you do, don't hope that if it goes wrong, that Audi will have the parts to fix them. My boss's has no heating in his car. Audi said did he want the car back, its going to be a long time before we can get the parts, there is no eta for these. So, at work, we have said the best way forward would be to go to Ikea and get some tea lights to defrost his windscreen now Autumn is here and Winter is approaching , but not to brake with his big brakes as he would get wax on the dash. Audi have now kept the car on realising what they said ! . So, he is getting a 'long term hire car' to be able to go to work. Not from Audi, oh no, that's a 5 week wait for 'anything' from them. So, Audi UK, if you read this, then Newbury has the car , which cost upwards of £150k !! and is no use as you cant support the product you so well advertise on TV.
Pirelli P7's on this one James. Oh my.................. Its seems a nice place to site, but I think it looks a bit rough round the edges with exterior trim. But its a nice place to be driven in. Dont try and get car seats for kids in the back. Its a pain and my boss has now ordered a VW Buzz for this job.
so , it's a brilliant GT
In South Africa we call it "Kapoen" colour. And what a perfect match. Not something I would want to be seen in.
The E-Tron GT is just gorgeous. Just... not in this colour.
They should make a Audi RS E-Tron GT Avant.
£135k for poor build quality, I would look elsewhere. *if I was spending that amount of money on a car!
Who's that laughing in the background? It's the Audi Accountancy team selling another UK spec car.
The wagon version of this would be a winner
Jay I'd love to see you review a Tesla Model X!
Always found that Audi lead the field in how much can we add to the bottom line in extras.
I wonder if you can increase the horsepower to match the Tycan? I just got one and I prefer the Audi over the Porsche
Great review as usual. Such a ghastly colour. It disappeared in the drive bys in the country scenery.
Tactical Green and 2.5t...would make an ideal Russian tank flattener if dropped from an enormous drone, but unfortunately costs twice as much as a Javelin shoulder launched missile! Nice looking car, and good to get a longer term view of an EV, but I'm still not sold.
As someone who has an EV in their household, is a gimmick more than anything. Nothing useful and 10x worse for the climate than a diesel. Yes the instantaneous speed climb and quietness whilst doing so is something else but thats about it.
Ehh I don't agree on the volume swirling thing. I like to tinker with my volume and you can't tell how much you'll change the volume by like you can with a knob.
It needs black wheels...then it would truly show how nice that colour is.
For the price point, Porsche is the master.
‘Favourite Audi’ is a valid moniker if one enjoys an EV more than a car with an engine. The ‘favourite EV’ moniker makes less sense, without a comparison with other EVs beyond the obviously similar Porsche.
Tesla is obviously still, objectively, king of EV. They sell several times as many cars in the UK and their charging network is significantly better.
question should really be - for 100 grand plus, would you want one at all? A simple NO!