Audi's e-throne GT concept is an allelectric sedan with some Porsche DNA TechCrunch
Audi makes space in its electrical future for more than SUVs or crossovers.
After a series of teas, the German automater Audi revealed the e-tron GT concept, a four-door all-electric Coupe that has some Porsche DNA plotted and looks a lot like the A7. Audi introduced the concept Wednesday in the press days of the LA Auto Show.
The GT concept follows September revealing the automaker's first all-electric vehicle, the Audi e-tron SUV, which is expected to go into volume production next year.
E-throne GT is a concept for now. But not long.
The concept of e-tron GT will be developed for volume production models by the end of 2020. First-time deliveries will be made to customers in early 2021[ads1]. Audi said that the subsidiary Audi Sport is responsible for transforming the car into a volume production model.
First, the remarkable specifications.
Audi e-tron GT, which has a flat, wide underlying architecture and a long axle base, has separate electric motors mounted on front and rear axles, giving equivalent 590 horsepower. E-throne GT will accelerate from 0 to about 60 miles per hour in around 3.5 seconds and reach a peak speed just shy of 150 mph, according to Audi.
The interior is also vegan – maybe a nod to Tesla – with synthetic leather and fabric from recycled fibers used on seat cushions, armrests and center consoles. Audi does not indicate whether a production version will offer a vegan interior.
The vehicle also has some Porsche touches. The Audi GT e-throne will be built on the Porsche Taycan platform. Taycan, formerly known as Mission E, is an electric sports car that Porsche plans to put in series production in 2019.
While Porsche worked with Audi on eTron GT, it should not be confused with another common electrical platform project between the two companies. Audi and Porsche have also collaborated in developing their "Premium Platform Electric" (PPE), which will be the basis for several Audi model families with all-electric drives.
The electric GT will have a range of around 248.5 miles, although it may change when the vehicle enters volume production. The Audi e-tron GT also shares the same 800-volt system as Porsche Taycan, a feature that will shorten the time it takes to charge the battery. It takes about 20 minutes to charge the battery to 80 percent of the capacity, according to Audi. (It is worth noting that the Audi e-tron SUV does not have this feature.)
The battery of the e-throne GT concept can be charged with a cable or wireless by placing the vehicle over a charging station that has an integrated coil installed on the floor. It is unclear whether the induction charging function will make it the production version of e-tron GT.
E-throne GT is just the beginning of what promises to be a string of electric vehicles revealed by Audi. The company has said that it will sell 12 all-electric cars by 2025.
