Cargazing
By Derek Price
The 2025 Audi RS e-tron GT performance has completely recalibrated my understanding of acceleration.
With 912 horsepower on tap and a claimed 0-60 mph time of 2.4 seconds, this electric grand tourer delivers supercar performance that makes gasoline-powered hypercars seem almost quaint by comparison.
At $167,000 before options — $190,690 as tested — the RS e-tron GT performance occupies rarified air in the automotive world. Yet when compared to traditional supercars, it presents an almost reasonable proposition.
This Audi would outrun a Ferrari SF90 Stradale or Lamborghini Centenario in a straight line — cars that cost far more.
The fact that the Centenario, admittedly a much rarer and more exclusive car than this Audi, is said to be changing hands for $3 million on the used market makes the RS e-tron look like a screaming bargain.
What’s most remarkable isn’t just the raw speed, but how the e-tron GT delivers it.
Unlike the theatrical electric Dodge Charger I drove a few weeks ago with its booming artificial V8 soundtrack, Audi’s approach remains tastefully restrained. The acceleration feels almost supernatural in its smoothness and silence, creating an otherworldly driving experience that doesn’t announce itself to the neighborhood.
The 2025 Audi RS e-tron GT performance combines classic sporty styling with massive brake calipers and forged carbon details, creating understated visual drama that matches its 912-horsepower capability.
The car’s adaptability impresses equally. In comfort mode, it transforms into a docile grand tourer suitable for daily commuting.
Customizing the RS performance modes, however, lets the suspension drop to its lowest setting while everything stiffens for track-ready dynamics.
The adaptive air suspension even raises the entire car when you open the door to make entry easier, a thoughtful touch for a low-slung sports car.
Charging performance matches the driving dynamics. The 320 kW fast-charging capability means 10-80% charging in approximately 18 minutes, numbers that real-world testing at 350-kW chargers confirms.
The optional forged carbon package adds visual interest with its unique aesthetic.
Unlike traditional woven carbon fiber, forged carbon creates random, abstract patterns that resemble automotive art.
Combined with massive brake calipers and carbon discs that are big enough to seem borrowed from industrial mining equipment, the visual details match the performance credentials.
The RS e-tron GT’s cabin balances luxury materials with performance-focused controls, offering multiple driving modes that transform the car’s character from comfortable cruiser to track-ready weapon.
The e-tron GT’s multiple personalities become its greatest asset. It’s simultaneously a comfortable daily driver and a track-capable weapon, switching between roles with the press of a button.
This versatility, combined with the instant torque delivery that only electric motors can provide, creates a driving experience that gasoline engines simply cannot replicate.
Of course, the price remains the primary barrier.
Few can justify spending nearly $200,000 on any vehicle, regardless of performance. But as a glimpse into the future of high-performance motoring, the RS e-tron GT performance suggests that electric vehicles might eventually win over even the most devoted gasoline enthusiasts if the technology can eventually reach more accessible price points.
This Audi demonstrates that electric performance cars have moved beyond novelty into legitimate supercar territory, offering experiences that redefine expectations about speed, refinement and everyday usability.
At A Glance
WHAT WAS TESTED?
2025 Audi RS e-tron GT performance ($167,000). Options: Premium paint ($595), dynamic plus package ($11,000), forged carbon package ($8,400), RS design package ($1,900), red brake calipers ($500). Price as tested (including $1,295 destination charge): $190,690
BY THE NUMBERS
Wheelbase: 114.2 in.
Length: 196.7 in.
Width: 84.9 in.
Height: 54.9 in.
Power: Dual electric motors (912 hp)
Range: 278 miles
MPGe: 85 city, 82 highway
RATINGS
Style: 10
Performance: 10
Price: 4
Handling: 9
Ride: 8
Comfort: 7
Quality: 8
Overall: 9
WHY BUY IT?
It delivers hypercar acceleration with grand touring comfort and impressive charging speed.