Yahoo Finance Audi RS e-tron GT: Expect serious range anxiety from the Duke of Cambridge's electric supercar
Prince William’s latest runabout is a £133,000 supercar that mirrors his father’s efforts to go green. The RS e-tron GT is Audi’s top-of-the-range electric model – a four-door saloon with enough room in the back for an heir and a spare.
The svelte grand tourer will be powered at Kensington Palace’s new charge points and is faster from 0 to 60mph than many supercars. The new vehicle choice may have been influenced by Prince Charles’ lifelong passion for the environment.
The heir to the throne converted his beloved Aston Martin to a bio-fuel made from whey, a by-product of cheese making. The classic DB6 in Seychelles blue was gifted to Prince Charles in 1970 by the Queen for his 21st birthday and now leads a charmed life in the Cotswolds.
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge arrived to host the star-studded Earthshot Prize awards at Alexandra Palace in their e-tron GT. Like all electric cars, with battery-powered motors driving the wheels, it has zero carbon dioxide emissions. The Audi’s 800-volt lithium-ion battery offers a decent range too.
The average wait to buy a similar Audi is around eight months. However, we managed to borrow one in a bid to understand why the RS gets the Royal endorsement.
Eco Blue Blood
Audi has unveiled a whole range of e-tron, all-electric SUVs over the last 12 months but the GT RS is the only version fit for a future king. Instead of bulbous, everyday SUV styling, this car is a sleek grand tourer that truly looks the part.
That could have something to do with the platform on which the RS is based. It shares the same underpinnings as the brilliant Porsche Taycan – perhaps the ultimate driving machine over a long distance.
Not too far though because like the Porsche, the RS is restricted to a maximum of 283 miles between charges – fine for popping over to Buckingham Palace to see granny but trickier reaching Balmoral. In the real world, expect serious range anxiety after 220 miles.
Regal Interior
Probably the finest Audi interior ever. Beautiful crafted to Bentley standards and worthy of a Royal Warrant, the RS is a delightful place to sit. Even in the rear there’s plenty of room for two adults, plus luggage space in the boot and under the front bonnet.
Prince William will love the vegan interior option, cut from a synthetic leather, and floor mats made from recycling fishing nets. The £133,000 Carbon Vorsprung model I’m driving even has night vision, plus remote self-parking and a head-up display flashed onto the windscreen.
Even Audi’s latest infotainment system is cutting edge stuff, with the addition of a Virtual Cockpit display offering sharp graphics and simple functionality.
Driving
Early adopters of battery technology who own a Tesla Model S will find the Audi equally engaging to drive – especially on a winding country road from London to dad’s country estate in Gloucestershire.
Yet the Tesla has a much longer range of 400 miles, more than enough to get there and back. Despite Audi claiming 283 miles of battery life, I found it a struggle making the same journey in one hit, anxiously looking for the next public charger as the power drained away.
The RS weighs a hefty 2.3 tons but thanks to all-wheel steering and a Porsche-worrying 598bhp, the Audi is a thrilling car to drive, racing to 60mph in 3.3 seconds with the right driving mode engaged. Staggering performance, with only the noise of the tyres filtering into the silent cabin.
Should you buy one? Yes, if the waiting list isn’t a problem. The Taycan and Model S are worthy contenders too – but they don’t come with a royal seal of approval.
