Audi RS e-tron GT.
When it comes to electric cars, few will argue that 2021 was Tesla’s year.
It made the biggest impact among all the car brands in Singapore, and its Model 3 was the best-selling electric car, too, with 924 units sold. This is one of the reasons why it was named “Best Conversation-Starter” at Torque Honours 2021.
Shouldn’t the Model 3 also have been 2021’s best EV? Perhaps. Many, including nearly half of the Torque contributors, felt so.
But after two rounds of voting, the Model 3 was still tied with the eventual winner, the awe-inspiring Audi RS e-tron GT. A third round of voting eventually broke the tie, putting it ahead of the Model 3 with four votes to three.
Those who disagree will lament that the RS e-tron GT is Audi’s “Porsche Taycan” since they are based on the same platform. They will also add that it has less appeal compared to the Tesla because of its prohibitive price. With the new tiered ARF, it will probably cost over $700,000.
But to dismiss the RS e-tron GT on cost alone is to ignore everything else it brings to the table. As one of Audi’s two maiden attempts at an electric grand tourer, it has exceeded expectations.
Apart from its unique looks, it also drives differently from the Taycan. It is more pliant without sacrificing precise handling. With rear-wheel-steering, the RS e-tron GT feels no bigger than an Audi A5 Sportback.
Then there are its huge power reserves of 598hp (646hp in boost mode) and 830Nm, ready to be unleashed at the flick of your right foot. Floor the accelerator even halfway, and both your brain and your senses will struggle to keep up.
On that last point, the RS e-tron GT is also the most powerful RS model Audi has produced to date.
But even if it wasn’t, the RS e-tron GT would still remain convincing and complete.
Torque Honours 2021 – An introduction
Click here for our Audi e-tron GT review
