The Audi e-Tron boasts 350 kW of silent shove and 660 N.m of instantaneous torque, this was going to be an interesting addition to our Shootout ensemble. Our main concern would be the limited range coupled with a shortage of fast-charging stations en route.
The decision was made to flatbed the car to the Saldanha airstrip. It was to be a one-day outing, performance test all the cars, conduct drag races with video footage and, finally, at dusk, set the cars up for a group photo shoot. All of this would have more than depleted the Audi’s batteries, so we skipped the R27 return drive for the first day.
Thereafter, the e-Tron GT would have to keep track of the rest of the pack. As the plan was to return to our base each night, we would drop the GT at the Audi dealership in Century City to replenish the batteries, ready for action the following day. Counterintuitive as it may feel, the trick to extending the range on these EVs is to limit your thirst for speed as far as possible. Accepting this is supposed to be a GT, if you keep the speed to 110 km/h or lower, you will be pleasantly satisfied with the operating range.
This vehicle’s biggest problem has nothing to do with batteries or charging. It has to do with heat. The large glass roof may be well-tinted, but there is no shading screen. We were driving in the spring, not full-on summer, and were nowhere near the warmest areas of our country. Still, the heat from above was almost unbearable. You have to find shady spots to park, or the interior can become a veritable hothouse, and you will need to wear a cap or hat to keep the glare of the sun away from your eyes. Of course, you could crank up the air-con to reduce the heat, but when the road is long and charging stops indeterminate, it’s prudent to err on the side of caution and limit its use.
A couple of highlights were snaking through mountain passes and the ease with which you can overtake slow-moving traffic. Dutoitskloof Pass has few overtaking spots and only some short double-lane sections where trucks can move out of the way. The problem is these segments come in just two sizes, short and sometimes dangerously short. It wasn’t an issue for the e-Tron, though, as it blasted past traffic at the drop of a hat. The paddle shifters were confusing as no steps are provided as with some CVTs. Instead, they adjust the level of re-gen braking. As this is by no means abrupt, the highest setting – with its respectable ability to harvest braking energy – is best.
