It was November 2018 at the Los Angeles Auto Show where Audi brought the stunning E-Tron GT in conceptual form. We’re only a few days away from 2021 and the production version still hasn’t been revealed. To ease the long wait, the Four Rings have teased an amped-up RS variant to serve as the range topper and the second electric Audi Sport model after the ill-fated R8 E-Tron.
While the official reveal is scheduled to take place in February 2021, a new report from German magazine Auto Bild claims Audi is already looking for ways to diversify the lineup. Much like Porsche is putting the finishing touches on a Taycan Cross Turismo wagon, it appears the folks from Ingolstadt are also thinking of giving their equivalent E-Tron GT the long-roof treatment.
Not only that, but the more practical E-Tron GT might spawn a full-blown RS derivative as well and serve as an electric alternative to the loud V8-powered RS6 Avant. If Audi gives the speedy wagon the proverbial green light, it should have virtually the same technical specifications as the sedan. In other words, look for around 590 horsepower and a peak 637-hp output courtesy of a temporary boost.
Auto Bild refers to the family-friendly RS E-Tron GT as a shooting brake, but at the end of the day, it would most likely be a regular wagon with rear doors. The sedan is estimated to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standstill in three seconds flat, but the estate might take a tad longer due to its slightly higher curb weight. Top speed should be in the same ballpark as the sedan’s, so we’re expecting an electronically governed 155 mph (250 km/h).
If history has taught us anything about car prices, it’s that the wagon will command a premium over the conventional sedan. Nevertheless, it should still undercut the hottest version Porsche is planning for the Taycan Cross Turismo.
While the E-Tron GT / RS E-Tron GT will hit the market next year, its more spacious counterpart is unlikely to arrive before 2022. Bear in mind nothing is official at this point as Audi hasn’t said a word about turning the hotly anticipated EV into a wagon, but it could very well happen considering the long-roof Taycan is coming.
Source: Auto Bild
