Audi has aimed its guns squarely at the Tesla Model S with its close-to-production e-Tron GT concept that it just unveiled at the 2018 LA Auto Show. It’s a very striking four-door coupe with very bold flanks and a pleasant old school vintage coke bottle shape when viewed from the side. It can also take an 80-percent charge (about 200-miles worth of electricity) in no more than 20 minutes. Take that, Tesla.

The Audi E-Tron GT Has the Makings of a True Future Production Model

It’s not its style that will make the production version of the e-Tron GT concept a hit, but its performance and range credentials. Audi says it has 590 horsepower, courtesy of a pair of permanently excited synchronous motors, one powering the front axle and one the rear. These enable the car to sprint to 100 km/h or 62 mph in an estimated 3.5 seconds and to 200 km/h or 124.3 mph in around 12 seconds, before going on to an electronically limited top speed of 240 km/h or 149 mph.

Range is hugely important too, especially since this is an area where the rival Tesla Model S has the edge over any would-be competitor. The e-Tron GT comes with a 90-kWh battery pack that should grant it a theoretical range of 248 miles or 400 km on a single charge (based on WLTP standard).

Tesla, on the other hand, claims its Model S 100D can recharge 170 miles / 273 km in 30 minutes, but this figure is not quoted for models lower down in the range. In terms of range, the two cannot yet be compared since the Model S 100D can travel up to 335 miles / 539 km on a single charge according to the EPA. More accurate comparisons will be possible closer to the e-Tron GT’s official launch when it too will be rated on the same EPA standards.

Further reading

Don't Expect the 2020 Audi E-Tron GT, or any other Audi EV, to Ditch the Massive Grille

The Audi E-Tron GT Is a Firm Model S Competitor; Can Deliver Repeat Acceleration

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Audi E-Tron GT.

Read our full review on the 2018 Tesla Model S.

Read our full review on the 2020 Porsche Taycan.

Read our full review on the 2020 Audi E-tron Quattro.

Read our full review on the 2015 Audi E-Tron Quattro Concept.