For now, the Tesla Model S lords over at the all-electric performance sedan segment. That could change, though, once the Porsche Taycan and Fisker eMotion hit the scene. But another would-be contender made its presence known at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Don’t look now, but Audi wants a piece of that pie from Tesla, and its contender-of-choice is the all-electric e-Tron GT. Audi’s fresh offering actually shares its roots with the aforementioned Taycan, which isn’t surprising because the two are, technically, cousins in this endeavor. The e-Tron GT, though, stands out because Audi didn’t mince its intentions in the sedan’s build. The e-Tron GT was built for performance, and the numbers back it up.

2018 Audi E-Tron Concept

Audi outdid itself this time. The e-Tron GT stormed the LA Auto Show castle and raised its flag, signaling its intent to not only become a player in the all-electric performance sedan segment, but to let everyone know that it’s gunning for the throne currently occupied by the Tesla Model S. This is exactly what the fledgling market needs, and at least for now, Audi delivered the goods.

Ok, let’s talk performance, specifically on how the Audi e-Tron GT matches up with the Tesla Model S. In this particular exercise, we’ll use the Tesla Model S 75D because it’s the version of the Model S that lines up directly with the specs of the Audi concept. That’s a good figure, but it falls short of what the Model S 75D’s 75-kWh battery is capable of, which has a range of 259 miles. Do the math and that’s 10.5 miles more for the Model S 75D. Advantage Tesla.

In terms of power and performance, the e-Tron GT gets one back on the Model S 75D. Torque numbers weren’t mentioned, but the e-Tron GT can get off the line quicker than the Model S 75D. That’s a good sign that the Audi has a healthy amount of torque at its disposal. For comparison’s sake, the Tesla Model S 75D’s own electric motor produces a total of 518 horsepower and 387 pound-feet of torque, numbers that allow it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 140 mph. That’s fine, and all, but the e-Tron GT can do the same sprint in just 3.5 seconds before peaking at a top speed of 149 mph.

On that end, the e-Tron GT has a trick up its sleeve. It boasts a sophisticated cooling technology that, according to Audi, helps the electric performance sedan utilize the driver’s acceleration potential several times in succession. This means that the e-Tron GT need to go into overdrive after several quick accelerations to compensate for thermal considerations. It hands the full potential of the battery and the pair of synchronous motors to the driver’s plate, giving him the ability to maximize the full performance potential of the e-Tron GT. There are no concessions here, unlike on the Model S, which cuts back power after a period of hard accelerations to protect itself from compromising its own capabilities. With the e-Tron GT, you don't have to worry about any timeouts or whatever is the automotive equivalent of a bathroom break. It can let loose whenever you want it to.

Whereas the latter is presented more like a refined electric car with great usability that can also punch its way out of a speeding ticket when called upon, the e-Tron GT makes no bones about what it’s capable of when you decide to stretch its performance abilities to its full potential. There’s a performance emphasis to the e-Tron GT that’s very refreshing, though it’s probably wise to temper expectations for the time being. This is, after all, still a concept. We don’t know what the production model’s going to look like or how much of the concept’s specs will end up in the final product.

What we do know is that the Audi e-Tron GT is here to compete against the Tesla Model S, not take a back seat to it. I probably don’t need to say it, but on behalf of everyone who’s interested in the future of the all-electric performance sedan segment, it’s about time we see some real competition for the Model S.

Further reading

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.