Tesla is still ruling the electric sedan field with the incredible Model S, but the American carmaker is now facing competition from Porsche, which is already offering the Taycan. Audi will join the battle soon with the e-tron GT and we just learned that the German company is also working on a hardcore RS version of the all-electric four-door. The e-tron GT is scheduled to go into production in 2020, so Audi will unveil the EV by the end of the year.

Audi confirmed a hardcore e-tron GT RS

As the e-tron GT is being prepared for the assembly line, Audi confirmed that it will also offer a beefed-up RS model. The news comes from Audi's global chief Markus Duesmann. "We are taking things another step further; I am pleased to announce today that there will be also an RS version of the e-tron GT, which will be launched together with the e-tron GT," he said according to CarBuzz.

How powerful will it be? Well, don't know yet, but the e-tron GT concept from 2018 is a solid indication. The show car features two electric motors that produce a combined 582 horsepower, enabling the four-door to hit 62 mph in 3.5 seconds. The RS model will obviously pack more punch than that, as Audi is hoping to compete with the performance versions of the Tesla Model S.

The base Taycan cranks out 402 horsepower so Audi will probably offer a similar entry-level model. There will also be a mid-range version with more than 500 horsepower, likely powered by the same setup seen in the concept model. The range-topping RS will probably be a Taycan Turbo under the skin. The latter comes with 671 horsepower in Turbo trim and a whopping 751 horses with the "Turbo S" badge. The e-tron RS will probably pack 600+ horsepower, while some sort of performance upgrade will unlock the 700+ horsepower option.

Range should also be similar to the Taycan, so expect the e-tron GT to deliver between 207 and 288 miles per single charge, depending on trim and battery. In the U.S., it will probably be EPA-rated at up to 210 miles. The e-tron GT RS won't be the most efficient of the lineup, but it will still manage more than 230 miles on the WLTP cycle and around 200 miles on the EPA rating.

The Audi e-tron GT is a sleek and sexy four-door

Just like the Tesla Model S and the Porsche Taycan, the e-tron GT is a four-door, but not a traditional sedan. Featuring a coupe-style roof and a very short rear deck lid, the e-tron GT is just as sleek as its competitors. The profile is somewhat similar to the Audi A7, but the EV is not only shorter, but also very muscular.

The beefed-up fenders are backed by an aggressive front fascia with sleek headlamps and a massive grille that extends in front of the nose, while the rear boasts a lightbar across the upper section and a sporty diffuser down below. The e-tron GT will be notably more luxurious than the Tesla Model S and it might even climb above the Porsche Taycan when optioned up.

FAQ

Q: When will the Audi e-tron GT debut?

With Audi already showing teasers and detailing the production process, it's safe to say that the e-tron GT is just around the corner. The official unveiling could take place sometime in November 2020.