Day: November 15, 2021
2022 Audi RS e-tron GT
Under the skin, the RS GT and base-model Audi e-tron GT Quattro share its 800-volt electrical architecture with corporate sibling Porsche Taycan. The RS GT is roughly equivalent to the Taycan in Turbo S trim. Both Audi and Porsche designs trade some measure of absolute range for slinky styling. The RS GT’s low roof—2 inches lower than an Audi RS 7, for comparison—effectively requires a lower floor, and therefore, a shallower battery pack. While the RS GT is about as quick and powerful as a Tesla Model S, its weight (373-578 pounds more) and relatively modest 83.7-kWh capacity limits range to an EPA-estimated 232 miles, compared to the Tesla’s Model S Long Range’s 375-405 miles range.
But I don’t want to make too much of the comparison. Tesla Model S is a volume-production automobile selling many thousands annually. The Audi is being built in numbers so small as to be practically bespoke within VW Group. The RS GT costs $9,910 more than a Model S Plaid, before options. So it’s not exactly going toe-to-toe with Tesla. The RS GT is destined to be an exotic car bought by quixotic people.
…
Base price $139,900
Price, as tested $161,890
Powertrain Battery-electric vehicle architecture, with front and rear-mounted permanent-magnet motors (235 hp front/450 hp rear); full-time AWD with single-speed front and two-speed rear transmission; 93.4-kWh lithium battery with 800-volt nominal system voltage
Power/torque 590 hp (637 hp in Boost mode)/612 lb-ft
Length/width/height/wheelbase 196.4/77.3/55.0/114.2 inches
Curb weight 5,139 pounds
0-60 mph 3.1 seconds
Charging rate 5-80% charging maximum 270 kW DC direct/approx. 22.5 minutes
EPA range 232 miles
Mercedes EQB
Peter Sigal, Automotive News Europe »
The EQB – essentially a battery-powered of the combustion-engine GLB — was unveiled at the Shanghai auto show in April. It is part of Mercedes’ EQ full-electric range, which also includes a sibling model, the EQA compact crossover; the EQS luxury sedan (launched this year), the EQE large sedan and the EQC midsize sedan.
Mercedes has not released prices for the EQB. The GLB starts at about 40,000 euros ($46,000) in Germany, with the top AMG four-wheel-drive model at 57,000 euros.
The EQB comes standard with five seats, with an optional third row that is intended for smaller passengers, up to 1.65 meters, Mercedes says. The second row can also move forward by up to 140 mm to give more space for third-row passengers.
The motorheads over at MotorWeek are going to miss the Porsche Taycan.
Lucid Air
Motor Trend says »
With futuristic looks, a futuristic powertrain and futuristic performance and economy, is the Lucid Air the car of the future? At the very least, it’s our 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year, having impressed the judges and pushed the frontiers of electric performance and luxury vehicles far forward, with aces in all six criteria. Hear from the MotorTrend editorial team how Lucid pulled off such a feat in its first go.
Rivian RT1
The Rivian R1T is a brand-new all-electric pickup truck set to launch in late 2021. With the Tesla Cybertruck and the electric Ford F-150 Lightning still months away, the 2022 Rivian R1T is the first electric pickup truck to hit the market.
In this video, Alistair Weaver from Edmunds delivers an independent, instrumented test of the Rivian electric truck. The crew put the R1T through a variety of performance tests, including a 0-60 test that Rivian claims its electric truck can do in 3 seconds. They also subject the Rivian to the Edmunds EV range test and size up how well its range numbers hold up and compare to other EVs.
Video below ⤵️
Mercedes EQB 350 4MATIC
Aditya Jayaram and the folks at Autogefühl take a look at the exterior, interior, and driving experience of the Mercedes EQB in the video below ⤵️