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The quicker 2022 RS e-tron GT comes with 637 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque.
The RS variant also comes with a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic roof and rear-wheel steering as standard.
The 2022 RS e-tron GT will be on sale later this year starting at $140,945.
Adding an RS badge to the e-tron GT seemed like a no-brainer: take something quick and sporty and make it quicker and well, sportier. As we’ve come to expect from any Audi RS model, this high-performance version of the 2022 e-tron GT has more horsepower, more torque, and a whole lot of carbon fiber.

Audi’s 2022 e-tron GT Brings Style to EVs

Audi RS e-tron GT Charges After the Taycan

The 637-hp RS e-tron GT has a 114-hp bump over the regular e-tron GT. All those extra horses come from the swapped-out rear motor that, in the RS, puts out 450 hp. The 235-hp front motor in the RS is the same as in the regular GT. The total output of 637 hp comes from the overboost feature that can deliver that peak output for 2.5 seconds at a time, helping to launch the electric sedan to 60 mph in a claimed 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph.

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Audi

The RS gets the same three-chamber air suspension and rear-wheel-steering system found in the regular GT. But the ability to turn the rear wheels up to 2.8 degrees is standard on the RS, while buyers of the regular model have to pay extra for it. Like the e-tron GT, the RS has all-wheel drive and a two-speed transmission. The battery pack is the same and offers 85.0 kWh of usable battery capacity from a 93.0-kWh-gross pack. Audi estimates a range of 232 miles, compared with 238 miles for the standard model (official EPA estimates are not yet available).
The RS package also comes standard with a five-layer carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic roof, along with Matrix LED headlights with laser lights, 20-inch aero wheels, 14-way adjustable heated sport seats, RS-specific interior trim, and cast-iron brake discs with tungsten carbide coating. Audi claims the RS has a curb weigh of 5139 pounds, 79 pounds heavier than the standard model.

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Audi

There’s enough room in the back seats for adults thanks to the “foot garages” in the floor that place the rear passengers lower in the cabin to allow for more headroom even with a sloping roofline. A leather-free interior with an Alcantara steering wheel is standard, but a Nappa leather option is available. Behind the wheel sits a 12.3 digital dash cluster and Audi’s MMI infotainment system sits in a single 10.1-inch display in the center console. The automaker says it chose this single infotainment screen for the more driver-focused e-tron GT rather than carry over the dual-display setup found in other Audi models.
While the RS e-tron GT shares its platform with the Porsche Taycan, the design is clearly Audi. Its size and electric powertrain place it in direct competition with the Tesla Model S and, of course, the Porsche. While it can’t beat the Tesla in range, it does have the same battery management system that allows the Taycan to do acceleration runs again and again without the degradation we’ve found in other EVs.
The RS e-tron GT will start at $140,945 and will be in showrooms this summer.
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The 2022 Audi e-tron GT brings Audi’s design and style to a platform shared with the Porsche Taycan.
The e-tron GT will have 522 horsepower and Audi claims it will go from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, plus there’s an RS version that makes 637 horsepower.
The 2022 e-tron GT will go on sale this summer starting just above $100,000.
According to Audi head of design Marc Lichte, the 2022 e-tron GT is the best-looking vehicle he’s ever designed. We tend to agree and would go so far as to say it’s one of the best-looking EVs out there. It’s a vehicle that, regardless of powertrain, would be welcome in the garage of the type of driver who wants to sit behind the wheel of something beautiful. One look and it’s clearly an Audi. Except that underneath, it’s also a Porsche.

Audi’s 2022 RS e-tron GT Adds More Speed to the GT

Audi RS e-tron GT Charges After the Taycan

The 2022 Audi e-tron GT joins the 2021 e-tron and e-tron Sportback SUVs in the automaker’s EV lineup. We all know that electrified SUVs would be likely to find more customers these days, so it’s good to know that Audi and Porsche still see the enthusiast sedan market as a viable business. The four-door gran turismo measures 198 inches long, 77 inches wide, and only 55 inches tall, giving it roughly the same dimensions as the 2021 BMW 8-series, Tesla Model S, and, of course, Porsche Taycan.

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Audi

The shared architecture means the all-wheel-drive Quattro e-tron GT has many overlapping features with the Taycan, including a two-speed transmission. First gear is for launching the vehicle, while the taller second gear is meant to optimize efficiency at highway speeds. There’s also optional rear-wheel steering, which can rotate the wheels up to 2.8 degrees.
The e-tron GT has two motors, producing 429 horsepower from the rear motor while the front motor outputs 235 hp. The combined power of the two motors is 469 hp with an overboost function in Launch mode that pushes the horsepower to 522 hp for 2.5 seconds. On the torque front, the vehicle produces a combined 464 pound-feet. (These are essentially the same specs as the Taycan 4S with the smaller of Porsche’s two battery packs.) The result for the GT is a claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 152 mph. For those requiring more speed, there’s also the 637-hp RS e-tron GT, which has rear-wheel steering as a standard feature.

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Audi RS e-tron GT.
Audi

As with the Taycan, the e-tron GT prioritizes coasting over aggressive regenerative braking when the driver lifts their foot off the accelerator. Most regenerative braking waits for the application of the brake pedal. The e-tron GT also has a battery management system that enables something we appreciated from the Taycan: the ability to do acceleration runs over and over again without the performance degradations we’ve come to expect from EVs.
Connecting all of this to the road are standard 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with gray accents. Performance package models come with the same wheels but with black accents. The RS variant is available with 20- or 21-inch aero five-spoke wheels. A three-chamber air suspension makes tweaks to accompany mode selections and can adjust body height 0.9 inch downward and 0.8 inch upward.
For added sportiness and increased downforce, the e-tron GT is outfitted with an active rear spoiler. The height adjustment has helped Audi secure a claimed 0.24 drag coefficient. That’s not as sleek as the Taycan’s 0.22 but still rather slippery, which is exactly what you want from an EV to enhance its mid- and high-speed range.

Audi

Audi now claims a U.S. range number of 238 miles, although EPA estimates are not yet available. That’s based on 85.0 kWh of usable battery capacity from a 93.0-kWh-gross battery pack. It’s a bit more than the 83.7 kWh usable (93.4 kWh gross) capacity found on the 2021 Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus, which has an EPA-estimated 227 miles of range.
As with the Taycan, the e-tron GT’s 800-volt electrical architecture supports DC fast charging up to 270 kW, and Audi says it can be charged from 5 to 80 percent in under 23 minutes.
Inside is a non-leather interior made from recycled materials along with an Alcantara-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel. Nappa leather is available.
A 12.3-inch digital dash cluster sits behind the wheel, while a single 10.1-inch infotainment system houses the latest MMI system. Audi says it opted for the single infotainment system display as opposed to the dual display found in the e-tron to make the vehicle more driver focused. The dash is available in graphite gray or optional open-pore walnut or matte carbon. Eight-way adjustable sport seats are standard, and 18-way adjustable seats with a massage function are available.
The e-tron GT will come in three trim levels, although Audi didn’t share specifics on how they’re differentiated. The Quattro Premium Plus will start at $100,945, the Quattro Prestige will start at $108,145, and, for those needing all the speed Audi can—or is allowed to—squeeze out of the platform, the RS e-tron GT will start at $140,945. The 2022 Audi e-tron GT will arrive in dealerships this summer.
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Ford dealers can now install five accessory bundles on the 2021 Bronco Sport for customers who want to haul their outdoor equipment.
The bundles include ski, bike, and kayak racks from Yakima, plus the option of a rooftop tent or cargo box.
The 2021 Bronco Sport is on sale now, starting at $28,315.
Ford’s Bronco outdoor lifestyle brand is in full force even though the 2021 Bronco SUV is delayed until the summer. However, the Bronco Sport is available now, and Ford will offer five dealer accessory bundles to tailor to Bronco Sport buyers’ adventure needs. Whether it’s biking, kayaking, skiing, or camping, Bronco Sport owners can get their Ford dealers to equip all sorts of goodies from Yakima.

All five bundles feature roof rails from Yakima and Ford’s all-weather floor mats. The Bike bundle adds on a hitch-mounted bike rack and a roof basket with a net. The Water bundle is for shoppers who want to haul a kayak. It includes a locking kayak carrier and a pull-out awning. The Camping bundle also adds the awning as well as a Yakima two-person rooftop tent. The Snow bundle adds a ski rack up top and the Cargo bundle throws a Yakima 16-cubic-foot cargo box up top.

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The Bronco Sport is built on the same platform as the Ford Escape, and it shares its powertrains as well: a 181-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder is standard, while a 245-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is optional. An eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are both standard on all models, and the top-of-the-line Badlands model, much like Jeep’s Trailhawk models, comes equipped with all-terrain tires and a unique suspension tune with a 1.0-inch lift.
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is on sale now starting at $28,315 and can cost up to $39,655 for the fully loaded Badlands model. Ford hasn’t yet announced prices for these dealer-installed packages.
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The updated 2021 Nissan Kicks starts at $20,650 for the base S model.
That’s a $430 increase from last year, and the refreshed version has newly standard features.
The 2021 Kicks is at U.S. dealerships now.
Nissan’s entry-level Kicks crossover is still cheap, but it’s a bit less cheap than last year. The updated 2021 Kicks now starts at $20,650, a $430 increase compared with the 2020 Kicks’ base price. That uptick seems fair given that it has newly standard features including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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The better-equipped SV trim is also a bit more expensive, starting at $22,450, a $600 increase. It now has a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and offers more optional driver-assistance and connectivity features than before. The SR starts at $23,090, a $620 increase, and is now offered with a $1200 Premium package that adds features including an upgraded audio system, faux-leather upholstery, and a heated steering wheel and heated seats.
There are no mechanical changes to go along with the 2021 model’s visual updates and new features. All 2021 Nissan Kicks models still have the same 122-hp, 1.6-liter inline-four engine and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) as before. Like competitors such as the Hyundai Venue and Kia Soul, front-wheel drive remains the sole drivetrain choice.
Nissan says that 2021 Kicks models are already arriving at U.S. dealerships
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Jeep will show an EV version of the Wrangler soon, in concept form.
This will likely presage a production electric Wrangler, possibly going on sale by the end of the year.
The Wrangler EV concept will debut as part of the Easter Jeep Safari event this spring.

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The Wrangler EV is slowly appearing on the horizon, as Jeep has now confirmed that a concept version of this battery-powered SUV will arrive this spring. A teaser photo on the company’s new “The Road Ahead” minisite shows that this new spinoff won’t mess with the Wrangler’s iconoclastic look despite having an entirely different powertrain underneath. We’ll see the full concept this spring as part of the Easter Jeep Safari in late March or early April, and the production model could follow either late this year or early in 2022.

Jeep

A diagram showing the Wrangler EV’s underpinnings shows a single electric motor with a (likely two-speed) transfer case, rather than a dual-motor setup like many other all-wheel-drive EVs use. We spot three, or possibly even four battery modules. It’ll still have a body-on-frame setup like the standard Wrangler and the plug-in-hybrid Wrangler 4xe.
The Wrangler EV also appears to have blue tow hooks in front, and possibly a different lighting setup distinguish it from its brethren. We don’t know anything yet about its battery capacity, power output, or range estimates. Like it did with the plug-in-hybrid 4xe model, we can assume that Jeep will make plenty of claims about its off-road capabilities.
Look for more details later this spring as Jeep debuts the concept version of the electric Wrangler. It will arrive as part of the 2021 Easter Jeep Safari, which always serves as a showcase for various Jeep concepts and restomods.
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Comedic actor Will Ferrell appeared in a Super Bowl ad for General Motors’ future EVs in which he called out Norway over its dominance in electric-vehicle sales.
YouTube channels from Scandinavian countries are rife with responses to that challenge.
Everyone from Audi Norway to schoolkids got into the act this weekend.
This begins with a story about the paucity of automaker ads during the Super Bowl, one that included a fair bit of YouTube research into GM’s spots, because GM produced some pre-game teasers in addition to its big-budget ad. Now, YouTube thinks we want to see everything it has on GM’s EVs.
Then came an ad for Circle K Denmark. That was odd. Turns out we’d been ushered into Scandinavian YouTube, where they spent the weekend busting GM’s chops.

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In case you missed it, GM paid Will Ferrell to declare war on Norway. In a 60-second spot that ran during the Buccaneers’ mauling of Kansas City, Ferrell discovered Norway is the world leader in battery-electric vehicle sales per capita. Refusing to let America be disrespected like that, he punches a globe, grabs his Cadillac Lyriq, and drafts Kenan Thompson and Awkwafina in a Hummer EV to meet him in Norway for the beatdown.
No animals, celebrities, Norwegians, or EVs were hurt in the making of the commercial, especially since Ferrell ends up in Sweden, and Thompson and Awkwafina wind up in Finland. Because America. And geography.
Well, Scandinavia refused to be disrespected like that, mobilizing its forces almost immediately. First, Audi Norway snagged Norwegian Game of Thrones actor Kristofer Hivju for a series of digital spots responding to GM. Those featured pizza and mackerel. They were great. Then things got better.
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Circle K Norway put up a 42-second spot set to a small choir belting out “The Star-Spangled Banner.” There are hot dogs, American flags, football players (who are perhaps discovering football for the first time), and a cheer squad shouting “Go! Will! Go!” They’ve reserved a charging station for him, and when he arrives, he’ll want to see the clerk inside, who’s got a welcome gift—a charging cable.
In solidarity, Circle K Denmark uses the arrival of the “enemy from the West” bent on destruction to announce its global rollout of high-speed EV charging stations. And the effort will be led by a new boss: Viking warrior Mirana, daughter of Olaf. With the help of her much less bellicose assistant.
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The general secretary of Norway’s EV association tells Ferrell to “Bring it,” and bringing it seems to include bringing more cowbell. The mayor of Kragerø challenges Ferrell to come to “the pearl of the Norwegian coastal towns” and race him in the “first ever electrical go-kart Grand Prix.”
AMCAR is a Norwegian automotive organization that does everything from work with the government on policy to providing roadside assistance, financing, and car shows. In its video, AMCAR makes a direct assault on GM’s EV sales decline in Norway and Europe with a metaphor about the Chevrolet Bolt EV just not connecting like it should, and a plea to “Please fix this.”
“Norway—a country of car lovers not haters,” the tagline reads.
A group of Norwegian schoolkids try to help Ferrell—and his Lyriq’s navigation system—with a short clip on “Geography for Dummies.” Norwegian vehicle importer Bertel O. Steen announces, “Game on, America!” and questions whether a football is really a ball, and whether the Super Bowl, featuring only teams from the United States, has a right to crown a “world” champion.
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And a video led by the rector of Norway’s University of Agder attempts to apologize to Ferrell by removing anything else from the country that might offend him and, in the process, points out everything the U.S. doesn’t have.
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Let it be known that Ferrell has been married to a Swedish actress since 2000, and they have three children together, which is likely why Sweden has chosen to remain neutral throughout this skirmish. But we’re sure this battle isn’t over—something globe makers and pizza companies should celebrate as much as any EV maker.
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Ready to see into the future of Maserati?
For the next episode of the Inside Track virtual Q&A series, our friends at Road & Track are excited to announce that their guest is Maserati chief designer Klaus Busse. It’s all happening on Thursday, February 11, at noon ET.
Register Here
Klaus Busse is vice-president of design for Stellantis Europe, in charge of styling for Fiat, Abarth, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati. Prior to taking charge of Stellantis’s European design program, Busse was in charge of interior design for the automaker’s American brands—Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram.
Busse’s latest design accomplishment is the Maserati MC20. This carbon-fiber mid-engine supercar marks the beginning of a whole new range of products from Maserati, which you’ll get to hear about from the designer himself.
In this episode of Inside Track, Road & Track deputy editor Bob Sorokanich will chat with Busse about what goes into designing a modern supercar: how you fit functional aerodynamics, cooling requirements, and crash safety into an evocative and seductive supercar profile. If you want to see it all go down, head on over to Road & Track’s dedicated sign-up page.
Inside Track is one of the many offerings of the newly revamped magazine. They’ll be hosting live events, virtual experiences, and adventures around the globe. They will also be hosting driving rallies at racetracks and on the most epic roads, holding discussions and debates on cool topics with some of the most influential people in the car world, and giving readers the white-glove treatment at concours and auto show events.
Register Here
If you want to get in on the fun, become a member of The Track Club. Membership includes every issue of Road & Track plus a whole lot more. Find more details on the membership tiers and exclusive discounts at roadandtrack.com/join, and check out the experiences lineup at experiences.roadandtrack.com.
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In this pandemic year, the Super Bowl will have fewer in-person fans, and some ads will be coming from newcomers, like this one from online car shopping site Vroom.
Vroom’s spot makes visiting a car dealership look like actual torture, with kidnapping thrown in for emphasis.
Instead of going to your local dealer, you can instead pay Vroom $600 to deliver your new used car to you, or $1000 if you want it dropped off in a covered trailer.
Pretty much everything on TV looks a bit different nowadays, what with talking heads participating in video commentaries from their attic offices and musicians playing “live” in little video boxes all stitched together. This weekend’s Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs will not be any different, with just 22,000 fans in the stadium and many of the traditional big-time advertisers sitting this one out.

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According to Newsweek, the cost of getting your spot in front of the 100-million-plus pairs of eyes Sunday is around $5.5 million, but without big spending from the expected brands such as Hyundai, Audi and Budweiser, the door is open for smaller companies to join the Big Game party. For instance, online car marketplace Vroom, which is placing its first ever Super Bowl ad in 2021. Volvo is also participating in the festivities, not with an ad but with a $2 million giveaway offer if either team scores a safety.
Vroom’s business model is to eliminate a visit to a dealership when buying a used car, replacing a potentially unpleasant trip with an online shopping experience, home delivery, and then a seven-day/250-mile test drive period. You also can’t haggle on the site, which is either a draw or a turnoff, depending on how you like to buy your cars.
Vroom’s Super Bowl ad doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to showing what the company thinks about car dealers, turning the salesperson character in the spot into a torture-loving psychopath who kidnaps potential customers and threatens them with electrocution via jumper cables. Can’t say we’ve ever had that poor an experience, but maybe we’ve just been lucky.
While the Super Bowl is viewed in many countries, Vroom currently operates only in the U.S., excluding Alaska and Hawaii. If you’ve got a vehicle you’re looking to get rid of, Vroom will buy it from you at a price determined by the company. Vroom says it sources its cars from across the country and only sells vehicles with accident-free Carfax reports.
Vroom charges a $599 nonrefundable fee to deliver a vehicle on an open trailer, or $999 for your new car to show up in an enclosed trailer. Alternately, you can pick up your vehicle at the company’s sole retail location near Houston, Texas, which it calls “one of the largest independent auto dealerships in the country.” If you visit, keep an eye out for a pair of jumper cables behind the manager’s desk.

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