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2022 Audi E-Tron GT brings the heat, then gets rid of it

The reveal of the production version of the 2022 Audi RS E-Tron GT electric grand tourer is set for early 2021, but Audi on Thursday revealed more of what makes the Porsche Taycan-based 4-door coupe tick. Specifically, Audi shared information on the car’s suspension and thermal management system.

The E-Tron GT rides the same J1 platform as the Porsche Taycan and is very similar underneath. The cars were developed together and tuning was done by each company. Like the Taycan, the E-Tron GT will use a three-chamber air suspension and adjustable, adaptive dampers at each corner. However, Audi’s RS division tuned the suspension to make the car feel like an Audi, with soft Comfort mode settings and firmer Dynamic settings.

2022 Audi E-Tron GT prototype suspension and electric drive units

2022 Audi E-Tron GT prototype suspension

2022 Audi E-Tron GT prototype three-chamber air suspension

The air suspension will also be able to raise and lower the car. From its normal ride height, the suspension will drop 0.4 inch in Dynamic mode, and 0.87 inch in Efficiency mode. The car will also raise 0.8 inch in Comfort mode.

Audi will also outfit the E-Tron GT with rear-axle steering that will make the car turn sharper at speeds less than 31-37 mph, depending on the driving mode, by turning the rear wheels up to 3 degrees opposite of the fronts. At higher speeds, the rear wheels will turn with the fronts to improve stability.

Buyers will have a choice of three wheel sizes. The 19s will be the lightest wheels at 27.5 pounds each, 20s will be the most aerodynamic, and the 21s (shown on the prototype model pictured here) may be the most attractive.

2022 Audi E-Tron GT prototype

The wheels will hide three types of brakes. Carbon-ceramic brakes with 10-piston front calipers will provide the most stopping power. Tungsten-carbide coated brakes will also be offered. These are essentially Porsche’s PSCB brakes with a thin layer of tungsten-carbide coating that reduces brake dust and prolongs brake life. Standard iron brakes will serve as the base setup.

Audi has talked about the motors and performance of the car when it debuted as a concept at the 2018 LA Auto Show, but the company also shared more information. The E-Tron GT will come with a 235-horsepower front motor and a 449-hp rear motor that will combine to produce 590 hp and up to 640 hp in an overboost mode. The front motor will have its own single-speed transmission and the rear motor will have a 2-speed gearbox.

We previously reported that the E-Tron GT will be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, but now we know it could be slightly quicker than that as Audi quoted the same time for the 0-62 mph run. The 0-60 mph time could be a tenth or two quicker.

2022 Audi E-Tron GT prototype electric all-wheel drive

2022 Audi E-Tron GT prototype electric motor cooling

2022 Audi E-Tron GT prototype lithium-ion battery

That high power delivery—and the E-Tron GT’s high-power fast charging—will demand a lot of cooling. Liquid cooling will make performance repeatable and precondition the 83.7-kwh (net) battery for fast charging.

The battery will be made up of 396 pouch cells in 33 modules and sit within the E-Tron GT’s flat skateboard-style platform. Four liquid cooling circuits will be connected by valves. One circuit will be dedicated to the high-voltage battery, and another will handle the electric motors and power electronics. Another system will condition the interior.

Audi previously said the E-Tron GT will be able to fast charge at up to 350 kw. Now, following what’s permitted so far for the Porsche Taycan, Audi says it will take a fast charge as high as 270 kw, which is still quite fast. The cooling system will come into play for charging as well as it will condition the battery to handle that type of charge. In fact, if the driver programs in a fast-charging destination, the system will pre-condition the battery starting a half hour before arrival.

The E-Tron GT will be part of Audi’s planned 30 electric and plug-in vehicles on offer by 2025. The company also said it will be part of a three-pillar strategy for Audi RS, which will consist of emotional electric cars, emotional internal-combustion-engine cars, and performance plug-in hybrids.

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MODIFIED AUDI A7 SPORTBACK: WHEELS OF FORTUNE – FC THROWBACK

Welcome to this week’s FC Throwback, where we take a look back at some of our favourite previous features. This week it’s The FelgenOutlet’s A7 Sportback from back in 2013. A decent set of rims can make any car look good, but only the absolute best will give your motor legendary status!

Feature taken from Fast Car. Words & photos Mark Riccioni

MODIFIED AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

Wheels… they may only be one part of a modified car but, in the past few years, they’ve become THE most important element. A good set of wheels can make or break a car. Period. It doesn’t matter how much custom bodywork, carbon fibre or audio you’re running – without the right set of wheels your motor will never get the attention it properly deserves.

Don’t believe us? Flick through any other car mag or blog and you’ll see every feature car rocking some amazing wheels. Go back ten years ago and you’d struggle to buy rims wider than 8in – nowadays it takes a minimum of 9in to even get noticed! The problem is, as more people focus solely on their wheels, some will start pushing the boundaries to the extreme. Deeper, wider, concave – just like big bodykits and headlight conversions of the past, things start going past the point of tasteful. And nobody wants to see that again, right?

MODIFIED AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

The FelgenOutlet Audi A7 Sportback looks insane. It doesn’t matter what angle you view it from, it’s just mental! Part of that is thanks to the satin red vinyl wrap. Part is courtesy of the Accuair suspension. But the real talking point are those wheels – without ‘em it’s just a cool Audi A7, but with them it’s unlike any other car we’ve ever laid eyes on.

Designed and manufactured by Messer Wheels in Germany, the ME03-3 Turbo-Fan has caused a massive stir in the VAG scene. And that’s no easy task. They combine killer elements from classic wheels, including a concave construction, Porsche turbo-fan vents and even a hint of zero-lip, thanks to the way each centre protrudes past the arches. They’re unique and completely transform the way you look at the A7 Sportback. But have they gone a step too far in the process?

MODIFIED AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

We posted a photo up on Facebook during the test-fitting and it’s safe to say the ME03-3 generates two reactions – complete admiration or utter disgust! The design causes keyboard warriors to argue with one another but, despite this, nearly everyone (regardless of opinion) fully respected Messer Wheels for having the balls to push the boundaries in a scene, which is often hated, for its originality (or lack of).

But, fitting a set of wheels like the ME03-3 to a VW Golf or something ‘generic’ wasn’t going to generate the sort of attention FelgenOutlet and Messer wanted. It had to be something special, without delving into the world of unobtainable supercars.

MODIFIED AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

Step forward one of the coolest cars Audi has ever built, the A7 Sportback. This is a car which can cost up to £60K from the factory and is primarily designed for city big-wigs to cruise around in comfort, and boasts more toys than a trip to Ann Summers. It’s hardly the perfect base for a modified car – which also makes it – the perfect base for a modified car!

For our non-German readers, FelgenOutlet translates to ‘Wheel Supplier’ which is exactly what the Meissen-based company do. But as well as supplying Germany with amazing rims, FelgenOutlet also produce quality videos from events including Worthersee and MIVW. So when you’re racking up hundreds of miles across Europe filming, an executive saloon like the A7 Sportback is in fact the perfect daily. Plus it looks hella cool, even when in standard trim!

MODIFIED AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

As with all good wheel suppliers, FelgenOutlet wanted a cool demo car to showcase the sort of products they can offer, so the A7 Sportback was originally built for Worthersee 2012 in just four weeks. Despite this short period of time, the Germans proved their ruthless efficiency with help from Showtime Design (who wrapped the car) and CarArt Dresden who developed and fitted a full custom air suspension setup using Accuair components – the first A7 Audi to run such a system.

For the 2013 refresh, a little more time was needed to develop the ME03-3 Turbo-Fan wheels which take between 6-12 wheels to manufacture, thanks to their forged centres and 3-piece construction. In addition to the 10x20in wheels, a full S7 front-end conversion was fitted, to beef up the styling ahead of its Worthersee unveiling once again.

MODIFIED AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

The end result is a very simple, but super-effective demo car for both FelgenOutlet and Messer, which had just about everyone talking at Worthersee for the second year running! “It’s an old classic wheel design put in a new suit!’ explains Andrea Großöhme from FelgenOutlet. “The attention it’s received has been crazy. There are two opinions to the wheels, love or hate. Obviously we love them!”

MODIFIED AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

TECH SPEC AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

Tuning
3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel

Chassis
Bilstein dampers with Accuair air suspension built by CarArt Dresden (controlled via Accuair) VU-4 manifold, OEM Audi A7 brakes, 10x20in ET30 Messer ME03-3 Turbo-Fan deep concave wheels with machined, brushed finish, Falken 245/30×20 FK453 tyres all round

Interior
‘False’ boot floor (raised by 2in) allowing air compressor & tank to be hidden within spare wheel well, Accuair E-level digital controller mounted in dash

Styling
Matte Garnet Red Metallic vinyl wrap, Full Audi S7 front-end conversion

Thanks
Messer Wheels (messer-felgen.de), CarArt Dresden, Avery Dennison for the wrap, ShowTime Design (for fitting the wrap), everyone at FelgenOutle

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Original Land Rover Defender lives on as Bowler performance SUV

Many would have lamented Land Rover’s 2016 decision to end production of the original Defender after a run spanning more than three decades.

It’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed at Land Rover which started selling a redesigned Defender this year. To appease fans of the original Defender, Land Rover will get Bowler to build new off-roaders using the original Defender’s iconic shape, specifically the four-door Defender 110’s shape.

Bowler is a fellow British firm that specializes in building high-performance, rally raid-style SUVs. It’s worked closely with Land Rover for decades and in 2019 was finally brought into the Jaguar Land Rover fold as part of the automaker’s Special Vehicles Operations.

Bowler’s Defender will be very different from the original. For instance, the company will use its own rigid platform known as the CSP (Cross Sector Platform). The patented platform provides for common electrical architecture, powertrains and drivetrains to be applied, and can accommodate a 6×6 configuration. Vehicles based on the platform typically use off-the-shelf items to ensure spares and service items are readily available from established OEMs and their dealer networks across the globe.

Bowler will also pack its Defender with a 567-horsepower version of Jaguar Land Rover’s familiar 5.0-liter supercharged V-8, which should see the SUV sprint to 60 mph from rest in around four seconds. Other features will include four body-hugging sports seats, a roll cage, and comfort features such as air conditioning.

Order books are now open ahead of limited production starting in 2021. The estimated starting price for one is 200,000 British pounds (approximately $258,695).

Bowler has built up an impressive array of vehicles based on its CSP platform, for both road and race applications. And soon it will have V-8-powered Defenders to strengthen its image. We can’t wait.

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