2025 Audi RS e-tron GT performance [US] - The 912-HP Electric Arrowhead

The first Audi RS e-tron GT was always a beautiful piece of design and a technological marvel, but in the shadow of its corporate cousin, the Porsche Taycan, it often felt like the slightly softer grand tourer. For 2025, that narrative has been utterly shattered. Audi has not simply delivered a refresh; it has unleashed a performance monster. The new, range-topping model, now branded the RS e-tron GT Performance, arrives on US soil with a shocking 912 peak horsepower rating, an overhauled chassis, and battery technology ripped straight from the cutting edge of the EV arms race. Starting at approximately $168,000 (US MSRP), this isn’t just an evolution; it is a declaration of intent.

This review focuses purely on the performance metrics and driving dynamics of the new halo model, examining how Audi engineers used the J1 platform to create a truly transcendent electric grand tourer.

Power Defined: The Push-to-Pass Era

The headline feature of the 2025 RS e-tron GT Performance is its brutal, repeatable acceleration. The new dual-motor all-wheel-drive quattro system now delivers a staggering peak output of 912 horsepower when activated via Launch Control. This represents a colossal jump of nearly 275 horsepower over the outgoing RS model, instantly making the Performance the most potent vehicle ever stamped with the four rings.

This power comes courtesy of a heavily revised powertrain, particularly the rear Permanently Excited Synchronous Motor (PSM), which features increased copper density and a lighter, more compact design. This motor, paired with the unique two-speed transmission on the rear axle, is the key to the car’s explosive speed. The transmission’s first gear is reserved specifically for the most violent accelerative events, providing that characteristic electric shove amplified by a mechanical multiplier.

In practice, the raw numbers translate to visceral reality: Audi claims a 0-60 mph time of 2.4 seconds, though early independent testing has repeatedly seen times dipping as low as 2.1 seconds—a hypercar benchmark. The delivery is relentless; unlike some single-gear EVs whose thrust tapers off, the RS e-tron GT Performance sustains its attack well into triple-digit speeds, with the shift into second gear providing a distinct, yet smooth, secondary wave of acceleration that is utterly addictive.

Perhaps the most engaging performance addition is the Push-to-Pass function. Activated by a bright red button on the new steering wheel, this feature delivers a 10-second burst of extra power (around 94 hp), perfect for decisive overtakes on a canyon road or highway. It introduces a tactical element to performance driving, giving the driver immediate, on-demand maximum force, backed by the updated battery architecture and thermal management systems to ensure that power is not just a peak number, but a usable reserve.

Chassis Control: Active Ride and Surgical Precision

While the raw power is what sells posters, it is the chassis and suspension mastery that truly defines the Performance badge. For 2025, the RS e-tron GT Performance gains access to the optional Active Ride suspension system—a transformative technology shared with its Taycan sibling.

This active suspension uses dedicated electro-hydraulic pumps at each wheel, replacing the need for traditional anti-roll bars. The system reads road conditions and driver input in real-time, actively controlling body motion to an almost unbelievable degree. Under hard cornering, it virtually eliminates body roll. During full-throttle launches, squat is minimized; under heavy braking, nosedive is neutralized. The result is a 5,137-pound sedan that handles with the flat, planted composure of a lightweight sports car.

In addition to its dynamic brilliance, this system includes practical utility, automatically raising the body by a few inches when a door is opened to ease ingress and egress—a welcome feature given the car’s low-slung, grand tourer profile.

Handling is further sharpened by two key revisions: a quicker steering rack and a refined tune for the optional all-wheel steering. On US mountain roads, this combination translates to surgical precision. The front end turns in immediately, and the rear-wheel steering (which turns the rear wheels slightly opposite the front at low speeds and in the same direction at high speeds) effectively shrinks the car around corners, boosting agility and high-speed stability. The result is a vehicle that averaged an impressive 1.01 g on the skidpad, placing it firmly in the elite class of performance sedans.

To haul down the massive inertia generated by such speed, the optional Dynamic Plus Package includes massive carbon-ceramic brakes. These brakes provide ferocious, fading-resistant stopping power, expertly blended with the upgraded 400 kW regenerative braking capability. This clever integration ensures that the driver experiences a consistent, firm pedal feel whether they are using kinetic energy recuperation or traditional friction braking.

The Electric Edge: Battery and Charging Efficiency

A performance car’s capabilities are now inextricably linked to its battery technology. For 2025, the RS e-tron GT Performance gets a significant upgrade: a new 105 kWh gross capacity (97 kWh usable) battery pack. Crucially, this larger pack is also lighter than the outgoing 93.4 kWh unit, contributing to better overall efficiency and handling balance.

The EPA-estimated range is now a much more respectable 278 miles. While this may still lag slightly behind some dedicated long-range competitors, the figure is excellent considering the car’s output and relentless performance potential.

More important for the performance enthusiast, however, is the charging speed. The 800-volt architecture remains a cornerstone, but peak DC fast-charging has been bumped up to 320 kW (from 270 kW). Combined with a sophisticated, U-flow thermal management system that more effectively controls cell temperature homogeneity, the car can now charge from 10% to 80% in an estimated 18 minutes. This means less time waiting and more time exploiting the 912 horsepower, ensuring performance drivers can maximize their track or canyon sessions.

Conclusion: Stepping Out of the Shadow

The 2025 Audi RS e-tron GT Performance is more than just a model refresh; it is a full-scale assault on the electric hyper-sedan segment. It has confidently stepped out of the shadow cast by the Porsche Taycan and, in some key metrics like peak horsepower even surpasses its sibling’s equivalent Turbo model.

The key takeaway is the balance. Audi has managed to deliver supercar-level acceleration and track-ready dynamics while retaining the effortless comfort and high-quality refinement expected of a true Grand Tourer. The combination of 912 horsepower, the sophisticated Active Ride suspension, and the functional, fast-charging battery technology ensures the RS e-tron GT Performance offers an electrifying blend of ballistic speed and civilized usability. For the US consumer seeking the most powerful, most technologically advanced, and arguably the most stylish performance EV on the market, the 2025 RS e-tron GT Performance is now the undisputed electric arrowhead of the Audi lineup.