March Lichte, Audi Design Director , declared that the Audi e-Tron GT was “the most beautiful car I have ever drawn.” At that time, in autumn 2018, we only knew the image of the e-tron GT Concept prototype but the moment of truth has arrived. This 100% electric saloon with outrageous performance will be officially launched on February 9, two years after its launch as a prototype. It is the ideal time to speak to the brain that has given shape to the direct rival of Tesla S or the Porsche Taycan itself . The interview published by the firm shows a Design Director eager to see the reactions of the whole world, logical after such a long and full process of decisions that are taken within the framework of the Audi Design team .
Lichte is clear that expectations are high. The launch of the prototype caused a sensation and the images that have been known have only set the bar higher. However, the Audi Design Director knows that: ” Good design is achieved when a product is both aesthetically appealing and functional , and when it becomes part of a seamless overall experience.” The key to making the e-tron so attractive is its body proportions: “short overhangs and a long wheelbase combined with a slim silhouette in a powerful body.”
An icon of electrification
Despite that initial success, Lichte doesn’t want to hear about a new icon for now. The beauty of the e-tron GT must show itself on the road, make drivers fall in love and conquer the market. “True design icons have something that is unmistakable: for example, it only takes three lines to characterize a VW Beetle or a Porsche 911. They represent a clear attitude,” he commented in the interview.
Based on this unique spirit, the designer of the e-tron GT wants his work to be recognized with the avant-garde character that already characterizes the signature of the four rings. Lichte gives an example of “A2 represented maximum efficiency; the TT, a formalistic design; and the R8, uncompromising performance. ” In short, this electric saloon arrives to reinterpret the motto ‘At the Forefront of Technology’.
Back to the essence
This respect for the past in the midst of the technological maelstrom is palpable in the GT name of this e-tron. As the designer explains: “ GT models differ from pure sports cars in that they offer greater comfort and a more spacious interior . As an all-electric Gran Turismo, the e-tron GT reinterprets this balancing act without reducing performance to sheer power, but also attributing special creative importance to efficiency. “
The word efficiency has been key in the first steps of this e-tron GT, a model that should take the knowledge of aerodynamics to another level. Air resistance is essential in electric models and their final autonomy. It is so important that it has become the basic law of zero emission mobility at Audi and its e-tron units, reinterpreting its design language with the sole aim of creating the most suitable airflow.
Aesthetic base
This new aesthetic line implies many changes in the exterior. The evolution towards minimalism, the fluid lines and the patches of the future that are printed in each element of the e-tron GT is obvious. Aerodynamics are the mistress of an elongated bonnet nose and opaque grille, with air intakes of considerable dimensions on the sides. Newly made headlamps and cutting-edge LED technology blend into the rest of the sensual edges that run along the bumper.
On the interior, Lichte says that they sought to emphasize its functionality and comfort. The “basic sculptural architecture of the dashboard and seats give the cabin not only the sportiness typical of a Gran Turismo, but also its sustainability.” As a curious detail, ” the e-tron GT does not use leather for the upholstery, only recycled materials .”
