From Audi RS e-tron GT to Taycan GTS ST

[or1]

Love the green.

You know what étron means in French right?

Yes. But it does not really matter here in Norway.
The Audi naming scheme is too complicated in my opinion. This car should have been "RS7e".

 

[Sidicks]

I do not see any point in carbon fiber as decor, there is no (visible) carbon on it. (My Audi does not have any carbon either.)

The carbon trim in my previous Porsche had a very obvious ‘weave’ to it, same as in my Audi - what are you expecting to see?

 

[or1]

The carbon trim in my previous Porsche had a very obvious ‘weave’ to it, same as in my Audi - what are you expecting to see?

To me, carbon fiber is a constructive material to be used where light weight is important. If its strength and/or light weight are not needed, then there is no use case for it. To put it bluntly: just esthetics is not sufficient reason to use it. (I am an architect, I am used to thinking "honest materials".)

 

[Sidicks]

To me, carbon fiber is a constructive material to be used where light weight is important. If its strength and/or light weight are not needed, then there is no use case for it. To put it bluntly: just esthetics is not sufficient reason to use it. (I am an architect, I am used to thinking "honest materials".)

Any trim in a car is for visual appearance - no-one is choosing interior carbon fibre for strength/weight reasons. However, many people like the look of carbon fibre compared to other options such as brushed aluminiumor painted plastic!

 

[kempez]

To me, carbon fiber is a constructive material to be used where light weight is important. If its strength and/or light weight are not needed, then there is no use case for it. To put it bluntly: just esthetics is not sufficient reason to use it. (I am an architect, I am used to thinking "honest materials".)

Firmly with you there. I personally think it looks tacky and ‘forced’. If it was a lightweight special, then I forgive it ?

 

[f1eng]

To me, carbon fiber is a constructive material to be used where light weight is important. If its strength and/or light weight are not needed, then there is no use case for it. To put it bluntly: just esthetics is not sufficient reason to use it. (I am an architect, I am used to thinking "honest materials".)

Carbon fibre as cosmetic embelishment is one of my pet hates too.

I’d love a carbon chassis but if somebody likes looking at a bit of black weave in shiny plastic there is no need to make it out of real carbon fibre.

Our Prius PHEV has a carbon fibre tailgate and I love the fact, even though I can only see it with the boot open!

 

[whitex]

Getting an estate car body was enough to trigger an order (I didn't really need a new car)

That was the primary reason I stopped looking at the eTron RS GT - I opened the trunk. Then again, I had the exact same reaction to the Taycan sedan, hence had to wait for CT to finally get introduced, then another year and half to find an allocation. I could have had the eTron significantly earlier.

I preferred part, but not all, of the cabin ergonomics of the Audi when I drove them but not the driving feel - the Taycan was so much better to drive I was shocked, given the drivetrain and suspension are identical apart from software

Never got to drive the eTron GT because the dealer only had one in the showroom and did not allow test drives. By the time they had enough to allow test drives, I already passed on it due to the trunk (if it had a hatch like the Model S or EQS, I probably would have been ok with it). I did however like the physical buttons of the interior much better than the Taycan all touch design. I wish the Taycan had a "physical controls package" which adds a bunch of physical controls, like the Audi.

PS> I also wish the Taycan would offer the same charge ports as on the non-GT etron. It's powered but obviously can be moved manually, and it doesn't hide inside the body blocking the air-scarf.

 

[or1]

Any trim in a car is for visual appearance - no-one is choosing interior carbon fibre for strength/weight reasons. However, many people like the look of carbon fibre compared to other options such as brushed aluminiumor painted plastic!

Of course everyone may look at carbon in any form and way they want. My preference, however, is to avoid it when it is not used for its main characteristics in weight and strength.
Fortunately, it is easy to avoid carbon in the Taycan interior: little plastic, much real leather, and not necessarily any bright brushed aluminum. I am inclined to pay extra for more leather, and have: my door sills and lower B pillars have leather on them. That is nice.

 

[Moto_Joe]

That was the primary reason I stopped looking at the eTron RS GT - I opened the trunk. Then again, I had the exact same reaction to the Taycan sedan, hence had to wait for CT to finally get introduced, then another year and half to find an allocation. I could have had the eTron significantly earlier.


Never got to drive the eTron GT because the dealer only had one in the showroom and did not allow test drives. By the time they had enough to allow test drives, I already passed on it due to the trunk (if it had a hatch like the Model S or EQS, I probably would have been ok with it). I did however like the physical buttons of the interior much better than the Taycan all touch design. I wish the Taycan had a "physical controls package" which adds a bunch of physical controls, like the Audi.

PS> I also wish the Taycan would offer the same charge ports as on the non-GT etron. It's powered but obviously can be moved manually, and it doesn't hide inside the body blocking the air-scarf.

My charge port cover (same as pictured) is very convenient. It does fail to open about 10% of the time. Bringing the key out of my pocket usually does it.

 

[or1]

I am on my first long trip with the Taycan (GTS ST), covering many miles on Norwegian motorways. Not German autobahn speeds, mind you, legal max is 110 km/h here (around 70 mph).

The difference in steering behaviour makes the Taycan both a bit more "demanding" and more rewarding to drive. More precision, less forgiveness. For a relaxed tour where the joy is in the tour as such, the RS e-tron GT is maybe a hair better. But when also the joy of driving itself matters, the Tacan has the nose well ahead IMO.