Audi’s new £88k entry-level e-tron GT ‘quattro’ will pack up to 576bhp*

Audi’s serving up a new entry-level model for the e-tron GT family of sports saloons, with the standard ‘quattro’ now starting from £88,555. Interestingly, that's £355 dearer than a completely boggo Porsche Taycan which starts at £88,200.

The e-tron does have a big statistical advantage though: its dual-motor powertrain produces a minimum of 496bhp (already 67 more than the Taycan), and a peak of 576bhp with launch control engaged. With its electrons at full pelt, it’ll get to 62mph in four secs flat - eight-tenths quicker than the car it shares platforms with.

An improved 105kWh battery yields up to 384 miles of range - that’s 40ish short of the Taycan - and 320kW charge speeds mean 177 miles can be topped up in just 10 minutes. Stick around for another eight, and you’ll regain all of 80 per cent.

Other bits worth mentioning include adaptive air suspension as standard, with Audi’s quattro drivetrain stuffed with torque vectoring capabilities between both axles. This new entry-level also weighs 30kg less than the next-up ‘S’ version, as Audi has rightfully pointed out. It's still some 2.3-tonnes, mind.

Anyway, let’s move on to the trim grades. The base spec comes with 20in five-spoke aero wheels and LED Matrix headlights. Inside, there’s a panoramic glass roof and heated seats, with a strong tech suite comprising a 12.3in virtual cockpit and 10.1in multimedia hub. There’s a healthy 405 litres of storage space at the back and an extra 77 litres at the ‘frunk’ - more than enough for a week-long blitz across Europe. It is a GT and all, don’t forget.

Or you can send an extra £20k Audi’s way and it’ll point you towards the fancier ‘Vorsprung’ edition. It gets all-wheel steering, more carbon - both inside and out - a pano roof with switchable transparency plus massage seats cloaked in Nappa leather. The sounds are given a boost as well with a Bang & Olufsen speaker system, while a head-up display rounds everything off.

The new e-tron GT quattro will be available to order from late June, with deliveries pencilled in for August onwards. Reckon it’s now a more attractive proposition than the Taycan?