Audi RS e-tron GT vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the RS e-tron GT hits 100 km/h in 3.33 s versus 3.94 s for the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The instant torque of 830 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the RS e-tron GT leads by 0.61 s and sits roughly 9 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the RS e-tron GT is doing 163 km/h against 164 km/h for the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The gap is 0.46 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the RS e-tron GT crosses the line in 11.31 s versus 11.74 s. The 0.42 s gap represents roughly 24 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The RS e-tron GT maxes out at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h while the Giulia Quadrifoglio keeps accelerating towards 307 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.39 s.

At 1,000 metres, the RS e-tron GT finishes in 20.60 s versus 20.93 s, with just 0.33 s to spare. The Giulia Quadrifoglio fails to fully close the launch gap.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the RS e-tron GT is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Giulia Quadrifoglio at 307 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 5.51 seconds. The 0.61 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.