THE most powerful production car Audi has ever-built will hit the roads of the UK later this year in the shape of the electrifying new RS e-tron GT performance.

It's Audi's first-ever, all-electric RS performance model and, with twin electric motors developing a massive 912bhp, the RS e-tron GT performance will sprint from 0-62mph in a mind-blowing 2.5 seconds, racing on to a limited top speed of 155mph.

It will be the sporting flagship of a new three model range of e-tron Gran Tourismo, four-door coupes all of which come with blistering performance - even the 670bhp S e-tron GT ‘base' model covers the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in 3.4 seconds while the mid-range RS version, with 844bhp, shaves a further 0.6 of a second off that.

Audi claims up to 375 miles of all-electric driving, so range anxiety shouldn't be a factor, and the company says that it will take only ten minutes of high-power charging to top up for a further 174 miles with an 80 per cent charge taking only 18 minutes.

The German company's engineers have achieved significant weight reductions in the electric motor and high voltage battery and there are newly-developed chassis and braking systems.

Overall exterior styling is reassuringly familiar, but each of the three variants have a distinctive look with the RS versions getting more radical styling elements than the entry-level S model which Audi describes as having ‘elegant sportiness'.

There are new interior trim features including a steering wheel which is flattened at the top and bottom, improved sports seats and an upgraded virtual cockpit.

A technically advanced panoramic ‘smart' glass roof which minimises direct sunlight and turns opaque at the touch of a button is available as an option.

Dealers will start taking orders for the new range in August - but at what price? Audi UK isn't saying just yet, but expect hefty increases on the previous range, which started at over £86,000.