Ken Block’s next Gymkhana – renamed Electrikhana for the electric Audi S1 he will race – will debut on October 25. A new video from YouTube channel TheHoonigans shows us our first look at the event teaser, but it also offers a deep dive into the bespoke Audi race car.
The car, officially named Audi S1 E-Tron Quattro Hoonitron, is unlike any other Audi. It took the automaker four weeks to develop the design and six months to make it a reality. For comparison, it took two years to design and build the Hoonicorn Mustang.
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The custom electric vehicle features four batteries from an Audi Q7 and a dual-motor setup – one motor for each axle, giving it all-wheel drive. Audi sourced the engines for Formula E. Switching from an internal combustion engine car to one with electric motors was a change for Block. The lack of a gearbox and third pedal altered the way he could control the car, often relying on the clutch to modulate the power of ICE vehicles. That’s not possible in the electric Audi, but the car’s instant available torque presented new possibilities that we’ll see next week and laid the groundwork for future ideas.
Specific powertrain details remain a mystery, including the car’s official production figures. However, we do know that the Hoonitron chewed up over 100 tires during filming, more than double the usual amount.
Inside, Block sits far back in the cabin, his feet elevated, like a Formula 1 driver. It was one of the weirdest seats Block had ever experienced. The car has two cooling systems. One is used for normal operation, while the other assists when charging, which was a hassle for filming. The crew didn’t want to waste precious hours waiting for the car to recharge.
Audi designed the S1 E-Tron Quattro Hoonitron from the ground up, drawing inspiration from the design of the iconic Sport Quattro S1 Pikes Peak. We’ll see it in action soon enough when Block’s Electrikhana video drops next Tuesday. Be sure to tune in to see all the action.
