WATCH: Ken Block’s wild new Audi S1 Hoonitron detailed
World-famous stunt driver talks audiences around his bespoke all-electric gymkhana carKen Block and Hoonigan co-founder Brian Scotto have divulged some of the key details of Block’s new Audi S1 Hoonitron gymkhana machine in a new YouTube video, and as you might expect, pretty much everything has been dialled up to 27.
Decked-out in an all-new livery that honours Block’s sponsors as well as Audi’s motorsport heritage, the purpose-built Audi S1 Hoonitron is powered by a pair of Formula E-spec electric motors – one on each axle – which generate 3000Nm of torque each for a theoretical combined system output of 6000Nm.
How much torque actually makes it to the road remains unclear, but there’s little doubt the useable figure is well into the thousands, hence Block going through more than 100 tyres (25 sets) while filming his pending ‘Electrikhana’ film.
The motors draw power from four Audi Q7 plug-in hybrid-derived battery packs mounted between the axles, which in turn are suspended by a mixture of WRC-spec and bespoke chassis components.
Stopping duties come courtesy of high-performance Alcon callipers front and rear, combined with slotted steel rotors in all four corners.
The body is made entirely of carbon-fibre and carbon-kevlar panels and has been styled in the ilk of the fabled Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 Group B monster of 1985.
“The goal here was we still wanted it to sit next to the S1 E2 and have them speak to each other,” Scotto said.
“That was the whole point of this car; was it being a modern version of a Group B all-out machine.”
Underneath that lightweight body is an FIA-compliant roll cage and a bespoke platform developed from the ground up for this project, which took a little over seven months to complete from the first design sketch to the first drive.
In describing the driving experience, Block says the EV powertrain opened up new avenues for his driving and forced him to adapt elements of his driving style due to the lack of a traditional transmission and the immense amount of torque on offer.
You’ll be able to see exactly what both Block and the S1 Hoonitron are capable of on October 25, when the ‘Electrikhana’ film drops on YouTube.
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