Ken Block’s latest all-electric drift car, the Audi S1 Hoonitron, has made a dramatic debut on the streets on Las Vegas in the latest Gymkhana video, dubbed Electrikhana.
Throughout the nine-minute video that’s now live on YouTube, the S1 Hoonitron can be seen doing elaborate drifts, donuts, and even jumps at major tourist attractions scattered around Las Vegas.
There are a number of cameos during the video, including a number of iconic Audi Pikes Peak, Group B, Trans Am, Le Mans and DTM racers, as well as nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen.
The Audi S1 Hoonitron was first revealed in December 2021 and later detailed earlier this week with design cues from the legendary Quattro S1 E2 Pikes Peak hillclimb car from the 1980s.
That means there are box flares, a wedge-like profile, and some outrageous aerodynamic elements at the front and rear.
This custom-built electric vehicle (EV) has an 800V electrical architecture and features four battery packs taken from an Audi Q7 plug-in hybrid (PHEV), with two electric motors producing an undisclosed amount of power.
Although we don’t know exact system outputs, we know the Hoonitron chewed through more than 100 tyres during the filming of the Eletrikhana, which is more than double the usual amount.
Inside the S1 Hoonitron, Block sits back in the cabin with his feet elevated in a similar way to a Formula 1 or Le Mans Prototype driver. He said during a recent video it was one of the hardest driving positions he had ever experienced.
This isn’t the first time Ken Block has subbed fire-breathing petrol engines for electric motors. Before he teamed up with Audi, he leant on his partnership with Ford to get behind the wheel of its 1044kW Mustang Mach-E electric SUV concept.
It’s not clear what other fruit Block’s partnership with Audi will bear.
The pair alluded to working on Audi’s high-tech Dakar racer when they announced the partnership earlier in 2021, but it’s not clear what role the Hoonigan team will play in developing the competitor.
Audi has since revealed a second-generation version of the RS Q e-tron electric range-extender prototype that’s said to be 15 per cent more aerodynamic thanks in part to reworked body panels.
MORE: Ken Block details $12m Audi S1 Hoonitron
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