Ken Block’s new all-electric drifter, dubbed the Audi S1 Hoonitron, is set to make its debut in the latest Gymkhana video on October 25.
Ahead of this video, Hoonigan, which is Block’s lifestyle and racing company, has shown off the S1 Hoonitron’s livery and detailed a few of the technical specifications on YouTube.
The Audi S1 Hoonitron was first revealed in December 2021 and has design cues from the legendary Quattro S1 E2 Pikes Peak hillclimb car from the 1980s.
That means there’s box flares, a wedge-like profile, and some outrageous aerodynamic elements at the front and rear.
The one-off’s livery features black, grey, white and orange elements said to be inspired by classic Audi Group B and DTM vehicles.
It’s a bit lighter than the black, grey and orange livery the S1 Hoonitron was first revealed in back in December last year.
The wheels on this particular S1 Hoonitron are a little different to the original turbofan wheels, but are still inspired by the Quattro S1 E2.
Hoonigan co-founder Brian Scotto said during the video the S1 Hoonitron’s Rotiform wheels have been designed with the allocation for turbofans if required.
Original S1 Hoonitron
Mr Scotto hinted we might see some turbofans on the S1 Hoonitron at some point next year.
This custom-built electric vehicle (EV) features four battery packs taken from an Audi Q7 plug-in hybrid (PHEV), with two electric motors making an as-yet undisclosed amount of power.
Although we don’t know exact system outputs, we know the Hoonitron chewed through more than 100 tyres during filming of the latest Gymkhana video, 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. Block said during the 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.
As noted above, the Audi S1 Hoonitron will debut in the Electrikhana video on YouTube on October 25.
MORE: Audi S1 Hoonitron: Ken Block’s electric drift car revealed
