Ken Block's Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron to make US debut

MANILA: The Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron, a modernized, electric vehicle inspired by the iconic design of the 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1, will make its North American debut.

That debut will commence at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion held at Laguna Seca during Monterey Car Week from August 17 to August 21. The one-of-a-kind car was created especially for American drift artist Ken Block and will be shown in the upcoming "Electrikhana" episode of his well-known Gymkhana series.

Electricity arrives at the doorstep of performance car enthusiasts with the Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron. The S1 Hoonitron dispels any concerns that an electric vehicle cannot be exciting and representative of contemporary performance.

It includes dual electric motors, all-wheel drive, a carbon fiber chassis, and incorporation of the full suite of safety standards mandated by the FIA, which is motorsports' top governing body. In conjunction with the storied Monterey Car Week, the S1 Hoonitron will be on exhibit at the Laguna Seca racetrack.

The general public in North America will get the chance to see Ken Block's electric car for the first time at this event. Fans will also be able to see the original Audi Sport quattro S1 that Walter Röhrl used to establish the Pikes Peak Hillclimb record of 10 minutes, 48 seconds on gravel in 1987.

Although the unpaved portion of the road into the sky has since been paved, it still holds the record for the fastest time.

Plans to construct an electrified version of an iconic Audi design were quickly put into motion in December 2021. Designers and engineers would typically budget upwards of one year to create such an ambitious concept for a project of this scale.

However, the minds and hands working at the Audi Sport plant in Neckarsulm approved an accelerated time frame of four weeks for the S1 Hoonitron.

The Audi S1 Hoonitron was completed after a roughly one-month-long labor-intensive drive into the future. While the style was done by Audi Design in Ingolstadt, Germany, the whole development, including the cutting-edge technologies that gave the automobile life, was done in Audi Sport's Neckarsulm facility.

Given that the Audi RS e-tron GT is manufactured here, the location is appropriate for the development of a futuristic electrified sports vehicle.

During the Group B period of rally racing, from 1984 to 1987, Audi rally driver Walter Röhrl operated the original Audi Sport quattro S1. Quattro's "unfair advantage" on the road contributed to the brand's dominance in off-road, pavement, and track contests alike, with performance advantages that went beyond driving on snow-covered roads and off-road.

Audi's quattro system has developed with the most recent innovations and qualifications taken from the world of motorsports. The S1 Hoonitron, a contemporary version, pays homage to this important time while staying laser-focused on the dedication to electrification.

The Q4 e-tron SUV and Q4 Sportback e-tron will join the e-tron, e-tron Sportback, and e-tron GT, bringing the total number of e-tron vehicles available in the U.S. market to five distinct types. The S1 Hoonitron offers a fascinating and sustainable view into the electrified future, which is fairly exciting in and of itself.

Photos from Audi

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