Tuesday 25th October 2022

New 'Electrikhana' does what is says on the tin

If there's anyone that can make an EV look cool, it's Kenny from the Block

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Ken Block’s at it again. The man who’s perpetually engulfed in a cloud of smoke recently signed a deal with Audi that would see the two “push the boundaries of electric mobility”, which is a funny way of saying ‘build an all-electric monster shaped like an Audi Quattro and tear up the streets of Las Vegas’.

We’re all familiar with Kenneth’s Gymkhana videos by now. Take a car, any car, send lots of power across both axles, and do drifts and stunts in obscure places. As you're likely aware, he’s racked up quite a few of these videos - but Electrikhana is a bit different. It marks the debut of Audi’s bonkers S1 e-tron Quattro, a rally-inspired prototype built around a carbon fibre chassis and two electric motors. No mention of a power output, but it’s enough to have all four tyres billowing smoke in a straight line.

Interestingly, Audi says it meets all the FIA’s strict safety requirements. What you’d enter the thing in is anyone’s guess, but the company says the S1 e-tron Quattro is a one-off for Mr Hoonigan to, well, hoon about in against a backdrop of whining electric motors and tyres being shredded to bits. Take it away, Ken.

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• Ken Block confirms Audi-based 'Electrikhana'
• Audi lifts lid on enhanced RS e-tron E2

[Dombilano]

Ahhhh, hoonigan, burns my retinas

[nismo48]

A good run from Mr Block..
Some nice classic Audis thrown in for good measure too..

[Easternlight]

As impressive as that is, it would be 10 times if not a hundred times better with IC engine soundtrack!
Gymkhana peaked at #7 for me nothing beats the Mustang.

[cirks]

No doubting the skill of the driving or the production values but all very samey now.
The constant whine of EV cars is horrible (at least to me!) in this video, Formula E etc. I'm not fan of F1 but at least they sound like cars rather than a irritating food mixer

[redroadster]

Decent film but not groundbreaking the early ones looked special, fit some noise generators to drown out the whining please.

[Sporky]

redroadster said:

fit some noise generators to drown out the whining please.

They should do that for the forum too.

[Mr-B]

cirks said:

No doubting the skill of the driving or the production values but all very samey now.
The constant whine of EV cars is horrible (at least to me!) in this video, Formula E etc. I'm not fan of F1 but at least they sound like cars rather than a irritating food mixer

+1

Sounds like a dentist drill, awful. Loses so much drama without the ICE and pops and flames from the exhaust. I actually wanted it to be shorter than it was. Sad times.

[LordHaveMurci]

As exciting as most things Audi based :yawn:

[big_rob_sydney]

I'm sure Ken is about a billion times better than me, but I'm a bit bored by seeing the same thing. Why cant we see either him, or the car, competing in a real championship, to see if the outcome is actually competitive?

[Panda nero]

big_rob_sydney said:

I'm sure Ken is about a billion times better than me, but I'm a bit bored by seeing the same thing. Why cant we see either him, or the car, competing in a real championship, to see if the outcome is actually competitive?

The cars he builds are so bonkers that they are not eligible for any race championships ,with Pikes Peak being the only exception I can think of ,or maybe drag racing .

[Mr-B]

big_rob_sydney said:

I'm sure Ken is about a billion times better than me, but I'm a bit bored by seeing the same thing. Why cant we see either him, or the car, competing in a real championship, to see if the outcome is actually competitive?

He did. He was in the WRC briefly and came stone dead last, probably didn't realise he didn't get 3+ takes to each rally stage.

[457892345]

Impressive... but can he do it in a golf on a rainy night in Stoke?

[Novexx]

My, the guy can drive & the Toyo's took the abuse well.

A Sport Quattro doing the same thing would be far more entertaining. The S1 is like a Spitfire (not Triumph) or something that just doesn't get old.

[Griffith4ever]

big_rob_sydney said:

I'm sure Ken is about a billion times better than me, but I'm a bit bored by seeing the same thing. Why cant we see either him, or the car, competing in a real championship, to see if the outcome is actually competitive?

He's done a fair chunk of rallycross

[Panda nero]

Griffith4ever said:

big_rob_sydney said:

I'm sure Ken is about a billion times better than me, but I'm a bit bored by seeing the same thing. Why cant we see either him, or the car, competing in a real championship, to see if the outcome is actually competitive?

He's done a fair chunk of rallycross

With little success.
The Scandis in the championship were all so much better.

[salmanorguk]

The skill is undeniable.

However I just found that boring. There’s the monotonous whine of the car, the unashamed product placement, the sideshows (Elvis, gambling, boxing) just to make the video interesting, and the fact there’s very little hooning.

I think the whole series is played out now…

[jimbobarooney_d]

Panda nero said:

With little success.
The Scandis in the championship were all so much better.

Although I'm not here as a fan boy... he's raced WRC's, won Rally America, and definitely put himself out to race. He's ultimately a gentleman driver who branded himself very well, and nothing but respect.

As for the video... not the finest, but really cool. If this is what we're stuck within in the future > better than nothing! I quite like the noise.

[cowboyengineer]

https://youtu.be/5qanlirrRWs

Much better

[Evolved]

Say what you want about him, but he can sure drive a car. He’s absolutely smashing life too, living his best life. All of us in here would likely give our left nut to trade places.

[Silvanus]

jimbobarooney_d said:

Panda nero said:

With little success.
The Scandis in the championship were all so much better.

Although I'm not here as a fan boy... he's raced WRC's, won Rally America, and definitely put himself out to race. He's ultimately a gentleman driver who branded himself very well, and nothing but respect.

As for the video... not the finest, but really cool. If this is what we're stuck within in the future > better than nothing! I quite like the noise.

I remember watching him on a few stages here and there and it was obvious he was showboating for the crowd, and why not, they loved it and so did he.