Audi wants to win the Dakar with this monster
For the second time
This is not the first time Audi has competed with an all-electric rally monster. Last year, Audi debuted the first version of the baby carriage at the Dakar. Audi wants to be the first automaker with an electrified powertrain to compete against conventionally powered competitors. With rally and Formula 1 in a few years, the brand is well represented in motorsports.
Audi RS Q e-tron E2
The Audi RS Q e-tron E2 is a further development of that first generation. The addition “E2” is a nod to the iconic Audi Sport quattro, the evo version of the legendary Group B rally car from the 1980s.
The body is completely new and it is lighter compared to the first model, which lowers the overall weight and center of gravity of the car. Aerodynamically, the car has also been modified. The widest point is now the cockpit, where the body tapers downward. Furthermore, the aerodynamic drag has been reduced by 15%, which has also lowered the power consumption of the baby carriage.
Drive
The e-tron E2’s electric powertrain consists of an internal combustion engine and a generator, plus a high-voltage battery and two electric motors on the front and rear axles. “An internal combustion engine, but it’s electric, right?” That’s right, but since recharging in the desert is not so easy, the internal combustion engine – a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TFSI engine from the DTM – ensures that the battery is charged while driving.
The battery has a capacity of around 52 kWh and weighs 370 kilograms. Total power is 392 hp and the E2 needs just 4.5 seconds to get the 2,000 kilograms to 100 km/h from standstill. Top speed is regulation limited to 170 km/h.
The new technology of the Audi RS Q e-tron E2 is to prove itself for the first time from October 1 to 6 at the Rallye du Maroc, the ultimate preparation for the 2023 Dakar.
