Ken Block, known for creating massive clouds of tire smoke during his Gymkhana series of races, recently brought an Audi S1 Hoonitron powered by an enormous electric motor to Sin City for yet another Gymkhana challenge.
Audi rips through the Vegas strip with style, dodging tight spaces and leaving trails of smoke behind him. Icons from their motorsport past also appear.
Power
Since 2004, rally driver Ken Block and the Hoonigan team have provided viewers with weekly Gymkhana videos featuring him driving an electric car. His most recent Gymkhana, “Electrikhana,” marks an interesting deviation from this tradition: it uses gas-powered cars rather than electric ones in its production.
Audi’s one-off Audi S1 Hoonitron, inspired by the 1980s Sport Quattro S1 E2 Pikes Peak rally car, boasts two electric motors, carbon fiber body construction, and FIA-grade safety measures for optimal performance and torque production of over 4,000 lb-ft, according to Audi.
Block drove his electric car around some of Las Vegas’ most renowned landmarks, such as hotel lobbies and boxing rings. Due to the car’s low center of gravity, he managed to perform donuts with amazing precision even in tight spaces – including even performing one full flip beneath a Las Vegas sign! While his latest videos do not produce as much rubber smoke as previous videos have done so the vehicle still looks and sounds fast!
Before joining Audi this year, Block made a significant shift in his career when he switched from Ford to Audi, leaving Ford behind for good and entering into their exclusive electric car program – and immediately put its new electric car through its paces in his inaugural Electrikhana video! Here we see him maneuver around Las Vegas landmarks while driving a unique Audi S1 Hoonitron car.
Hoonitron was designed using technology similar to what Audi uses for its Formula E racing cars, and its powerful dual motors generate enough power to transport Block and his camera crew around various challenging locations. It’s an impressive sight – especially considering it was only unveiled a few months ago!
Block’s fans should still expect plenty of tire smoke, skillful drifting, and jumps despite the absence of an audible exhaust.
Range
Ken Block is back, this time showing off an electric car! Ken and Hoonigan’s Gymkhana series has returned with its eighth installment: Electrikhana. In it, Block drives an Audi S1 E-Tron Quattro Hoonitron through Las Vegas streets at night – it marks the first time an EV has featured as part of a Gymkhana film!
Unlike the gasoline-powered cars seen in many of his videos, the Electrikhana car is driven by two electric motors producing 1400 horsepower and 2231 lb-ft of torque. Power is distributed evenly between its front and rear axles through a hydraulic fly-off handbrake that can halt one motor during slides while still ensuring drive from both motors – creating an incomprehensible racecar that can accelerate from zero to 60mph in just 2 seconds and do 93-mph donuts!
Although Electrikhana may differ from traditional Gymkhana events, its introduction was well received. After 14 years of performance vehicle events featuring gas-powered cars only, showing people how electric performance cars can also be fun is certainly worthy of support!
Electrikhana Car – Custom Built Electric Vehicle designed specifically for this video! It takes inspiration from Audi Sport Quattro S1 rally cars that dominated Pikes Peak during its golden era in the 80s but is entirely new and fully electric.
The electric unit produces up to 1400 horsepower and 2231 lb-ft in both axles, giving the car enough power to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than two seconds, as well as performing 93-mph donuts from a standstill.
The Electrikhana car is now on the market, starting at $58,500. However, additional expenses such as installation and accessories such as charging cables will add significantly to its total price compared with traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. For instance, charging requires a 50-kW charger which takes five hours for full charges – in addition to additional accessories like battery management systems which cost extra – leading to overall higher costs than those associated with traditional gasoline vehicles.
Speed
Ken Block reigned supreme of viral marketing videos with his Gymkhana series; following Ford and Audi’s partnership he’s back at it again with “Electrikhana”, their latest collaboration. Featuring drifting, jumping and performing other stunts aboard an Audi S1 Hoonitron powered by two motors creating 1400 horsepower combined – not to mention impressive acceleration capabilities and lower center of gravity due to an electric powertrain.
Block’s Audi S1 Hoonitron was custom built as part of his film Electrikhana. Inspired by Audi Sport Quattro S1s that raced up Pikes Peak during the ’80s, its carbon fiber design pays homage while offering more than just old-school muscle car appeal; featuring electric motors from Formula E program that produce 2,212 lb-ft of torque per wheel it can hit speeds up to 163mph and accelerate in just over three seconds reaching top speeds of over 90mph in just over three seconds and can reach top speed of 163mph!
As with previous Gymkhana films, Electrikhana is great fun to watch. The driver shows plenty of skill behind the wheel of this new electric vehicle (EV), producing tire smoke as he goes. Block is also able to take full advantage of its low center of gravity and impressive acceleration while still sliding the car through tight corners with ease.
For those interested in an electric vehicle (EV), watching the Electrikhana video is an excellent way to see just how fast this new technology can go. But before taking the leap from gas-powered vehicles to an EV, there are some considerations you must keep in mind before switching over: For one thing, an EV doesn’t have a standard engine’s rev limit and driving style may need adjusting accordingly; additionally, since an EV doesn’t brake like traditional cars do, care must be taken when parking or maneuvering tight streets since collision could damage both itself as well as yourself or even worse!
Cost
Ken Block is an esteemed rally driver known for his elaborately produced videos in which he pushes high-performance vehicles to their limits at iconic locations. His passion for driving earned him worldwide fame, and his YouTube channel is one of the most watched. 53-year-old Ken is currently working on an electric car capable of taking on even the toughest terrain; powered by an electric motor which produces over 650 horsepower; equipped with advanced safety features, and featuring a carbon fiber body to make sure durability.
Block will take the Electrikhana video livestreamed on October 25. He will tackle various challenges, from drifting around famous Sin City landmarks and jumping through hotel lobbies, to using its electric motor for silent burnouts that leave behind a cloud of tire smoke.
Block unleashed his Audi S1 e-tron Hoonitron onto the streets of Las Vegas after 10 Gymkhana films with over one billion views, featuring its distinctive design derived from Sport Quattro S1, yet powered by an electric powertrain with two motors for maximum performance, as well as featuring high voltage battery technology, carbon fiber chassis construction, and FIA grade safety measures.
The Hoonitron can reach speeds of 62 mph from a standstill, boasting enough torque to perform donuts at over 93 mph. On a single charge it will travel 400 miles; its range will grow with age. Furthermore, the company is currently developing an even more powerful version of this vehicle.
The Electrikhana video will be the first-of-its-kind to feature an electric car, but it won’t be the last. Block will use not only his Ford Mustang Mach-E but also an Audi S1 e-tron Hoonitron in his sequel Gymkhana movie set for release Oct 25.