Audi electrifies with Ken Block’s new Hoonitron

To the uninitiated, it can be tough to reveal Ken Block and the “Gymkhana” phenomenon he’s produced. He’s that modern-day model of a tv star the sort who’s in no way actually been on tv but is massive on YouTube, and is also plainly bonkers. Of course, it is partly that manic grin he’s often carrying, but more so the madly-risky way he drives.

You may not have heard of him, but with additional than 3 million subscribers on his YouTube channels, hundreds of tens of millions of sights and a web truly worth of $US200m ($280m), he’s “world-wide-web famous”. Funnily plenty of, he’s amassed that fame by becoming, seemingly, fully not able to generate in a straight line.

“Gymkhana” is the title of Ken Block’s – admittedly lovely – choreographed driving videos, which hit peak acceptance all around 2010, but have ongoing to occur out semi-every year at any time due to the fact. The first expression applies to an equestrian occasion comprising races and other horseback competitions, but what Block is carrying out is also recognised as “motorkhana”.

I’d undoubtedly recommend getting a instant to enjoy one particular of Block’s YouTube video clips – his physical appearance with James May perhaps on Top Equipment is especially entertaining.

Block, 54, has had a worthwhile partnership with Ford more than the many years, as he filmed his loud and ludicrous exhibitions of sliding precision. Having said that, not too long ago he stunned his admirer foundation by signing up with Audi to spouse in the development of an all-new, all-electrical Gymkhana-concentrated vehicle, the Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron (“Hoonigan” is just one of Block’s improved-identified nicknames).

It’s based on the famous Activity quattro S1 Pikes Peak racer, which shattered documents when it tore up the legendary hill-climb function at Pikes Peak, Colorado, US – a 4302m higher mountain selection – in 1987. The new motor vehicle has smashed some data of its individual, way too, by heading from style and design to fact in just four months, and to a drivable model in just 6 months.

https://www.youtube.com/observe?v=RxqQJVBnrgU

That course of action would ordinarily have taken at least a 12 months, but Block is, famously, a person in a hurry, and Audi must have accommodated. It tends to make feeling for the organization to be enthusiastic about the rally driver’s involvement, thinking of the huge promoting attraction that he brings to the table. Naturally, Audi’s designers were being reportedly “incredibly excited” to be involved in the undertaking and several models, based on the legendary turbocharged Screamer S1, had been sketched in history time. The winning sketch was rendered on a pc and then – fairly than setting up a scale model, as is typical follow – a whole-scale design was cranked out.

Block has reportedly driven the Hoonitron – which is essentially a one particular-off strategy car, crafted specially for him – and was “thrilled” with the effects. Now, the net is holding its collective breath for the release of his unavoidable driving video clip, titled “Electrikhana”.

“Audi gave me the opportunity to take a look at it for a number of days in Germany,” Block claimed.

“I’m common with a extensive wide variety of cars working with inside-combustion engines and transmissions, but there have been a lot of new things for me to study below (with an EV). Spinning into a doughnut at 150km/h straight from standstill – just utilizing my ideal foot – is an all-new expertise for me. Our function was concentrated on finding the automobile and I utilised to each other.”

The correct specs are nevertheless a mystery, but the Audi’s two electrical motors deliver “power galore” to all four wheels, which are bolted on to a carbon fibre chassis.

Given that it is this sort of a unique vehicle, the Hoonitron is, primarily, priceless. But, if you imagine which is heading to halt Block driving it as if it is unbreakable, you’d be completely wrong. There is no doubt he’ll press it to the quite edge of its existence.

“The collaboration with Audi is a extremely distinctive partnership for me,” Block said.

“The manufacturer and its enthusiasm for motorsport motivated me to get into rallying. That Audi has now designed this car or truck for me and my crew, and has joined us in our future project, has built a aspiration arrive legitimate for me.

“The Hoonitron is producing the future chapter in our historical past and getting our Gymkhana tale into the long run.”